Skip to main content

Umbo Shelves

Umbo Modular Shelving Unit by Kay LeRoy Ruggles for Directional
By Kay Leroy Ruggles, Directional
Located in Chicago, IL
c. 1970s. USA. Modular shelving unit with gorgeous sun fading.
Category

Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Shelves

Materials

Plastic

Umbo Modular Shelving Unit by Kay LeRoy Ruggles for Directional
By Kay Leroy Ruggles, Directional
Located in Chicago, IL
c. 1970s. USA. Modular shelving unit with gorgeous sun fading.
Category

Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Shelves

Materials

Plastic

1970s Umbo Modular Shelving Unit by Kay LeRoy Ruggles for Directional 26 Pieces
By Kay Leroy Ruggles
Located in Monrovia, CA
1970s UMBO Modular Shelving Unit Designed by Kay LeRoy Ruggles For Directional, Made In The USA, 26
Category

Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Shelves

Materials

Plastic

Recent Sales

1970’s UMBO Shelves, Kay Leroy Ruggles for Directional
By Kay Leroy Ruggles
Located in Jersey City, NJ
Very hard to find 10 piece 1970’s UMBO Shelves, Kay Leroy Ruggles for Directional. Original white
Category

20th Century Unknown Space Age Bookcases

Materials

Plastic

Umbo Shelving
By Kay Leroy Ruggles, Directional
Located in Chicago, IL
c. 1970s by Kay Leroy Ruggles for Directional and featuring a completely modular design. This unit has scuffs, chips, and a crack in one area but still reads wonderfully
Category

Vintage 1970s American Space Age Shelves and Wall Cabinets

Materials

Plastic

Umbo Shelving
Umbo Shelving
H 65 in W 33.5 in D 12 in
Umbo Shelving
By Kay Leroy Ruggles, Directional
Located in Chicago, IL
by Kay Leroy Ruggles c. 1970s in great vintage condition with minor scuffing, scratches, and other normal wear
Category

Vintage 1970s American Space Age Shelves

Materials

Plaster

Umbo Shelving
Umbo Shelving
H 72.5 in W 33.5 in D 12 in
Umbo by Joe Colombo
Located in Norwalk, CT
A very large set of Umbo shelving units designed by Joe Colombo for Directional in the early 1970s
Category

Vintage 1970s American Shelves

Umbo by Joe Colombo
Umbo by Joe Colombo
H 72 in W 116.5 in D 12 in
1970’s Orange Umbo Modular Shelving
By Kay Leroy Ruggles, Directional
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Orange Umbo modular shelving system designed by Kay Leroy Ruggles for Directional, 1970’s. in
Category

Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Shelves

Materials

Plastic

Kay Leroy Ruggles UMBO Modular Horizontal Shelve
By Kay Leroy Ruggles
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Rare Kay Leroy Ruggles UMBO modular horizontal shelve / room divider manufactured by Directional
Category

Vintage 1970s American Shelves

Materials

Plastic

Kay Leroy Ruggles UMBO Modular Horizontal Shelf
By Kay Leroy Ruggles
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Rare Kay Leroy Ruggles UMBO modular horizontal shelve / room divider manufactured by Directional
Category

Vintage 1970s American Shelves

Materials

Plastic

Umbo Modular Shelving, Kay Leroy Ruggles, 1970
By Kay Leroy Ruggles
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Brown modular Umbo storage by Kay Leroy Ruggles for Directional, 1970s. Total of 13 pieces+endcap
Category

Vintage 1970s American Space Age Shelves

Materials

Plastic

Joe Colombo designed for Directional "Umbo" shelf
Located in Ferndale, MI
Joe Colombo designed for Directional "Umbo" shelf - white plastic Wall Unit can be assembled in
Category

Vintage 1960s Shelves

Kay Leroy Ruggles Umbo Midcentury White Shelving Console
By Kay Leroy Ruggles
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Kay Leroy Ruggles umbo midcentury white shelving console Shelf measures: 49 wide x 12 deep x 25
Category

Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Shelves

Materials

Glass, Plastic

1970’s Umbo Modular Shelving by Kay Leroy Ruggles
By Kay Leroy Ruggles, Directional
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Yellow Umbo modular shelving system designed by Kay Leroy Ruggles for Directional, 1970. In
Category

Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Shelves

Materials

Plastic

Kay Leroy Ruggles Modular Umbo Console Shelf Unit Bookcase
By Kay Leroy Ruggles
Located in Brooklyn, NY
White, molded ABS plastic, modular "Umbo" shelf unit, bookcase in a console configuration by Kay
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Shelves

Materials

Plastic

Orange Umbo Shelving, Kay Leroy Ruggles for Directional, 1970s
By Kay Leroy Ruggles
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Iconic Umbo modular shelving designed by Kay Leroy Ruggles for Directional, USA 1970s. Strong
Category

