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Lucite Ladder Etegere
Lucite Ladder Etegere

Lucite Ladder Etegere

Located in North Miami, FL

Great stepladder etegere is a wonderful accent for any room to put Murano glass on, books , magazines, rolled towels for a bathroom, etc.....it has four graduated levels.

Category

20th Century American Shelves

Materials

Lucite

Antique English Folding Library Step Ladder, 1880s
Antique English Folding Library Step Ladder, 1880s

Antique English Folding Library Step Ladder, 1880s

Located in Ventura, CA

Antique English Folding Library Step Ladder, 1800s adorned with aged iron hardware. This exquisite

Category

Antique 19th Century English Shelves and Wall Cabinets

Materials

Iron

1940s Vintage Wooden Ladder Shelf
1940s Vintage Wooden Ladder Shelf

1940s Vintage Wooden Ladder Shelf

Located in High Point, NC

and refreshed in our atelier, the ladder rungs have been converted into stylish wooden shelves. A

Category

Vintage 1940s French French Provincial Shelves

Materials

Iron

1940s Vintage Wooden Ladder Shelf
1940s Vintage Wooden Ladder Shelf

1940s Vintage Wooden Ladder Shelf

Located in High Point, NC

and refreshed in our atelier, the ladder rungs have been converted into stylish wooden shelves. A

Category

Vintage 1940s French French Provincial Shelves

Materials

Iron

Vintage French Wooden Ladder Shelf
Vintage French Wooden Ladder Shelf

Vintage French Wooden Ladder Shelf

Located in High Point, NC

A vintage ladder from early 20th Century France, refigured into a three level shelving unit

Category

20th Century French Rustic Shelves

Materials

Metal

Vintage French Wooden Ladder Shelf
Vintage French Wooden Ladder Shelf

Vintage French Wooden Ladder Shelf

Located in High Point, NC

A vintage ladder from early 20th Century France, refigured into a two level shelving unit

Category

20th Century French Rustic Shelves

Materials

Metal

English Vintage Painted Ladder Étagère
English Vintage Painted Ladder Étagère

English Vintage Painted Ladder Étagère

Located in Baton Rouge, LA

Somewhere between step ladder and plant stand, this delightful étagère was made in England at the

Category

Early 20th Century English Shelves

Materials

Hardwood

Large "Ladders" Shelf, Italy, 1970
Large "Ladders" Shelf, Italy, 1970

Large "Ladders" Shelf, Italy, 1970

Located in Paris, FR

Structure in chromed metal and Plexiglas, shelves of clear glass. A lighting lamp is hidden in the

Category

20th Century Italian Shelves

Materials

Chrome

String Shelf Ladder Shelf by Nisse Strinning, circa 1952 Sweden
String Shelf Ladder Shelf by Nisse Strinning, circa 1952 Sweden

String Shelf Ladder Shelf by Nisse Strinning, circa 1952 Sweden

By Nils Nisse Strinning

Located in Vienna, AT

consists of 24 insert boards made of teak and eight ladder elements of black lacquered wire steel. It is

Category

Vintage 1950s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Shelves and Wall Cabinets

Materials

Brass, Steel

Bokhyllan "The Ladders Shelf" Elm String Wall Unit Designed by Nisse Strinning
Bokhyllan "The Ladders Shelf" Elm String Wall Unit Designed by Nisse Strinning

Bokhyllan "The Ladders Shelf" Elm String Wall Unit Designed by Nisse Strinning

By String Design AB, Nils Nisse Strinning

Located in Kirchlengern, DE

Bokhyllan "the ladders shelf " string regal wall unit. Nisse & Kaisa Strinning, 1949. For

Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Shelves and Wall Cabinets

Materials

Metal

Bokhyllan "The Ladders Shelf" Elm String Wall Unit Designed by Nisse Strinning
Bokhyllan "The Ladders Shelf" Elm String Wall Unit Designed by Nisse Strinning

Bokhyllan "The Ladders Shelf" Elm String Wall Unit Designed by Nisse Strinning

By Nils Nisse Strinning, String Design AB

Located in Kirchlengern, DE

Bokhyllan "the ladders shelf " string regal wall unit. Nisse & Kaisa strinning

Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Shelves and Wall Cabinets

Materials

Metal

Bokhyllan "The Ladders Shelf" Elm String Wall Unit Designed by Nisse Strinning
Bokhyllan "The Ladders Shelf" Elm String Wall Unit Designed by Nisse Strinning

