Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
MID-CENTURY MODERN STYLE
Organically shaped, clean-lined and elegantly simple are three terms that well describe mid-century modern American 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.
Postwar American architects and designers were animated by new ideas and new technology. The lean, functionalist “International Style” architecture of Le Corbusier and Bauhaus eminences such as Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Walter Gropius had been promoted in the United States during the ’30s 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, respectively, pieces such as the La Chaise and the Womb chair. George Nelson and his design team created Bubble lamp shades using a new translucent polymer skin. Harry Bertoia and Isamu Noguchi devised chairs and tables built of wire mesh and wire struts. Materials were re-purposed: the Danish-born designer Jens Risom created a line of chairs that used surplus parachute straps for webbed seats and backrests.
As the demand for casual, uncluttered furnishings grew, more mid-century 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, blonde-wood furniture — and Milo Baughman, who espoused a West Coast aesthetic in lushly upholstered chairs and sofas with angular steel frames.
As the collection of vintage mid-century modern American furniture on 1stDibs demonstrates, this period saw one of the most delightful and dramatic flowerings of creativity in design history.
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Style: Mid-Century Modern
Extravagant Mid-Century Bookcase, Large Wall Unit 1960s, Wenge
Located in Munster, DE
Large mid-century bookcase from the 1960s. The shelf is made of wenge. The shelf is characterized by the extravagant design of the wall ladders, which gives it a floating look, and t...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Materials
Wenge
Jacques Dumond, Modular Bookcase in Curved Plywood, France, 1963
Located in Catonvielle, FR
Bookcase in white lacquered curved plywood created by Jacques Dumond and produced by Les Ateliers Jacques Dumond in Lyon, France 1963.
Structured around two elements assembled by an ...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Materials
Aluminum
Italian Mid-Century Wall Unit or Bookcase by Vittorio Dassi, 1950s
Located in Traversetolo, IT
Stunning Italian wall unit designed by Vittorio Dassi in the 1950s.
The structure is supported by uprights with the form of long lances in ebony stained wood.
The item is in very goo...
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Materials
Iron
Grand Mid-Century Two-Tiered Bookcase
Located in Dallas, TX
Grand mid-century two-tiered bookcase was designed to create a spacious wall into a capacious, versatile bookcase complete with abundant shelf space, six lower cabinets and six pull-...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Materials
Oak
Frank Lloyd Wright Taliesin Mahogany Stacking Etagere or Wall Unit, 1950s
Located in South Bend, IN
A very rare and exceptional carved mahogany "Taliesin" stacking etagere, bookcase, or wall unit
By Frank Lloyd Wright for Heritage Henredon
USA, 1950s
Measures: 86.25" W x 1...
Category
1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Materials
Mahogany
Henredon Mid-Century Modern Campaign Oak and Cane Bookcase on Chest
By Henredon
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Mid-Century Modern Campaign bookcase on chest
By Henredon, "Artefacts" Collection
USA, Circa 1970s
Oak, with caned panel and original brass hardware.
Measures: 26"W x ...
Category
1970s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Materials
Brass
Afra & Tobia Scarpa Bookcase for Molteni, Italy, Room Divider, Storage Unit,1974
Located in Antwerp, BE
Afra & Tobia Scarpa Bookcase for Molteni, Italy, room divider, storage unit,1974
For this bookcase, Afra & Tobia Scarpa used scraps of veneer making and used them to create a new pi...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Materials
Wood
Exceptional Quality Mid Century Brass Etagere Thick Glass Shelves
By Mastercraft
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Slim narrow and tall brass etagere all beautifully braised with heavy 3/4" thick glass shelves.
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Materials
Brass
Midcentury Walnut Revolving 3-Tier Bookcase, Manner of Maurice Villency
Located in Norwalk, CT
A modern take on the Classic 19th century revolving bookcase, this sturdy piece is both stylish and utile. Features an oiled-walnut veneer and cylindrical swiveling base. Bookcase is...
