Skip to main content

Pierre Chapo B17

Pierre Chapo B17 1960’s bookcase
Pierre Chapo B17 1960’s bookcase

Pierre Chapo B17 1960’s bookcase

$37,775

H 71.66 in W 72.05 in D 13.78 in

Pierre Chapo B17 1960’s bookcase

By Pierre Chapo

Located in PAU, FR

Pierre chapo B17 original bookcase from the 1960’s in elm.

Category

Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Bookcases

Materials

Elm

Pierre Chapo 'B17' Handcrafted Elm Shelf for Chapo Création
Pierre Chapo 'B17' Handcrafted Elm Shelf for Chapo Création

Pierre Chapo 'B17' Handcrafted Elm Shelf for Chapo Création

By Pierre Chapo, Chapo Creation

Located in Glendale, CA

Pierre Chapo 'B17' Handcrafted Elm Shelf for Chapo Création.

Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Mid-Century Modern Shelves and Wall...

Materials

Hardwood, Elm

ierre Chapo B17 Bookshelf, Designed 1967, Handcrafted by Chapo Créations, France
ierre Chapo B17 Bookshelf, Designed 1967, Handcrafted by Chapo Créations, France

ierre Chapo B17 Bookshelf, Designed 1967, Handcrafted by Chapo Créations, France

By Chapo Creation, Pierre Chapo

Located in Amsterdam, NL

First presented at the Salon des Arts Ménagers in Paris in 1967, Pierre Chapo’s B17 bookshelf exemplifies the designer’s mastery of proportion, structure, and material integrity.

Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Mid-Century Modern Shelves and Wall...

Materials

Elm

Pierre Chapo Special Black Edition Wall-Mounted Book Shelve B17
Pierre Chapo Special Black Edition Wall-Mounted Book Shelve B17

Pierre Chapo Special Black Edition Wall-Mounted Book Shelve B17

By Pierre Chapo, Chapo Creation

Located in Barcelona, ES

Special black edition of B17 wall-mounted book shelve designed by Pierre Chapo, circa 1970 in France.

Category

2010s French Mid-Century Modern Shelves

Materials

Wood

Pierre Chapo, "B17 LONGUE" Bookshelf, circa 1967
Pierre Chapo, "B17 LONGUE" Bookshelf, circa 1967

Pierre Chapo, "B17 LONGUE" Bookshelf, circa 1967

$60,000

H 72.05 in W 111.82 in D 13.78 in

Pierre Chapo, "B17 LONGUE" Bookshelf, circa 1967

By Pierre Chapo

Located in New York, NY

"B17 Longue" bookshelf by Pierre Chapo, circa 1967, in elmwood.

Category

Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Shelves

Materials

Elm

Recent Sales

Long Bookcase B17 C by Pierre Chapo 1976 in French Elm
Long Bookcase B17 C by Pierre Chapo 1976 in French Elm

Long Bookcase B17 C by Pierre Chapo 1976 in French Elm

Unavailable

H 72.05 in W 111.82 in D 13.78 in

Long Bookcase B17 C by Pierre Chapo 1976 in French Elm

By Pierre Chapo

Located in Lyon, FR

Rare, 284 cm long shelf by Pierre Chapo from 1976 in French elm, a now very rare wood, this component of four shelves fixed below eight consoles which wedge the books. The two vertic...

Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Bookcases

Materials

Elm

Pierre Chapo B17 Wall Mounted Shelf
Pierre Chapo B17 Wall Mounted Shelf

Pierre Chapo B17 Wall Mounted Shelf

Sold

H 72.05 in W 72.05 in D 13.78 in

Pierre Chapo B17 Wall Mounted Shelf

By Pierre Chapo

Located in Geneva, CH

"B17" solid elm wall mounted shelf by Pierre Chapo, France, circa 1960.

Category

Vintage 1960s French Shelves

Materials

Elm

1960s Pierre Chapo B17 C Bookshelf in Elmwood
1960s Pierre Chapo B17 C Bookshelf in Elmwood

1960s Pierre Chapo B17 C Bookshelf in Elmwood

Sold

H 72.45 in W 111.42 in D 13.78 in

1960s Pierre Chapo B17 C Bookshelf in Elmwood

By Pierre Chapo

Located in Paris, FR

Chapo Pierre (1927-1986). Important suspended library "B17" C (the largest), circa 1965.