Bokhyllan "The Ladders Shelf" Elm String Wall Unit Designed by Nisse Strinning

By Nils Nisse Strinning, String Design AB

Located in Kirchlengern, DE

Bokhyllan "the ladders shelf " String Regal wall unit Nisse & Kaisa Strinning

Category

Vintage 1960s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Shelves and Wall Cabinets

Materials

Metal

Bokhyllan "The Ladders Shelf" Elm String Wall by Nisse Strinning, Sweden, 1960s
Bokhyllan "The Ladders Shelf" Elm String Wall by Nisse Strinning, Sweden, 1960s

Bokhyllan "The Ladders Shelf" Elm String Wall by Nisse Strinning, Sweden, 1960s

By Nils Nisse Strinning, String Design AB

Located in Kirchlengern, DE

Bokhyllan "The ladders shelf" String Regal wall unit. Nisse & Kaisa Strinning, 1949, for

Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Shelves and Wall Cabinets

Bokhyllan "The Ladders Shelf" Teak String Wall Unit Designed by Nisse Strinning
Bokhyllan "The Ladders Shelf" Teak String Wall Unit Designed by Nisse Strinning

Bokhyllan "The Ladders Shelf" Teak String Wall Unit Designed by Nisse Strinning

By Nils Nisse Strinning, String Design AB

Located in Kirchlengern, DE

Bokhyllan "the ladders shelf " string regal wall unit. Nisse & Kaisa Strinning, 1949 for

Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Shelves and Wall Cabinets

Materials

Metal

Original MCM Teak shelving system - consists of black lacquered metal ladders
Original MCM Teak shelving system - consists of black lacquered metal ladders

Original MCM Teak shelving system - consists of black lacquered metal ladders

By MCM Unique, String Design AB

Located in Gaggenau, DE

MCM Teak shelving system - consists of black lacquered metal ladders, from string Stockholm. The

Category

Vintage 1960s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Shelves

Materials

Metal

"The Ladder Shelf" Shelving Unit with Cabinet by Nisse Strinning for String
"The Ladder Shelf" Shelving Unit with Cabinet by Nisse Strinning for String

"The Ladder Shelf" Shelving Unit with Cabinet by Nisse Strinning for String

By Nils Nisse Strinning, String Design AB

Located in Los Angeles, CA

"The Ladder Shelf" wall mounted shelving unit with cabinet and 2 shelves by Nisse Strinning for

Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Shelves

Materials

Metal

Nisse Strinning Wall Unit Ladder Shelf for String Design AB Sweden, 1960
Nisse Strinning Wall Unit Ladder Shelf for String Design AB Sweden, 1960

Nisse Strinning Wall Unit Ladder Shelf for String Design AB Sweden, 1960

By Kajsa Strinning 1, Nils Nisse Strinning, String Design AB

Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland

Beautiful string design wall system from Nisse Strinning in teak. Bokhyllan ’the ladder shelf

Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Shelves

Materials

Metal

Ladder Shelf Wall Unit by Nisse Strinning for String Design AB, 1950s
Ladder Shelf Wall Unit by Nisse Strinning for String Design AB, 1950s

Ladder Shelf Wall Unit by Nisse Strinning for String Design AB, 1950s

By Nils Nisse Strinning, String Design AB, Kajsa Strinning 1

Located in Oirlo, LI

A stylish and playful vintage Swedish String wall system. 'The Ladder Shelf' has a collection of

Category

Vintage 1950s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Shelves

Materials

Metal

Teak String Ab 'Ladder Shelf' Shelving Wall Unit with Table by Nisse Strinning
Teak String Ab 'Ladder Shelf' Shelving Wall Unit with Table by Nisse Strinning

Teak String Ab 'Ladder Shelf' Shelving Wall Unit with Table by Nisse Strinning

By Kajsa Strinning 1, Nils Nisse Strinning, String Design AB

Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland

shelving' consists of four ladder elements, two of which are long and two a bit shorter, three deep shelves

Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Shelves

Materials

Steel

1960s Bokhyllan 'The Ladder Shelf’ Shelving System by Nisse Strinning for String
1960s Bokhyllan 'The Ladder Shelf’ Shelving System by Nisse Strinning for String

1960s Bokhyllan 'The Ladder Shelf’ Shelving System by Nisse Strinning for String

By Nils Nisse Strinning, String Design AB

Located in Niederdorfelden, Hessen

Modular and adaptable shelving system consisting of teak shelving mounted between ladder elements

Category

Vintage 1960s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Shelves

Materials

Wood

Danish Modern Wall Ladder Shelf Unit in Walnut by Kaspar Rom
Danish Modern Wall Ladder Shelf Unit in Walnut by Kaspar Rom

Danish Modern Wall Ladder Shelf Unit in Walnut by Kaspar Rom

By Norm Architects

Located in San Diego, CA

Norm Architects Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen focuses on shape and tactility. Kasper Rønn concentrates on technology and inventions. Together they are Norm Architects, founded with the aim o...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Danish Scandinavian Modern Shelves

Materials

Walnut

Teak 'Ladder Shelf' Shelving Wall Unit with Table by Nisse Strinning for String
Teak 'Ladder Shelf' Shelving Wall Unit with Table by Nisse Strinning for String

Teak 'Ladder Shelf' Shelving Wall Unit with Table by Nisse Strinning for String

By Nils Nisse Strinning, String Design AB, Kajsa Strinning 1

Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland

shelving' consists of three ladder elements, two of which are long and one short one, two shelves, a table

Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Shelves

Materials

Steel

Original 1960s teak wood Nisse Strinning wall hanging shelf with 3 shelves
Original 1960s teak wood Nisse Strinning wall hanging shelf with 3 shelves

Original 1960s teak wood Nisse Strinning wall hanging shelf with 3 shelves

By Nils Nisse Strinning

Located in München, DE

. Suitable for all living areas and very decorative. (11) Total height of ladder: 76 cm 29.9" Shelves: 78 x

Category

Vintage 1960s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Shelves

Materials

Metal

'The Ladder Shelf' Wall Unit by Nisse Strinning for String Design AB, 1950s
'The Ladder Shelf' Wall Unit by Nisse Strinning for String Design AB, 1950s

'The Ladder Shelf' Wall Unit by Nisse Strinning for String Design AB, 1950s

By Nils Nisse Strinning, String Design AB, Kajsa Strinning 1

Located in Oirlo, LI

A both stylish and playful vintage Swedish String wall system. 'The Ladder Shelf' has a collection

Category

Vintage 1950s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Shelves

Materials

Metal

String Shelf with Black Ladder and Teak Wood by Nisse Strinning, 1960s
String Shelf with Black Ladder and Teak Wood by Nisse Strinning, 1960s

String Shelf with Black Ladder and Teak Wood by Nisse Strinning, 1960s

By String Design AB, Nils Nisse Strinning

Located in Karis, Nyland

Wall shelf by Nisse Strinning in teak wood. Worldwide free shipping.

Category

Vintage 1960s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Shelves

Materials

Metal

60s dark teak Nisse Strinning wall hanging shelf with 4 shelves + magazine rack
60s dark teak Nisse Strinning wall hanging shelf with 4 shelves + magazine rack

60s dark teak Nisse Strinning wall hanging shelf with 4 shelves + magazine rack

By Nils Nisse Strinning

Located in München, DE

veneer. Two ladders are 20 cm deep and have two 20 cm deep shelves. Two ladders have a depth of 30 cm and

Category

Vintage 1960s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Shelves

Materials

Metal

1960s Nisse Strinning teak string shelf with one magazine rack and two shelves
1960s Nisse Strinning teak string shelf with one magazine rack and two shelves

1960s Nisse Strinning teak string shelf with one magazine rack and two shelves

By Nils Nisse Strinning

Located in München, DE

be combined with other string shelves. (18) Total height of ladder: 76 cm 29.9" Width shelves: 78

Category

Vintage 1960s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Shelves

Materials

Metal

Original 1960s Nisse Strinning teak string shelf with a drawer and 2 shelves
Original 1960s Nisse Strinning teak string shelf with a drawer and 2 shelves