Category
1970s Serbian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Materials
Wood
American Mid Century California Design Small Bookcase by Vista
Located in San Diego, CA
Simple atomic age black enameled metal frame, with wood painted shelves and solid marble top, bookcase made by Vista of California, circa the 1950s, we have resprayed the metal frame...
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Materials
Carrara Marble, Metal
Mathieu Matégot 'Démon' 3-Shelf System for GUBI in Oak
By Gubi, Mathieu Matégot
Located in Glendale, CA
Mathieu Matégot 'Démon' 3-shelf system for GUBI in Oak.
The Démon Shelf, or the Biblio-Démon in Matégot’s original 1954 sketches, was part of a “plan d’execution de la bibliothèqu...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Danish Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Materials
Metal
70s Freestanding Arts & Craft Book Shelf
Located in Amstelveen, Noord
Nice wooden bookshelf with 5 shelves. The bookshelf is standing on it own and is therefore also useable as room divider. The arts and crafts movement is a social movement and a movem...
Category
Mid-20th Century British Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Materials
Wood
Pair of Tall and Narrow Chrome & Glass Etageres
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Pair of very nice mid century modern narrow and tall etageres.
Category
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Materials
Chrome
Étagère, Mid-Century Chrome Shelving Unit, by Tricom, Italia, C 1960, Chrome
Located in New York, NY
A stunning chrome, Mid-Century Modern étagère from the 1960s Italy. This tall shelving unit has beautiful curves. It includes four glass shelves.
Designed and manufactured by Tricom...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Materials
Chrome
Modernist Bookcase or Divider, Italy 1950's/60's, Adjustable Shelves and Height
Located in London, GB
Modernist bookcase or shelving unit that can also stand in the middle of a room.
so can also be used as a divider.
needs at least 285cm (112 inches) between floor and ceiling.
Adj...
Category
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Materials
Metal
Fornasetti Inspired Teak Wall System
By Fornasetti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Mid-Century Fornasetti inspired 3 section teak wall system with Louis XIV style scene printed on top left cabinet. Great mix of old and new, with interior pops of color, modernizing ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Materials
Teak
De Puydt Brutalist Oak Book Case
By De Puydt
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Large Brutalist oak unit with 4 shelves. In original condition with wear that's consistent with its age and use. Other standing shelving units are available and listed separately (LU...
Category
1970s Belgian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Materials
Oak
Pierre Chapo Book Case in Solid Elm, Shelves, French, Mid-Century Modern, 1970's
By Pierre Chapo
Located in Antwerp, BE
Pierre Chapo; Book Case; Shelves; Storage unit; Solid Elm; French; 1970's; French craftsmanship;
French mid-century modern adjustable book- or showcase in solid elm by Pierre Cha...
Category
1970s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Materials
Elm
De Puydt Brutalist Oak Book Shelf with Lower Cabinet
By De Puydt
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Large Brutalist oak shelving unit has shelving above and a lower cabinet. The door handle also is the latch. In original condition with wear that is consistent with its age and use. ...
Category
1970s Dutch Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Materials
Oak
Library in Walnut and Opaline Glass 1950
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Library in walnut and opaline glass
From 1950
Really very close to the work of Charlotte Perriand and Jacques Dumont.
Category
20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Materials
Wood
Vintage Bookcase in Wood in the Style of Gio Ponti
By Gigi Radice, Gio Ponti
Located in Milano, IT
Vintage wooden bookcase certified several times in the style of Gio Ponti in the 1950s, attributed to the manufacture of Gigi Radice.
The bookcase is made entirely of wood, and its ...
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Materials
Brass
1960´s Modular Cabinet, Two Blocks, Six Shelves, Teak, Steel, Brass, Italy
Located in Girona, ES
Modular cabinet, two blocks with two doors and six shelves, adjustable height. Wood with teak veneer and walnut inside with satiny shellac finishing. Blackened steel stands and struc...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Materials
Brass, Steel
1950s Mid-Century Modern Bookcase and Credenza Cabinet in Walnut
Located in Miami, FL
1950s Mid-Century Modern bookcase and credenza cabinet in walnut
Offered is a Mid-Century Modern bookcase and credenza. The cabinet is constructed in solid walnut and is finished ...