Category

Vintage 1960s French Shelves

Materials

Elm

Pierre Chapo B17 Bookshelf in Solid Elm, France, 1960s
Pierre Chapo B17 Bookshelf in Solid Elm, France, 1960s

Pierre Chapo B17 Bookshelf in Solid Elm, France, 1960s

Sold

H 72.05 in W 88.98 in D 13.98 in

Pierre Chapo B17 Bookshelf in Solid Elm, France, 1960s

By Pierre Chapo

Located in Utrecht, NL

This elemental wooden bookshelf, ‘The Bibliothèque’ model no. B17, is one of the most quintessential pieces designed by Pierre Chapo.

Category

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

Materials

Elm

Pierre Chapo B17 Book Shelve in Solid French Elm, 1960
Pierre Chapo B17 Book Shelve in Solid French Elm, 1960

Pierre Chapo B17 Book Shelve in Solid French Elm, 1960

Sold

H 74.81 in W 88.98 in L 74.81 in

Pierre Chapo B17 Book Shelve in Solid French Elm, 1960

By Pierre Chapo

Located in Antwerp, BE

Pierre Chapo, bibliothèque, model no. B17, elm, France, 1960s.

Category

Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Shelves

Materials

Elm

Pierre Chapo Large Wall Unit Model B17, French Elm, circa 1967
Pierre Chapo Large Wall Unit Model B17, French Elm, circa 1967

Pierre Chapo Large Wall Unit Model B17, French Elm, circa 1967

By Pierre Chapo

Located in Santa Gertrudis, Baleares

Original "B17" bookshelf by Pierre Chapo, circa 1967, in French elmwood.

Category

Vintage 1970s French Mid-Century Modern Shelves

Materials

Elm

Early 'B17' Bibliothèque in solid elm by Pierre Chapo, France 1960s
Early 'B17' Bibliothèque in solid elm by Pierre Chapo, France 1960s

Early 'B17' Bibliothèque in solid elm by Pierre Chapo, France 1960s

By Pierre Chapo

Located in Sittard, LI

Original and early B17 Bibliothèque designed by Pierre Chapo, France 1960s.

Category

Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Bookcases

Materials

Elm

Chapo B17 Book Shelve in Solid French Elm, 1960
Chapo B17 Book Shelve in Solid French Elm, 1960

Chapo B17 Book Shelve in Solid French Elm, 1960

Sold

H 74.81 in W 88.98 in L 74.81 in

Chapo B17 Book Shelve in Solid French Elm, 1960

By Pierre Chapo

Located in Antwerp, BE

Pierre Chapo, bibliothèque, model no. B17, elm, France, 1960s.

Category

Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Shelves

Materials

Elm

Rare and Large Pierre Chapo 'B17' Library in Solid Elm
Rare and Large Pierre Chapo 'B17' Library in Solid Elm

Rare and Large Pierre Chapo 'B17' Library in Solid Elm

Sold

H 71.86 in W 88.98 in D 13.78 in

Rare and Large Pierre Chapo 'B17' Library in Solid Elm

By Pierre Chapo

Located in Waalwijk, NL

Pierre Chapo, Bibliothèque, model no. B17, elm, France, 1967.

Category

Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Shelves

Materials

Elm

Pierre Chapo B17 (B) Wall Bookshelf 226 CM 1960's
Pierre Chapo B17 (B) Wall Bookshelf 226 CM 1960's

Pierre Chapo B17 (B) Wall Bookshelf 226 CM 1960's

By Pierre Chapo

Located in San Francisco, CA

An instantly recognizable Pierre Chapo wall hanging bookshelf consists of 4 horizontal solid elm slats that rests under 8 brackets. Chapo playfully turned this around and put the bra...

Category

Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Shelves

Materials

Elm

Early Pierre Chapo Version 'B17' Bibliothèque in Solid Elm
Early Pierre Chapo Version 'B17' Bibliothèque in Solid Elm

Early Pierre Chapo Version 'B17' Bibliothèque in Solid Elm

By Pierre Chapo

Located in Waalwijk, NL

Pierre Chapo, bibliothèque, model no. B17, elm, France, 1960s. 