Original 1960s Nisse Strinning teak string shelf with a drawer and 2 shelves

By Nils Nisse Strinning

Located in München, DE

height of ladder: 76 cm 29.9" Shelves and drawer: 30 x 39 cm 11.8" x 15.35" Thickness of a shelf: 2 cm

Category

Vintage 1960s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Shelves

Materials

Metal

1950s Shelving System, Nils Strinning
1950s Shelving System, Nils Strinning

1950s Shelving System, Nils Strinning

By String Design AB, Nils Nisse Strinning

Located in Neuss, NW

metal ladders in black with four shelves, one container with two drawers and one container with hinged

Category

Antique 1650s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Shelves and Wall Cabinets

Materials

Metal

Brazilian Modern Wall Unit
Brazilian Modern Wall Unit

Brazilian Modern Wall Unit

Located in Brooklyn, NY

A rare & smart mid-century piece with eleven adjustable shelves, three black ladder-form vertical

Category

Vintage 1960s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Shelves and Wall Cabinets

Materials

Metal

Mid-Century Poul Cadovius Royal System Wall Unit, Teak, Integrated Desk
Mid-Century Poul Cadovius Royal System Wall Unit, Teak, Integrated Desk

Mid-Century Poul Cadovius Royal System Wall Unit, Teak, Integrated Desk

By Royal System, Poul Cadovius

Located in Los Angeles, CA

, combining functional storage with elegant Danish Modern design. The unit features black lacquered ladder

Category

Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Shelves and Wall Cabinets

Materials

Metal, Enamel

Original 1960s Nisse Strinning String Shelf Made of Teak
Original 1960s Nisse Strinning String Shelf Made of Teak

Original 1960s Nisse Strinning String Shelf Made of Teak

By Nils Nisse Strinning

Located in München, DE

Original 1960s Nisse Strinning String wall shelf with 5 shelves and 4 black ladders. Three shelves

Category

Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Shelves

Materials

Metal

1950s Shelving System, Nils Strinning
1950s Shelving System, Nils Strinning

1950s Shelving System, Nils Strinning

By Nils Nisse Strinning, String Design AB

Located in Neuss, NW

three metal ladders in black with four shelves, one magazine rack and one foldable container. This

Category

Vintage 1940s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Shelves

Materials

Metal

Extra Large Vintage Retro Metal Tomado Shelving Rack
Extra Large Vintage Retro Metal Tomado Shelving Rack

Extra Large Vintage Retro Metal Tomado Shelving Rack

By Tomado, Adriaan Dekker

Located in Markington, GB

Lovely tomado rack in very good vintage condition, the rack comes with eight ladders and twelve

Category

Mid-20th Century Dutch Mid-Century Modern Shelves

Materials

Metal

1950s Shelving System, Nils Strinning
1950s Shelving System, Nils Strinning

1950s Shelving System, Nils Strinning

By Nils Nisse Strinning

Located in Neuss, NW

metal ladders in white with two shelves and a hinged desk with foldable stand. This original String

Category

Vintage 1950s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Shelves

Materials

Metal

1950s Shelving System, Nils Strinning
1950s Shelving System, Nils Strinning

1950s Shelving System, Nils Strinning

By Nils Nisse Strinning, String Design AB

Located in Neuss, NW

metal ladders in white with two shelves and a hinged desk with foldable stand. This original String

Category

Vintage 1950s German Mid-Century Modern Shelves

Materials

Metal

Industrial Hand-Made Welded Steel Open Shelving Unit
Industrial Hand-Made Welded Steel Open Shelving Unit

Industrial Hand-Made Welded Steel Open Shelving Unit

Located in Vancouver, British Columbia

of 'ladder' design, the shelves reinforced and divided by vertical welded uprights. A very sturdy and

Category

Late 20th Century French Industrial Shelves

Materials

Steel

Tomado Metal Wall Unit 1960s Holland
Tomado Metal Wall Unit 1960s Holland

Tomado Metal Wall Unit 1960s Holland

By Tomado

Located in Den Haag, NL

A real design classic this Tomado wall rack, Two ladders with 3 shelves, In the colors red yellow

Category

Vintage 1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Shelves

Materials

Metal

1960s WHB Shelving System in Teak
1960s WHB Shelving System in Teak

1960s WHB Shelving System in Teak

Located in Paris, FR

Regal WHB shelving system in teak. Black metal ladders with four shelves and one storage container