Vintage 1970s American Space Age Shelves

Materials

Plastic

Umbo Corner Unit, Kay Leroy Ruggles for Directional, 1970s USA
By Kay Leroy Ruggles
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Rare 18-piece Umbo corner unit by legendary American designer Kay Leroy Ruggles for Directional. 75
Category

Vintage 1970s American Space Age Shelves

Materials

Plastic

Large Kay LeRoy Ruggles plastic modular shelving/bookcase "UMBO"
By Kay Leroy Ruggles
Located in Buffalo, NY
Normally attb. to Joe Colombo,, sleek ,elegant white wall unit, room divider. SIX FOOT. will fit seemlessly into any environment .Designed by Kay LeRoy Ruggles, for Directional indus...
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Shelves

Umbo Modular Shelving Unit Kay Leroy Ruggles for Directional, 1970s, USA
By Kay Leroy Ruggles
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Modular Umbo storage unit by Kay Leroy Ruggles for Directional, USA 1970s. Breaks down for shipping
Category

Vintage 1970s American Space Age Shelves

Materials

Plastic

Umbo Modular Shelving System, Kay Leroy Ruggles for Directional, 1971 USA
By Kay Leroy Ruggles
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Iconic and highly collectible Umbo modular shelving system by Kay Leroy Ruggles, Directional 1971
Category

Late 20th Century American Space Age Shelves

Materials

Plastic

Midcentury Pop Art Plastic Umbo Shelves by Kay Leroy Ruggles for Directional
By Kay Leroy Ruggles, Directional
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A hard to find set in the most desirable color. This Umbo set is a modular system designed by Kay
Category

Vintage 1970s American Space Age Shelves

Materials

Plastic

Orange Red Modular Plastic Umbo Bookshelf
By Directional
Located in Hopewell, NJ
1972 Kay Leroy Ruggles patented this easy "Umbo" system to make shelving, coffee tables
Category

Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Shelves

Kay Leroy Ruggles UMBO Modular Vertical Shelf
By Kay Leroy Ruggles
Located in Van Nuys, CA
-pieces/shelves/kay-leroy-ruggles-umbo-modular-horizontal-shelve/id-f_775121/ USA, 1972
Category

Vintage 1970s American Shelves

Materials

Plastic

Kay Leroy Ruggles Modular Umbo Shelf Unit Bookcase
By Kay Leroy Ruggles
Located in Brooklyn, NY
White, molded ABS plastic, modular "Umbo" shelf unit, bookcase by Kay Leroy Ruggles is made up of
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Shelves

Materials

Plastic

Space Age Umbo Modular Shelving Unit by Kay Ruggles for Directional
By Directional
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A Umbo Space Age modular shelving unit in a molded yellow ABS styled plastic containing 28 pieces
Category

Mid-20th Century American Space Age Shelves

Materials

Plastic

Kay Leroy Ruggles Two Colors Plastic Shelving/Bookcase, "UMBO" Bookcase Normally Attb to Joe Colombo
By Kay Leroy Ruggles
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This is a very smart and easy concept of build furniture, in 1972 Kay Leroy Ruggles patents the easy system to make shelvings , coffee tables and many more furniture ideas. This syst...
Category

Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Shelves

Materials

Plastic

Brown "Umbo" Modular Console by Kay Leroy Ruggles, 1970
By Kay Leroy Ruggles
Located in Los Angeles, CA
reconfigured. "Umbo" shelves are rare and increasingly difficult to source. They were only produced for 3
Category

Vintage 1970s American Post-Modern Console Tables

Materials

Plastic

Kay Leroy Ruggles Brown "UMBO" Modular Shelf Unit for Directional
By Kay Leroy Ruggles
Located in Salt Lake City, UT
Good vintage condition Has some imperfections A couple pieces have a small crack Also not all the dowels are original This unit can be re arranged in many different sizes and...
Category

Vintage 1960s Shelves

Materials

Plastic

People Also Browsed

1958 Danish Teak Royal Cado Wall Unit by Poul Cadovius
By Poul Cadovius
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Highly versatile and functional Cado wall unit in walnut by Danish designer Poul Cadovius. We currently have many different Cado pieces in stock and can customize your order to incl...
Category

Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Shelves and Wall Cabinets

Materials

Teak

1958 Danish Teak Royal Cado Wall Unit by Poul Cadovius
1958 Danish Teak Royal Cado Wall Unit by Poul Cadovius
$12,650 / set
H 78 in W 126 in D 18 in
Ettore Sottsass Callimaco Floor Lamp for Artemide
By Ettore Sottsass, Artemide
Located in Glendale, CA
Ettore Sottsass 'Callimaco' floor lamp for Artemide. Originally created in 1982, Ettore Sottsass’ “horn” of light creates the remarkable illusion of an oversized musical instrument...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps

Materials

Aluminum

Ettore Sottsass Callimaco Floor Lamp for Artemide
Ettore Sottsass Callimaco Floor Lamp for Artemide
$2,535 / item
H 78.75 in Dm 15.375 in
Afra and Tobia Scarpa Coffee Table in Walnut and Glass, Italy, 1960's
By Afra & Tobia Scarpa, Cassina
Located in Uithoorn, NL
Afra and Tobia Scarpa Coffee Table in Wood and Glass, Italy, 1960's This coffee table was designed by Afra and Tobia Scarpa in Italy, known for their refined approach to form and ma...
Category

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

Materials

Glass, Walnut

Achille Castiglioni Mid-Century Beige "Cocoon" Round Pendant, Italy 1960s
By Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
Located in Roma, IT
Stunning mid-century "cocoon" pendant with a marvelous dark beige even patina. This gorgeous cocoon ceiling lamp was designed by Achille Castiglioni in Italy in the 1960s. This coco...
Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants

Materials

Metal, Steel

JENNY Large Wall Light or Sconce in Enamel & Brass by Blueprint Lighting
By Stilnovo, Mathieu Matégot, Blueprint Lighting
Located in New York, NY
Introducing Jenny, the latest vintage-inspired fixture from Blueprint Lighting. Named for multi-hyphenate Jenny Mollen; NYT best-selling author, actress, design enthusiast, mom of ...
Category

2010s American Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Brass, Bronze, Enamel, Nickel

Clara Porset's Mexican Butaque Chair, licensed reedition by Luteca
By Luteca Furniture, Clara Porset
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Cuban-born Clara Porset was a pioneer for modern design in Mexico. Having studied architecture in New York and then Paris, she finally settled in Mexico devoting her life to champion...
Category

2010s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs

Materials

Hide, Maple

George Nakashima Straight Chair for Knoll
By Knoll, George Nakashima
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Designed by master craftsman George Nakashima for Knoll in 1946, the N19 chair was intended as a mass-produced counterpoint to the Nakashima Studio’s popular “Straight Chair.” The de...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Side Chairs

Materials

Walnut

George Nakashima Straight Chair for Knoll
George Nakashima Straight Chair for Knoll
$3,000
H 30 in W 22 in D 19.5 in
Mid-Century Large Veined Beige Cocoon Pendant by Castiglioni, Italy 1960s
By Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
Located in Roma, IT
Stunning and incredibly rare large mid-century round veined "Cocoon" chandelier designed by Achille Castilglioni and produced in Italy during the 1960s. In fabulous condition and f...
Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants

Materials

Metal, Steel

Mogens Koch for Rud Radmussen Substantial Modular Library in Pine
By Rud Rasmussen, Mogens Koch
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Mogens Koch for Rud Rasmussen, modular bookcase or library, pine, Denmark, design 1928 Intriguing and substantial modular library by Danish designer Mogens Koch. This piece is cons...
Category

Vintage 1920s Danish Scandinavian Modern Bookcases

Materials

Pine

Luigi Colani Modular Orbis Sofa Table 1969 COR Germany Orange Velvet Space Age
By Luigi Colani, COR
Located in Munster, NRW
Luigi Colani, 1969 for COR, Germany - modular Orbis sofa with original orange-red needle velvet. The fabric has a very pleasant feel, get an impression from the detail photos. The ...
Category

Vintage 1960s German Mid-Century Modern Sectional Sofas

Materials

Plywood

Shelf by Fritz Haller for USM Haller, 1960s
By Usm Haller
Located in Andrézieux-Bouthéon, FR
Shelf by Fritz Haller for USM Haller Vintage Design Original USM Haller modular shelf, having all its panels to arrange the element completely or partially. Additional information:...
Category

20th Century Swiss Space Age Shelves and Wall Cabinets

Materials

Plastic

Shelf by Fritz Haller for USM Haller, 1960s
Shelf by Fritz Haller for USM Haller, 1960s
$6,040
H 60.63 in W 89.77 in D 20.48 in
Ettore Sottsass Memphis Milano Diva Vintage Wall Mirror, Italy, 1984
By Ettore Sottsass, Memphis Milano, Memphis Group
Located in Vienna, AT
A post-modern wall-mounted mirror, Model „Diva" designed in 1984 by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano, Italy. This mirror is a vintage original from the 1980s, made from wood and mi...
Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Wall Mirrors