Category

Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Shelves

Materials

Elm

Pierre Chapo French Elm Wall Unit, Model B17, France, 1967
Pierre Chapo French Elm Wall Unit, Model B17, France, 1967

Pierre Chapo French Elm Wall Unit, Model B17, France, 1967

By Pierre Chapo

Located in Antwerp, BE

Pierre Chapo; French elm; wall unit; bookshelf; Model B17; France; 1967; 1960s Design; wood; French Design; French Craftsmanship; This wall unit, known as model B17, was created b...

Category

Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Shelves

Materials

Elm

Pierre Chapo Mid-Century Modern B17 Book Shelves, circa 1960
Pierre Chapo Mid-Century Modern B17 Book Shelves, circa 1960

Pierre Chapo Mid-Century Modern B17 Book Shelves, circa 1960

By Pierre Chapo

Located in Barcelona, Barcelona

Wall book shelves designed by Pierre Chapo, circa 1960 in France. Manufactured by Pierre Chapo in Elmwood. In original condition, with wear consistent with age and use, preserving ...

Category

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

Materials

Elm

Pierre Chapo's Superb B17 B Bookcase
Pierre Chapo's Superb B17 B Bookcase

Pierre Chapo's Superb B17 B Bookcase

Sold

H 72 in W 89 in D 13.75 in

Pierre Chapo's Superb B17 B Bookcase

By Pierre Chapo

Located in PARIS, FR

Pierre Chapo (1927-1987) ? Wonderful B17 B bookcase in solid elm.

Category

Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Bookcases

Materials

Elm

Model 'B17 A' Bibliotheque by Pierre Chapo
Model 'B17 A' Bibliotheque by Pierre Chapo

Model 'B17 A' Bibliotheque by Pierre Chapo

Sold

H 72.05 in W 72.05 in D 13.39 in

Model 'B17 A' Bibliotheque by Pierre Chapo

By Pierre Chapo

Located in Maastricht, NL

A wooden model 'B17 A' bibliothèque by Pierre Chapo. The unit consist of four wall-mounted book shelves that rest on robust brackets.

Category

Vintage 1970s French Mid-Century Modern Shelves

Materials

Elm

Pierre Chapo's iconic solid elm bookcase B 17
Pierre Chapo's iconic solid elm bookcase B 17

Pierre Chapo's iconic solid elm bookcase B 17

By Pierre Chapo

Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR

Pierre Chapo's iconic solid elm bookcase 1967 Pierre Chapo's bookcases are highly regarded on the art market for their purity of design and quality. Presented for the first time in ...

Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Bookcases

Materials

Elm

Bookshelf B17 A by Pierre Chapo from 1970 in French Elm 1st Edition
Bookshelf B17 A by Pierre Chapo from 1970 in French Elm 1st Edition

Bookshelf B17 A by Pierre Chapo from 1970 in French Elm 1st Edition

By Pierre Chapo

Located in Lyon, FR

Bookshelf B17 A by Pierre Chapo from 1970 in French Elm 1st edition.

Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Bookcases

Materials

Elm

Pierre Chapo Model B 17 A Wall-Mounted Book Shelves, circa 1960
Pierre Chapo Model B 17 A Wall-Mounted Book Shelves, circa 1960

Pierre Chapo Model B 17 A Wall-Mounted Book Shelves, circa 1960

By Pierre Chapo

Located in Lyon, FR

A shelf B 17 A Pierre Chapo in French elm. This shelf consists of four removable trays.

Category

Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Bookcases

Materials

Elm

People Also Browsed

'Plissé White Edition' Pleated Textile Table Lamp by Folkform for Örsjö
'Plissé White Edition' Pleated Textile Table Lamp by Folkform for Örsjö

'Plissé White Edition' Pleated Textile Table Lamp by Folkform for Örsjö

By Örsjö Industri AB

Located in Glendale, CA

'Plissé White Edition' pleated textile table lamp by Folkform for Örsjö. This unique table lamp was awarded “Lighting of the Year 2022” by Residence Magazine Sweden, who called it “...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Textile

Hans-Agne Jakobsson 'Mini-Tratten' Verdigris Patinated Outdoor Sconce
Hans-Agne Jakobsson 'Mini-Tratten' Verdigris Patinated Outdoor Sconce

Hans-Agne Jakobsson 'Mini-Tratten' Verdigris Patinated Outdoor Sconce

By Hans-Agne Jakobsson, Örsjö Industri AB

Located in Glendale, CA

Hans-Agne Jakobsson 'Mini-Tratten' verdigris patinated outdoor sconce. An exclusive made for U.S. and UL listed authorized re-edition of the classic Swedish design executed in rich v...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Scandinavian Modern Wall Lights an...

