Open Shelf Credenza

At 1stDibs, there are many versions of the ideal open shelf credenza for your home. An open shelf credenza — often made from wood, metal and walnut — can elevate any home. Find 147 options for an antique or vintage open shelf credenza now, or shop our selection of 27 modern versions for a more contemporary example of this long-cherished piece. You’ve searched high and low for the perfect open shelf credenza — we have versions that date back to the 18th Century alongside those produced as recently as the 21st Century are available. An open shelf credenza made by mid-century modern designers — as well as those associated with modern — is very popular. A well-made open shelf credenza has long been a part of the offerings for many furniture designers and manufacturers, but those produced by Acerbis, Blake Tovin and Corinna Warm are consistently popular.

An open shelf credenza can differ in price owing to various characteristics — the average selling price 1stDibs is $5,880, while the lowest priced sells for $700 and the highest can go for as much as $168,000.

Antique and vintage credenzas can add an understated touch of grace to your home. These long and sophisticated cabinet-style pieces of furniture can serve a variety of purposes, and they look great too.

In Italy, the credenza was originally a small side table used in religious services. Appropriately, credere in Italian means “to believe.” Credenzas were a place to not only set the food ready for meals, they were also a place to test and taste prepared food for poison before a dish was served to a member of the ruling class. Later, credenza was used to describe a type of versatile narrow side table, typically used for serving food in the home. In form, a credenza has much in common with a sideboard — in fact, the terms credenza and sideboard are used almost interchangeably today.

Credenzas usually have short legs or no legs at all, and can feature drawers and cabinets. And all kinds of iterations of the credenza have seen the light of day over the years, from ornately carved walnut credenzas originating in 16th-century Tuscany to the wealth of Art Deco credenzas — with their polished surfaces and geometric patterns — to the array of innovative modernist interpretations that American furniture maker Milo Baughman created for Directional and Thayer Coggin.

The credenza’s blend of style and functionality led to its widespread use in the 20th century. Mid-century modern credenzas are particularly popular — take a look at Danish furniture designer Arne Vodder’s classic Model 29, for instance, with its reversible sliding doors and elegant drawer pulls. Hans Wegner, another Danish modernist, produced strikingly minimalist credenzas in the 1950s and ’60s, as did influential American designer Florence Knoll. Designers continue to explore new and exciting ways to update this long-loved furnishing.

Owing to its versatility and familiar low-profile form, the credenza remains popular in contemporary homes. Unlike many larger case pieces, credenzas can be placed under windows and in irregularly shaped rooms, such as foyers and entryways. This renders it a useful storage solution. In living rooms, for example, a credenza can be a sleek media console topped with plants and the rare art monographs you’ve been planning to show off. In homes with open floor plans, a credenza can help define multiple living spaces, making it ideal for loft apartments.

Browse a variety of antique and vintage credenzas for sale on 1stDibs to find the perfect fit for your home today.