Skip to main content

Umbo Shelving

1970's Umbo Modular Shelving System By Kay Leroy Ruggles
1970's Umbo Modular Shelving System By Kay Leroy Ruggles

1970's Umbo Modular Shelving System By Kay Leroy Ruggles

By Directional, Kay Leroy Ruggles

Located in Los Angeles, CA

1970's Umbo modular shelving system in canary yellow designed by Kay Leroy Ruggles for Directional

Category

Vintage 1970s American Space Age Bookcases

Materials

Plastic

Large UMBO "Architectural Wall" Modular Shelving System by Kay Leroy Ruggles
Large UMBO "Architectural Wall" Modular Shelving System by Kay Leroy Ruggles

Large UMBO "Architectural Wall" Modular Shelving System by Kay Leroy Ruggles

By Kay Leroy Ruggles

Located in San Diego, CA

Striking UMBO modular shelving system designed by Kay Leroy Ruggles and produced by Umbo Design Inc

Category

Mid-20th Century American Space Age Bookcases

Materials

Plastic

Umbo Modular Shelving Unit by Kay LeRoy Ruggles for Directional
Umbo Modular Shelving Unit by Kay LeRoy Ruggles for Directional

Umbo Modular Shelving Unit by Kay LeRoy Ruggles for Directional

By Directional, Kay Leroy Ruggles

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
Umbo Modular Shelving Unit by Kay LeRoy Ruggles for Directional

Umbo Modular Shelving Unit by Kay LeRoy Ruggles for Directional

By Directional, Kay Leroy Ruggles

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
1970s Umbo Modular Shelving Unit by Kay LeRoy Ruggles for Directional 26 Pieces

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

Umbo Shelving
Umbo Shelving

Umbo Shelving

Sold

H 72.5 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

Umbo Shelving

Sold

H 65 in W 33.5 in D 12 in

Umbo Shelving

By Directional, Kay Leroy Ruggles

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

Massive "Umbo" Shelving Unit by Kay Leroy Ruggles
Massive "Umbo" Shelving Unit by Kay Leroy Ruggles

Massive "Umbo" Shelving Unit by Kay Leroy Ruggles

By Kay Leroy Ruggles

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Four-tiered plastic bookcase/shelving unit by Kay Leroy Ruggles. Modular unit includes 34

Category

Vintage 1970s American Bookcases

Materials

Plastic

Orange Umbo Shelving, Kay Leroy Ruggles for Directional, 1970s
Orange Umbo Shelving, Kay Leroy Ruggles for Directional, 1970s

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 by Joe Colombo
Umbo by Joe Colombo

Umbo by Joe Colombo

Sold

H 72 in W 116.5 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

Modular Shelving Unit by Directional
Modular Shelving Unit by Directional

Modular Shelving Unit by Directional

Sold

H 57 in W 49.5 in D 12 in

Modular Shelving Unit by Directional

Located in Dallas, TX

Rare modular "UMBO" shelving unit produced by Directional and attributed to designer Joe Colombo

Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Shelves

Materials

Plastic

1970’s Orange Umbo Modular Shelving
1970’s Orange Umbo Modular Shelving

1970’s Orange Umbo Modular Shelving

Sold

H 34 in W 39 in D 12 in

1970’s Orange Umbo Modular Shelving

By Directional, Kay Leroy Ruggles

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

Umbo Modular Shelving, Kay Leroy Ruggles, 1970
Umbo Modular Shelving, Kay Leroy Ruggles, 1970

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

Kay Leroy Ruggles Umbo Midcentury White Shelving Console
Kay Leroy Ruggles Umbo Midcentury White Shelving Console

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
1970’s Umbo Modular Shelving by Kay Leroy Ruggles

1970’s Umbo Modular Shelving by Kay Leroy Ruggles

By Directional, Kay Leroy Ruggles

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

Large Kay LeRoy Ruggles plastic modular shelving/bookcase "UMBO"
Large Kay LeRoy Ruggles plastic modular shelving/bookcase "UMBO"

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 System, Kay Leroy Ruggles for Directional, 1971 USA
Umbo Modular Shelving System, Kay Leroy Ruggles for Directional, 1971 USA

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

Umbo Modular Shelving Unit Kay Leroy Ruggles for Directional, 1970s, USA
Umbo Modular Shelving Unit Kay Leroy Ruggles for Directional, 1970s, USA

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 by Kay Leroy Ruggles for Directional, 1972
'UMBO' Modular Shelving System by Kay Leroy Ruggles for Directional, 1972