Materials

Metal

LU Swing Sconce
LU Swing Sconce

LU Swing Sconce

$1,800 / item

H 15 in W 5 in D 25.25 in

LU Swing Sconce

By Lumfardo Luminaires

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Beautiful brass LU swing sconce made by Lumfardo Luminaires in patinated brass. Wired with an E26 medium based socket. Light bulb provided as well as all mounting hardware. Priced in...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights an...

Materials

Brass

Bertu Counter Stools, White Oak Counter Stool, Chile Stool
Bertu Counter Stools, White Oak Counter Stool, Chile Stool

Bertu Counter Stools, White Oak Counter Stool, Chile Stool

By Bertu Furniture

Located in Oak Harbor, OH

Bertu Counter Stools, White Oak Counter Stool, Chile Stool This White Oak Chile Counter Stool is beautifully constructed from solid wood in Ohio, USA. The stool is chunky and modern...

Category

2010s American Modern Stools

Materials

Wood, Oak

Solana Wall Sconces
Solana Wall Sconces

Solana Wall Sconces

$2,500 / set

H 13 in W 5 in D 6 in

Solana Wall Sconces

By Blueprint Lighting

Located in Westport, CT

The "Solana" wall mount sconce or reading light is strongly influenced by Scandinavian, Danish, French, and Italian Mid-Century Modernism. The walnut back plate (available in natural...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights an...

Materials

Enamel, Brass

Paavo Tynell 'Model 5321' Brass and Rattan Table Lamp
Paavo Tynell 'Model 5321' Brass and Rattan Table Lamp

Paavo Tynell 'Model 5321' Brass and Rattan Table Lamp

By Gubi, Paavo Tynell

Located in Glendale, CA

Paavo Tynell 'Model 5321' Brass and Rattan Table Lamp Originally designed by Paavo Tynell in 1938, this authorized GUBI re-edition is executed in brass and rattan. The 5321 table la...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Finnish Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Metal, Brass

Pierre Chapo S34 Dining Chair in Solid Elm, Chapo Creation, France
Pierre Chapo S34 Dining Chair in Solid Elm, Chapo Creation, France

Pierre Chapo S34 Dining Chair in Solid Elm, Chapo Creation, France

By Pierre Chapo, Chapo Creation

Located in The Hague, NL

This striking four-legged chair is the model S34 designed by Pierre Chapo in 1973. This iconic design is marked by its four bundled legs, polygonal shaped seat and asymmetrical backr...

Category

2010s French Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs

Materials

Elm

LUhans Indoor Outdoor Sconce 'Pat Cop'
LUhans Indoor Outdoor Sconce 'Pat Cop'

LUhans Indoor Outdoor Sconce 'Pat Cop'

$1,400 / item

H 6 in W 6 in D 7.75 in

LUhans Indoor Outdoor Sconce 'Pat Cop'

By Lumfardo Luminaires

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Part of our Lumfardo Luminaries contemporary collection, this LUhans patinated un-lacquered copper indoor outdoor sconce is inspired by Scandinavian mid-century design. Wired with a ...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Scandinavian Modern Wall Lights a...

Materials

Copper

Crackle Textured Handmade Ceramic Mushroom Lamp, Blue
Crackle Textured Handmade Ceramic Mushroom Lamp, Blue

Crackle Textured Handmade Ceramic Mushroom Lamp, Blue

$1,250 / item

H 16 in W 11.5 in D 11.5 in

Crackle Textured Handmade Ceramic Mushroom Lamp, Blue

By Streicher Goods, Ethan Streicher

Located in Brooklyn, NY

Every mushroom lamp is hand-made and hand-painted by Ethan Streicher, the founder and designer behind the Streicher Goods brand in Brooklyn, NY. The lamp's silhouette is simple and c...