Category

Vintage 1960s Scandinavian Modern Shelves

Materials

Metal

1960s Teak Vintage Ladderax Shelving Bookcase
1960s Teak Vintage Ladderax Shelving Bookcase

1960s Teak Vintage Ladderax Shelving Bookcase

By Staples & Co. Ltd

Located in London, GB

comes with four ladder rails, and twelve shelves. Eight of the shelves are full depth, the top four on

Category

Mid-20th Century British Mid-Century Modern Shelves

Materials

Teak

1960s Teak Vintage Ladderax Shelving
1960s Teak Vintage Ladderax Shelving

1960s Teak Vintage Ladderax Shelving

By Staples & Co. Ltd

Located in London, GB

comes with three ladder rails, and ten shelves. Six of the shelves are full depth, the top four are

Category

Vintage 1960s English Mid-Century Modern Shelves

Materials

Teak

1950s Shelving system, Nils Strinning
1950s Shelving system, Nils Strinning

1950s Shelving system, Nils Strinning

By Nils Nisse Strinning, String Design AB

Located in Neuss, NW

metal ladders in white with three shelves, two containers with sliding doors, one container with a flap

Category

Vintage 1940s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Shelves

Materials

Metal

1960s Danish Teak Corner Wall Shelf
1960s Danish Teak Corner Wall Shelf

1960s Danish Teak Corner Wall Shelf

Located in High Point, NC

1960. This piece features three shelves and ladder-like ends. Rounded edges balance the clean lines of

Category

Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Shelves

Materials

Teak

1970s CSS Modular Wall Unit by George Nelson for Herman Miller
1970s CSS Modular Wall Unit by George Nelson for Herman Miller

1970s CSS Modular Wall Unit by George Nelson for Herman Miller

By George Nelson, Herman Miller

Located in Paris, FR

composed of four vertical ladders, seven shelves and five storage containers. The four ladders can be fixed

Category

Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Shelves

Materials

Stainless Steel

20th Century Poul Cadovius Royal System Modular Wall Furniture in Teak
20th Century Poul Cadovius Royal System Modular Wall Furniture in Teak

20th Century Poul Cadovius Royal System Modular Wall Furniture in Teak

By Poul Cadovius

Located in Paris, FR

fixations. It is composed of four vertical ladders with six shelves and three containers as follow: One

Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Shelves

Materials

Teak

Unusual Ladder Style Bookcase
Unusual Ladder Style Bookcase

Unusual Ladder Style Bookcase

Located in Brooklyn, NY

Vintage shelving unit in an angled ladder style, featuring five shelves and bottom drawer. Slender

Category

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Bookcases

Large Shelving Unit with Rolling Library Ladder, circa 1920
Large Shelving Unit with Rolling Library Ladder, circa 1920

Large Shelving Unit with Rolling Library Ladder, circa 1920

Located in Surrey, BC

rolling library-style ladder, and features multiple open shelves backed by bead board. The large cabinet

Category

Vintage 1920s Canadian Industrial Apothecary Cabinets

Materials

Pine, Oak

Early Dutch Modernist Two Section Slatted Bookshelf with Ladder Sides
Early Dutch Modernist Two Section Slatted Bookshelf with Ladder Sides

Early Dutch Modernist Two Section Slatted Bookshelf with Ladder Sides

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Minimal two section early Dutch Modernist bookshelf with ladder sides and removable slatted shelves

Category

Mid-20th Century Dutch Mid-Century Modern Bookcases

Materials

Wood

Library Wall
Library Wall

Library Wall

Sold|$8,500

Library Wall

Located in Seattle, WA

Vintage wood faux bamboo working library wall with rolling ladder and adjustable shelves.