'UMBO' Modular Shelving System by Kay Leroy Ruggles for Directional, 1972

By Kay Leroy Ruggles, Directional

Located in Los Angeles, CA

This rare shelving system is the 'UMBO' system designed in the early 1970s by Kay Leroy Ruggles for

Category

Vintage 1970s American Modern Bookcases

Materials

Plastic

1970's Brown Umbo Modular Bookshelf
1970's Brown Umbo Modular Bookshelf

1970's Brown Umbo Modular Bookshelf

Sold

H 32 in W 40 in D 12 in

1970's Brown Umbo Modular Bookshelf

By Directional, Kay Leroy Ruggles

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Umbo modular bookshelf/shelving designed by Kay Leroy Ruggles for Directional, 1970's. In good

Category

Vintage 1970s Mid-Century Modern Bookcases

Materials

Plastic

Large Kay Leroy Ruggles Umbo Shelving Unit
Large Kay Leroy Ruggles Umbo Shelving Unit

Large Kay Leroy Ruggles Umbo Shelving Unit

Sold

H 72.5 in W 98 in D 12 in

Large Kay Leroy Ruggles Umbo Shelving Unit

By Kay Leroy Ruggles

Located in Middlesex, NJ

Large Kay Leroy Ruggles Umbo Shelving Unit Unit can be taken apart for transport.

Category

Early 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookcases

Materials

Plastic

Umbo Shelving Unit Bookcase by Kay Leroy Ruggles Brown Plastic After Joe Colombo
Umbo Shelving Unit Bookcase by Kay Leroy Ruggles Brown Plastic After Joe Colombo

Umbo Shelving Unit Bookcase by Kay Leroy Ruggles Brown Plastic After Joe Colombo

By Kay Leroy Ruggles

Located in Philadelphia, PA

Vintage Mid-Century Modern brown molded plastic umbo shelving unit bookcase by Kay Leroy Ruggles in

Category

Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Bookcases

Materials

Plastic

MCM Orange Plastic Modular Shelving "Umbo" System / Bookcase by Directional
MCM Orange Plastic Modular Shelving "Umbo" System / Bookcase by Directional

MCM Orange Plastic Modular Shelving "Umbo" System / Bookcase by Directional

By Directional, Kay Leroy Ruggles

Located in San Diego, CA

Super cool MCM orange, plastic, backless modular shelving system / bookcase by Kay Leroy Ruggles

Category

Mid-20th Century American Space Age Bookcases

Materials

Plastic

Kay Leroy Ruggles Umbo Corner Shelving Unit, Directional, Ivory Cream, 1972
Kay Leroy Ruggles Umbo Corner Shelving Unit, Directional, Ivory Cream, 1972

Kay Leroy Ruggles Umbo Corner Shelving Unit, Directional, Ivory Cream, 1972

By Kay Leroy Ruggles, Directional

Located in Brooklyn, NY

Kay Leroy Ruggles Umbo corner shelving unit, directional, ivory cream, 1972 UMBO was published in

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookcases

Materials

Plastic

Space Age Umbo Modular Shelving Unit by Kay Ruggles for Directional
Space Age Umbo Modular Shelving Unit by Kay Ruggles for Directional

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

Orange Red Modular Plastic Umbo Bookshelf
Orange Red Modular Plastic Umbo Bookshelf

Orange Red Modular Plastic Umbo Bookshelf

Sold

H 81.5 in W 50 in D 12 in

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

Joe Colombo
Joe Colombo

Joe Colombo

Sold

H 81 in W 49.5 in D 12 in

Joe Colombo

Located in Southampton, NY

Incredible modular Umbo shelving system, designed by Joe Colombo for Kartell.

Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Shelves

Brown "Umbo" Modular Console by Kay Leroy Ruggles, 1970
Brown "Umbo" Modular Console by Kay Leroy Ruggles, 1970

Brown "Umbo" Modular Console by Kay Leroy Ruggles, 1970

By Kay Leroy Ruggles

Located in Los Angeles, CA

The "Umbo" shelving system was designed by Kay Leroy Ruggles and produced by Directional in 1970

Category

Vintage 1970s American Post-Modern Console Tables

Materials

Plastic

People Also Browsed

1970s Swiss 5-Shelf Tubular Polished Chrome & Green Perspex Shelving Unit
1970s Swiss 5-Shelf Tubular Polished Chrome & Green Perspex Shelving Unit

1970s Swiss 5-Shelf Tubular Polished Chrome & Green Perspex Shelving Unit

Unavailable|$1,770

H 61.03 in W 39.38 in D 15.75 in

1970s Swiss 5-Shelf Tubular Polished Chrome & Green Perspex Shelving Unit

By Usm Haller

Located in London, England

1970s five shelf polished tubular chrome and bright green perspex shelving unit. The unit is in the style of Swiss modular furniture brand USM Haller. The height adjustable shelves...