Category

2010s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Brass

Sculptural Scandinavian Modern Chair in Wood Denmark - 1960s
Sculptural Scandinavian Modern Chair in Wood Denmark - 1960s

Sculptural Scandinavian Modern Chair in Wood Denmark - 1960s

Located in Berlin, DE

Sculptural Scandinavian Modern Chair in Wood, Denmark - 1960s.

Category

Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Wood

Parchment, Brass and Glass Table Lamp by Diego Mardegan for Glustin Luminaires
Parchment, Brass and Glass Table Lamp by Diego Mardegan for Glustin Luminaires

Parchment, Brass and Glass Table Lamp by Diego Mardegan for Glustin Luminaires

By Diego Mardegan

Located in Saint-Ouen, IDF

Ventola table lamp by the artist Diego Mardegan exclusively for Glustin Luminaires. Beautiful two ways shade made of a brass structure, parchemin paper and waxed fabric hold by an...

Category

2010s Italian Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Brass

Charlotte Perriand Nuage À Plots for Cassina, Italy, new
Charlotte Perriand Nuage À Plots for Cassina, Italy, new

Charlotte Perriand Nuage À Plots for Cassina, Italy, new

$8,251 / item

H 43.71 in W 114.97 in D 13.39 in

Charlotte Perriand Nuage À Plots for Cassina, Italy, new

By Charlotte Perriand, Cassina

Located in Berlin, DE

Prices vary dependent on the material/color/model of the product. Nuage à Plots by Charlotte Perriand belongs to a select group of furnishings that are archetypal in the way of inte...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Shelves

Materials

Aluminum

Bertu Nightstand, Suelo Modern Oak Nightstand
Bertu Nightstand, Suelo Modern Oak Nightstand

Bertu Nightstand, Suelo Modern Oak Nightstand

$1,850 / item

H 23.5 in W 20 in D 18 in

Bertu Nightstand, Suelo Modern Oak Nightstand

By Bertu Furniture

Located in Oak Harbor, OH

Bertu Nightstand, Suelo® Modern Oak Nightstand This Suelo® Nightstand in Oak is made in the heart of Ohio with locally sourced wood. Each piece is hand-made with solid oak and fini...

Category

2010s American Modern Night Stands

Materials

Wood, Oak

Pierre Chapo S31A Stool in Solid Elm, Chapo Creation, France, 2025
Pierre Chapo S31A Stool in Solid Elm, Chapo Creation, France, 2025

Pierre Chapo S31A Stool in Solid Elm, Chapo Creation, France, 2025

By Pierre Chapo, Chapo Creation

Located in The Hague, NL

This striking three-legged stool is the Model S31, designed by Pierre Chapo in 1974. It features a cross-legged base and a round seat, both crafted from solid elm wood. The stool can...

Category

2010s French Mid-Century Modern Stools

Materials

Elm

George Nakashima Studio Minguren II Coffee Table
George Nakashima Studio Minguren II Coffee Table

George Nakashima Studio Minguren II Coffee Table

$65,000

H 15 in W 50.75 in D 24.5 in

George Nakashima Studio Minguren II Coffee Table

By George Nakashima, George Nakashima Studio

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Coffee table from American mid-century craftsman George Nakashima. The table crafted of black walnut, c.1988 features a live edge slab table top with single spindle support and live ...

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Walnut

Asymmetric Wall Shelf, France, 1960s/70s
Asymmetric Wall Shelf, France, 1960s/70s

Asymmetric Wall Shelf, France, 1960s/70s

On Hold|$6,017

H 62.21 in W 61.82 in D 7.88 in

Asymmetric Wall Shelf, France, 1960s/70s

By Pierre Chapo, José Zanine Caldas

Located in Lewes, East Sussex

Unique asymmetric wall shelf, France, 1960s/70s. In original condition. One shelf has a hole (see photos). Fast shipping worldwide.

Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Shelves

Materials

Wood

Get Updated with New Arrivals
Save "Pierre Chapo B17", and we’ll notify you when there are new listings in this category.