Materials

Glass, Mirror, Laminate, Wood

Midcentury Set of Modular Wooden Cubes by Derk Jan De Vries, Italy, 1960s
Located in Brussels, BE
Midcentury Set of Modular Wooden Cubes by Derk Jan de Vries for Domus, Italy, 1960s.
Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Shelves

Materials

Wood

'Hongisto' Pine Dining Table by Ilmari Tapiovaara for Laukaan Puu
By Ilmari Tapiovaara, Laukaan Puu
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Ilmari Tapiovaara 'Hongisto' pine dining table. The handsomely deigned table top consists of two pieces of pine wood (a favorite material for the designer) joined together. Born in ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Finnish Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables

Materials

Pine

1970's Umbo Modular Shelving System By Kay Leroy Ruggles
By Kay Leroy Ruggles, Directional
Located in Los Angeles, CA
1970's Umbo modular shelving system in canary yellow designed by Kay Leroy Ruggles for Directional. In good vintage condition.
Category

Vintage 1970s American Space Age Bookcases

Materials

Plastic

Post Modern Space Age Plastic Shelves by Olaf Von Bohr for Kartell c. 1970's
By Kartell, Olaf von Bohr
Located in New York, NY
Space Age, Postmodern plastic shelf unit, designed by Olaf Von Bohr for Kartell, made in Italy circa 1970's. This example is in very good, original, clean and ready to use condition,...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Space Age Shelves

Materials

Plastic

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

Umbo Shelves For Sale on 1stDibs

There is a range of umbo shelves for sale on 1stDibs. The range of distinct umbo shelves — often made from plastic and glass — can elevate any home. Umbo shelves have been made for many years, and versions that date back to the 20th Century alongside those produced as recently as the 20th Century. Umbo shelves are generally popular furniture pieces, but Mid-Century Modern style is often sought at 1stDibs. Kay Leroy Ruggles and Directional each produced beautiful umbo shelves that are worth considering.

How Much are Umbo Shelves?

Prices for umbo shelves start at $1,600 and top out at $4,900 with the average selling for $2,745.

Materials: Plastic Furniture

Arguably the world’s most ubiquitous man-made material, plastic has impacted nearly every industry. In contemporary spaces, new and vintage plastic furniture is quite popular and its use pairs well with a range of design styles.

From the Italian lighting artisans at Fontana Arte to venturesome Scandinavian modernists such as Verner Panton, who created groundbreaking interiors as much as he did seating — see his revolutionary Panton chair — to contemporary multidisciplinary artists like Faye Toogood, furniture designers have been pushing the boundaries of plastic forever.

When The Graduate's Mr. McGuire proclaimed, “There’s a great future in plastics,” it was more than a laugh line. The iconic quote is an allusion both to society’s reliance on and its love affair with plastic. Before the material became an integral part of our lives — used in everything from clothing to storage to beauty and beyond — people relied on earthly elements for manufacturing, a process as time-consuming as it was costly.

Soon after American inventor John Wesley Hyatt created celluloid, which could mimic luxury products like tortoiseshell and ivory, production hit fever pitch, and the floodgates opened for others to explore plastic’s full potential. The material altered the history of design — mid-century modern legends Charles and Ray Eames, Joe Colombo and Eero Saarinen regularly experimented with plastics in the development of tables and chairs, and today plastic furnishings and decorative objects are seen as often indoors as they are outside.

Find vintage plastic lounge chairs, outdoor furniture, lighting and more on 1stDibs.

Finding the Right Shelves for You

From valuable historical memorabilia to rare architectural models to priceless family photos, there’s no shortage of collectibles and curiosities worthy of adorning your home. Why not take the time to find the ideal antique, new or vintage shelves for your treasured trinkets?

For every space and object, there’s sure to be a wall-mounted or sturdy floor solution that matches your shelving needs on 1stDibs. And while shelves should technically stick out from your wall, they shouldn’t from the rest of your decor.

Because you can find shelves made with a wide variety of materials today, everything from teak to brass, your shelving can seamlessly support your existing color scheme and design style. An arrangement of shelves from floor to ceiling can turn your wall into a proud storage space for displaying artwork, decorative objects and books. Options abound with regard to shelving for the latter, as furniture designers know that literature creates an inviting atmosphere in any room, and one of the simplest ways to integrate books into an interior design is with the right shelves or bookcase.

Elegant shelving is a must for a happy home office or library, but a sharp shelving system can freshen up virtually any room in your home. Proudly display your vintage dinner plates and other tableware with open shelving in the kitchen or tuck away linens in big baskets on shelves in your bathroom if you’re navigating life without a proper linen closet.

On 1stDibs, find a wide range of shelves that includes everything from mid-century modern floating shelves to decorative Chinese shelves dating from the 18th century to contemporary statement-making structures that are as provocative as they are convenient.