Category
1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Materials
Walnut
Vintage Freestanding Bookcase in Wood by Fratelli Proserpio
Located in Milano, IT
Beautiful vintage wooden bookcase designed by Fratelli Proserpino of fine Italian craftsmanship in the 1950s.
The bookcase is totally made of fine wood and is distributed on two mod...
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Materials
Wood
Finn Juhl Rosewood Modular Bookcase System
By Finn Juhl
Located in Atlanta, GA
Rosewood "Diplomat" model modular bookcase system, designed by Finn Juhl for France and Sons, Denmark, circa 1960s. This set is extremely versatile and can be laid out any way you li...
Category
1960s Danish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Materials
Metal, Chrome
Vintage Midcentury Baughman Sculptural Chrome and Glass Étagère Bookcase Shelf
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Mid-Century Modern Milo Baughman style sculptural chrome and glass étagère bookcase shelf. Item features chrome metal frame, 4 glass shelves, very nice vintage item, clean mo...
Category
Mid-20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Materials
Chrome
Italian Mid-Century Brass Bookcase with Glass Shelves and X-Form Patterns
Located in Atlanta, GA
An Italian vintage brass bookshelf from the mid 20th century, with glass shelves and X-Form motifs. Created in Italy during the midcentury period, this narrow bookcase features a lin...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Materials
Brass
Rise Bookstand by Sun at Six, Sienna Minimalist Bookstand or Bookcase in Wood
By Sun at Six
Located in San Jose, CA
Sun at Six is a contemporary furniture design studio that works with traditional Chinese joinery masters to handcraft our pieces using traditional joinery. A floating stand for books...
Category
2010s Chinese Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Materials
Oak
Mathieu Matégot 'Démon' 4-Shelf System for GUBI in Black Stained Ash
By Gubi, Mathieu Matégot
Located in Glendale, CA
Mathieu Matégot 'Démon' 4-Shelf System for GUBI in Black Stained Ash 215cm shelf length.
The Démon Shelf, or the Biblio-Démon in Matégot’s original 1954 sketches, was part of a “p...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Danish Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Materials
Metal
High "China" Bookcase by Børge Mogensen
Located in Lejre, DK
The "China" bookcase in all oak. Designed by MAA. Børge Mogensen in 1958, this piece is made by CM Madsen Cabinetmakers Denmark in the 1960s. Great original condition. More shelves a...
Category
1950s Danish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Materials
Oak
Vintage Display Cabinet/Bookcase 'Belmondo', High Gloss, Czechoslovakia, 1970s
By Novy Domov
Located in Praha, CZ
Vintage cabinet or bookcase with shelves, glass sliding doors and four drawers from 'Belmondo' collection made in high gloss. Made in Czechoslovakia by Novy Domov (marked) in the 197...
Category
Mid-20th Century Czech Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Materials
Metal
Cado Style Wall Unit
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Fully adjustable hanging wall unit with ample storage. Shelving, cabinet space, drawers and tilted rack.
Please confirm location - NY or NJ.
Category
1960s Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Materials
Teak
Pair Display Shelves in Red Tubular Enameled Steel Frames with 3/8 Inch Glass
Located in Kansas City, MO
Two display / storage shelves with 3/8 inch polished edge glass and red enameled tubular frames. Very good condition. Price is for each. These would work well in any mid century, pos...
Category
1980s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Materials
Glass
Abstracta Shelving System Poul Cadovius, Denmark, 1960
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Very nice modern shaped 'Abstracta' shelving system designed by Poul Cadovius produced by Royal System, Denmark, 1960. This timeless system exists of black lacquered metal tubes with...
Category
1960s Danish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Materials
Metal
Italian Modern Colored Solid Wood Bookcase, 1980s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern colored solid wood bookcase, 1980s
Solid wood bookcase painted in black, yellow, blue and red.