Category

Mid-20th Century Swiss Mid-Century Modern Shelves

Materials

Metal, Chrome

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 Ethan Streicher, Streicher Goods

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

Modern Oval Coffee Table in Oak Wood Cylinder Base and Glass by Ercole Home
Modern Oval Coffee Table in Oak Wood Cylinder Base and Glass by Ercole Home

Modern Oval Coffee Table in Oak Wood Cylinder Base and Glass by Ercole Home

By Ercole Home

Located in Brooklyn, NY

Palazzo oval coffee table with green and ivory glass sits on 2 Rift White Oak Wood pedestals by Ercole Home. This new bespoke coffee table design by Ercole Home is available today fo...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Art Glass, Walnut, Cut Glass

Italian Art Deco Bar Cabinet in Parchment with Inlays Signed by Anzani, 1930s
Italian Art Deco Bar Cabinet in Parchment with Inlays Signed by Anzani, 1930s

Italian Art Deco Bar Cabinet in Parchment with Inlays Signed by Anzani, 1930s

By Giuseppe Anzani

Located in Meda, MB

This bar cabinet was produced in Italy, in the late 1930s and is a really unique and special piece. Its tremendous historical and artistic value is what makes this item a real piece...

Category

Vintage 1930s Italian Art Deco Cabinets

Materials

Glass, Mirror, Wood, Maple, Walnut, Parchment Paper

Pillow Chair by Ash - Mint Velvet
Pillow Chair by Ash - Mint Velvet

Pillow Chair by Ash - Mint Velvet

$1,995

H 30.25 in W 27.5 in D 23.5 in

Pillow Chair by Ash - Mint Velvet

By ASH NYC

Located in New York, NY

The Ash Pillow Chair, everyone’s favorite companion reimagined in a new textile in four luscious colorways. A comfortable, custom-woven, fully upholstered velvet throne dreamed in an...

Category

2010s Slipper Chairs

Materials

Velvet

Pair of Park Night Stands in Noir Oxblood Lacquer by Yaniv Chen for Lemon
Pair of Park Night Stands in Noir Oxblood Lacquer by Yaniv Chen for Lemon

Pair of Park Night Stands in Noir Oxblood Lacquer by Yaniv Chen for Lemon

By Lemon

Located in Amsterdam, NL

The Park nightstand is the epitome of exquisite craftsmanship, featuring meticulously proportioned dimensions and exceptional detailing that make it an ideal bedside companion. Our f...

Category

2010s South African Minimalist Pedestals

Materials

Lacquer

Pair of Constant Night Stands in Iroko Wood by Master Studio for Lemon
Pair of Constant Night Stands in Iroko Wood by Master Studio for Lemon

Pair of Constant Night Stands in Iroko Wood by Master Studio for Lemon

By Lemon

Located in Amsterdam, NL

Neatly proportioned with exceptional detailing, the constant nightstand is your perfect bedside partner. In our furniture making, the IDEA is to create special pieces that you can bu...

Category

2010s South African Minimalist Pedestals

Materials

Hardwood

Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Set with Table, Bench, Set of Chairs
Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Set with Table, Bench, Set of Chairs

Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Set with Table, Bench, Set of Chairs

By Rainer Daumiller

Located in Waalwijk, NL

Dining room set consisting of a dining table, bench, and pair of chairs, solid beech, Scandinavia, 1980s This expansive dining room set is a rare find, distinguished by its exceptio...

Category

Vintage 1980s Scandinavian Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Sets

Materials

Beech

Vintage 1970s Raymond Loewy Style Space Age Green Chapter One Highboy Dresser
Vintage 1970s Raymond Loewy Style Space Age Green Chapter One Highboy Dresser

Vintage 1970s Raymond Loewy Style Space Age Green Chapter One Highboy Dresser

By Broyhill, Raymond Loewy

Located in Chattanooga, TN

This bold highboy dresser from the 1970s pushes the boundaries of mid-century design. Crafted under the “Chapter One” collection by Broyhill, the piece channels the visionary aesthet...