Category

Mid-20th Century Bookcases

1960s Vintage Teak Ladderax Wall Unit Bookcase Cabinet
1960s Vintage Teak Ladderax Wall Unit Bookcase Cabinet

1960s Vintage Teak Ladderax Wall Unit Bookcase Cabinet

By Robert Heal, Staples & Co. Ltd

Located in London, GB

, two open teak cabinets with adjustable glass shelves, four teak ladder rails and metal supports that

Category

Vintage 1960s British Mid-Century Modern Bookcases

Materials

Teak

Large Cadovius Shelving System, 4 Panels
Large Cadovius Shelving System, 4 Panels

Large Cadovius Shelving System, 4 Panels

By Poul Cadovius

Located in Paris, FR

wall system is composed of four vertical ladders with 10 shelves and 4 containers as follow: - 10

Category

20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Bookcases

Materials

Teak

20th Century Cadovius Wall System, 4 Panels
20th Century Cadovius Wall System, 4 Panels

20th Century Cadovius Wall System, 4 Panels

By Poul Cadovius

Located in Paris, FR

shelving system is composed of four vertical ladders with 11 shelves and 4 containers as follow: - 10

Category

20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Bookcases

Materials

Teak

20th Century Poul Cadovius Oak Wall Unit System
20th Century Poul Cadovius Oak Wall Unit System

20th Century Poul Cadovius Oak Wall Unit System

By Poul Cadovius, Royal System

Located in Paris, FR

Poul Cadovius oak wall unit system from the 1960s. It is composed of four vertical ladders with

Category

Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Bookcases

Materials

Metal

French Ash Library Ladder or Shelves with Five Steps, circa 1900
French Ash Library Ladder or Shelves with Five Steps, circa 1900

French Ash Library Ladder or Shelves with Five Steps, circa 1900

Located in Fayetteville, AR

Originally used in a French library, this folding ladder constructed of ash would be a handsome

Category

Early 20th Century French Ladders

Materials

Ash

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Ladder Shelves For Sale on 1stDibs

At 1stDibs, there are several options of ladder shelves available for sale. Each of these unique ladder shelves was constructed with extraordinary care, often using wood, metal and hardwood. There are all kinds of ladder shelves available, from those produced as long ago as the 20th Century to those made as recently as the 21st Century. Ladder shelves are generally popular furniture pieces, but Mid-Century Modern, Modern and Scandinavian Modern styles are often sought at 1stDibs. Nils Nisse Strinning, String Design AB and Kajsa Strinning each produced beautiful ladder shelves that are worth considering.

How Much are Ladder Shelves?

Ladder shelves can differ in price owing to various characteristics — the average selling price at 1stDibs is $1,848, while the lowest priced sells for $595 and the highest can go for as much as $48,000.

Finding the Right Case Pieces And Storage Cabinets for You

Of all the vintage storage cabinets and antique case pieces that have become popular in modern interiors over the years, dressers, credenzas and cabinets have long been home staples, perfect for routine storage or protection of personal items. 

In the mid-19th century, cabinetmakers would mimic styles originating in the Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI eras for their dressers, bookshelves and other structures, and, later, simpler, streamlined wood designs allowed these “case pieces” or “case goods” — any furnishing that is unupholstered and has some semblance of a storage component — to blend into the background of any interior. 

Mid-century modern furniture enthusiasts will cite the tall modular wall units crafted in teak and other sought-after woods of the era by the likes of George Nelson, Poul Cadovius and Finn Juhl. For these highly customizable furnishings, designers of the day delivered an alternative to big, heavy bookcases by considering the use of space — and, in particular, walls — in new and innovative ways. Mid-century modern credenzas, which, long and low, evolved from tables that were built as early as the 14th century in Italy, typically have no legs or very short legs and have grown in popularity as an alluring storage option over time. 

Although the name immediately invokes images of clothing, dressers were initially created in Europe for a much different purpose. This furnishing was initially a flat-surfaced, low-profile side table equipped with a few drawers — a common fixture used to dress and prepare meats in English kitchens throughout the Tudor period. The drawers served as perfect utensil storage. It wasn’t until the design made its way to North America that it became enlarged and equipped with enough space to hold clothing and cosmetics. The very history of case pieces is a testament to their versatility and well-earned place in any room. 

In the spirit of positioning your case goods center stage, decluttering can now be design-minded.

A contemporary case piece with open shelving and painted wood details can prove functional as a storage unit as easily as it can a room divider. Alternatively, apothecary cabinets are charming case goods similar in size to early dressers or commodes but with uniquely sized shelving and (often numerous) drawers.

Whether you’re seeking a playful sideboard that features colored glass and metal details, an antique Italian hand-carved storage cabinet or a glass-door vitrine to store and show off your collectibles, there are options for you on 1stDibs.

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