Pierre Chapo B17 For Sale on 1stDibs

With a vast inventory of beautiful furniture at 1stDibs, we’ve got just the pierre chapo b17 you’re looking for. Frequently made of wood, elm and hardwood, every pierre chapo b17 was constructed with great care. There are 10 variations of the antique or vintage pierre chapo b17 you’re looking for, while we also have 1 modern editions of this piece to choose from as well. Whether you’re looking for an older or newer pierre chapo b17, there are earlier versions available from the 20th Century and newer variations made as recently as the 21st Century. A pierre chapo b17, designed in the Mid-Century Modern style, is generally a popular piece of furniture.

How Much is a Pierre Chapo B17?

The average selling price for a pierre chapo b17 at 1stDibs is $26,675, while they’re typically $8,340 on the low end and $48,000 for the highest priced.

Pierre Chapo for sale on 1stDibs

Pierre Chapo, who was born in Paris, France, in July 1927, was initially interested in becoming a professional painter. However, after a chance meeting with a shipbuilder who introduced him to wood and woodworking, Chapo changed his focus and decided to study architectural studies at the prestigious École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris.

After graduating, Chapo and his wife, the sculptor and painter Nicole Lormier, started traveling extensively through Scandinavia and Central America. Among the many places the couple visited was Taliesin West, the home and studio of Frank Lloyd Wright — a visit that had a lasting influence on Chapo’s future work and designs.

Find a collection of vintage Pierre Chapo coffee tables, stools and other furniture today on 1stDibs.

(Biography provided by H. Gallery)

A Close Look at Mid-century Modern Furniture

Organically shaped, clean-lined and elegantly simple are three terms that well describe vintage mid-century modern furniture. The style, which emerged primarily in the years following World War II, is characterized by pieces that were conceived and made in an energetic, optimistic spirit by creators who believed that good design was an essential part of good living.

ORIGINS OF MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGN

CHARACTERISTICS OF MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGN

MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNERS TO KNOW

ICONIC MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNS

VINTAGE MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE ON 1STDIBS

The mid-century modern era saw leagues of postwar American architects and designers animated by new ideas and new technology. The lean, functionalist International-style architecture of Le Corbusier and Bauhaus eminences Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Walter Gropius had been promoted in the United States during the 1930s by Philip Johnson and others. New building techniques, such as “post-and-beam” construction, allowed the International-style schemes to be realized on a small scale in open-plan houses with long walls of glass.

Materials developed for wartime use became available for domestic goods and were incorporated into mid-century modern furniture designs. Charles and Ray Eames and Eero Saarinen, who had experimented extensively with molded plywood, eagerly embraced fiberglass for pieces such as the La Chaise and the Womb chair, respectively. 

Architect, writer and designer George Nelson created with his team shades for the Bubble lamp using a new translucent polymer skin and, as design director at Herman Miller, recruited the Eameses, Alexander Girard and others for projects at the legendary Michigan furniture manufacturer

Harry Bertoia and Isamu Noguchi devised chairs and tables built of wire mesh and wire struts. Materials were repurposed too: The Danish-born designer Jens Risom created a line of chairs using surplus parachute straps for webbed seats and backrests.

The Risom lounge chair was among the first pieces of furniture commissioned and produced by celebrated manufacturer Knoll, a chief influencer in the rise of modern design in the United States, thanks to the work of Florence Knoll, the pioneering architect and designer who made the firm a leader in its field. The seating that Knoll created for office spaces — as well as pieces designed by Florence initially for commercial clients — soon became desirable for the home.

As the demand for casual, uncluttered furnishings grew, more mid-century furniture designers caught the spirit.

Classically oriented creators such as Edward Wormley, house designer for Dunbar Inc., offered such pieces as the sinuous Listen to Me chaise; the British expatriate T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings switched gears, creating items such as the tiered, biomorphic Mesa table. There were Young Turks such as Paul McCobb, who designed holistic groups of sleek, blond wood furniture, and Milo Baughman, who espoused a West Coast aesthetic in minimalist teak dining tables and lushly upholstered chairs and sofas with angular steel frames.

Generations turn over, and mid-century modern remains arguably the most popular style going. As the collection of vintage mid-century modern chairs, dressers, coffee tables and other furniture for the living room, dining room, bedroom and elsewhere on 1stDibs demonstrates, this period saw one of the most delightful and dramatic flowerings of creativity in design history.

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.