Category

Vintage 1970s American Futurist Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Plastic, Hardwood

Amuneal's Brass Pantry Cabinetry
Amuneal's Brass Pantry Cabinetry

Amuneal's Brass Pantry Cabinetry

$79,658 / item

H 95 in W 54 in D 25 in

Amuneal's Brass Pantry Cabinetry

By Amuneal

Located in New York, NY

Amuneal's Brass Pantry Cabinetry, part of our metal Kitchen Collection, is designed as a feature element for any space. The three doors on the upper cabinets are fabricated with a kn...

Category

2010s American Modern Cabinets

Materials

Brass

Contemporary Art Deco Mint green and Red powder coated Carousel 5 arms pendant
Contemporary Art Deco Mint green and Red powder coated Carousel 5 arms pendant

Contemporary Art Deco Mint green and Red powder coated Carousel 5 arms pendant

By Mambo Unlimited Ideas

Located in Lisbon, PT

Carousel suspension lamp has a delicate balance of form and function that produces a quiet, modern light ambiance for all to savour, with its Contemporary Art Deco lines. The struct...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Art Deco Chandeliers and Pendants

Materials

Metal

Derk Jan de Vries for Maisa di Seveso, Natural Green Modular Cabinet-Bookcase.
Derk Jan de Vries for Maisa di Seveso, Natural Green Modular Cabinet-Bookcase.

Derk Jan de Vries for Maisa di Seveso, Natural Green Modular Cabinet-Bookcase.

By Maisa

Located in Almelo, NL

Derk Jan de Vries for Maisa di Seveso, Natural Green Modular Cabinet-Bookcase, Milan, Italy, 1970s The Dutch designer Derk Jan de Vries in the 1970s designed this unique modular cab...

Category

Late 20th Century Italian Modern Bookcases

Materials

Glass, Ash

DF2000 trolley bar cabinet by Raymond Loewy for the Doubinsky Frères 1968
DF2000 trolley bar cabinet by Raymond Loewy for the Doubinsky Frères 1968

DF2000 trolley bar cabinet by Raymond Loewy for the Doubinsky Frères 1968

By Raymond Loewy, Doubinsky Freres

Located in Antwerpen, Antwerp

After a brief but promising career as a fashion illustrator, French- American designer Raymond Loewy dedicated his talent to the field of graphic and industrial design. Loewy’s creat...

Category

Vintage 1960s French Space Age Cabinets

Materials

Metal

Space-age Cream Plastic Stacking Chair Designed by Kay LeRoy Ruggles for Umbo
Space-age Cream Plastic Stacking Chair Designed by Kay LeRoy Ruggles for Umbo

Space-age Cream Plastic Stacking Chair Designed by Kay LeRoy Ruggles for Umbo

By Kay Leroy Ruggles

Located in Grand Rapids, MI

Sweden, 1970s Space-age cream plastic Umbo stacking chair designed by Kay LeRoy Ruggles for the Umbo Furniture line series which was sold by Directional. Made in Sweden by Overman. A...

Category

Vintage 1960s Swedish Space Age Chairs

Materials

Plastic

Luigi Colani Modular Orbis Sofa Table 1969  COR Germany Orange Velvet Space Age
Luigi Colani Modular Orbis Sofa Table 1969  COR Germany Orange Velvet Space Age

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

Brutalist Style Italian Dry Bar made of Oak Wood, Hand-carved Drinks Cabinet
Brutalist Style Italian Dry Bar made of Oak Wood, Hand-carved Drinks Cabinet

Brutalist Style Italian Dry Bar made of Oak Wood, Hand-carved Drinks Cabinet

Located in Madrid, ES

Italian hand-carved oak wood bar cabinet with four folding doors and central interior shelf. Discover the essence of Italian style with our stunning contemporary oak wood bar cabin...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Brutalist Dry Bars

Materials

Wood

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

Umbo Shelving For Sale on 1stDibs

With a vast inventory of beautiful furniture at 1stDibs, we’ve got just the piece of umbo shelving you’re looking for. Frequently made of plastic and glass, every item from our selection of umbo shelving was constructed with great care. You’ve searched high and low for the perfect choice in our collection of umbo shelving — we have versions that date back to the 20th Century alongside those produced as recently as the 20th Century are available. An object in our assortment of umbo shelving is a generally popular piece of furniture, but those created in Mid-Century Modern and Modern styles are sought with frequency.

How Much is a Umbo Shelving?

A piece of umbo shelving can differ in price owing to various characteristics — the average selling price 1stDibs is $3,150, while the lowest priced sells for $1,100 and the highest can go for as much as $22,700.

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 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.