In perfect condition.
Measures: 172 x 38 x 172 H cm.
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Materials
Wood
French Vintage Bamboo Book Mill Rare Model, 1960s
Located in Oostrum-Venray, NL
French vintage bamboo book mill rare model, 1960s
This is a rare beautiful book mill made in France in the 1960s.
It can hold at least 50 to 60 books and is tidy. This is on ni...
Category
1960s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Materials
Bamboo, Rattan
Mid-Century Modern Walnut Cabinet with Sliding Glass Doors
By Paul McCobb
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Very nice Mid-Century Modern walnut sliding doors cabinet bookcase.
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Paul McCobb Credenza and Hutch, Planner Group for Winchedon, Black + White
Located in Decatur, GA
Early Planner Group sliding door credenza and hutch top by Paul McCobb for Winchedon. All original black lacquer. White grass cloth sliding doors. Upper cabinet includes rare integra...
Category
1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Materials
Brass
Vintage British Mid-Century Modern Teak Hutch Bookcase by G Plan
Located in San Marcos, CA
Here is a beautiful British Mid-Century Modern hutch-room divider in teak manufactured by G Plan in the UK in the 1960's
This special piece, recently imported from England to Calif...
Category
1960s English Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Materials
Teak
Mathieu Matégot 'Démon' 4-Shelf System for GUBI in Black Ash
By Mathieu Matégot, Gubi
Located in Glendale, CA
Mathieu Matégot 'Démon' 4-Shelf system for GUBI in black ash.
The Démon Shelf, or the Biblio-Démon in Matégot’s original 1954 sketches, was part of a “plan d’execution de la bibli...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Danish Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Materials
Metal
Mid-Century Brass Etagere by DIA
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mid-Century Modern bookcase with sliding base. Brass frame and glass shelving.
(Please confirm item location - NY or NJ - with dealer).
Category
1960s Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Materials
Glass
Mid-Century Modern Tubular Chrome Étagère Bookcase Glass Shelf Baughman Style
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Mid-Century Modern tubular chrome metal étagère bookcase glass shelf Baughman style. Item features tubular chrome metal frame, 4 glass shelves, very nice vintage item, great style an...
Category
1970s North American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Materials
Chrome
Arc Top Lighted Lucite Étagère Vitrine
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Mid-Century Modern all Lucite and white acrylic five shelves étagère vitrine wall unit floor lamp, light fixture.
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Materials
Lucite
Pair of Midcentury Paul McCobb Single Bookshelves #1516 Maple Walnut Finish
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
Pair of vintage midcentury Paul McCobb single high bookcases bookshelves #1516 original walnut finish over solid maple with solid maple 4 leg base. Beautiful bookcase set by Paul McC...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Materials
Maple, Walnut
Faux Bamboo Arch Shape Glass Shelves Etagere
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Very nice Mid-Century Modern faux bamboo glass shelves etagere.
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Bookwarm Small Size by Ron Arad Kartell
Located in Naples, IT
Bookworm – Small size – 7 bookends. Design by Ron Arad. The creativity of an artist, combined with the technology of a large company, gives life to an industrial-scale bookshop proje...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Materials
PVC
Tall "China" Bookcase by Børge Mogensen
Located in Lejre, DK
The "China" bookcase in teak and solid oak frame. Designed by MAA. Børge Mogensen in 1954, this piece is made by CM Madsen Cabinetmakers Denmark in the 1960s. Great original conditio...
Category
1950s Danish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Narrow Bookcase in Oak by Erik Wortz
By Erik Wortz, Ikea
Located in Berkeley, CA
Origin: Sweden
Designer: Erik Wortz
Manufacturer: IKEA
Era: 1960s
Materials: Oak
Measurements: 43.3? wide x 15.75? deep x 70.5? tall
Condition: In excellent original condition.
Category
20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Materials
Oak
Mathieu Matégot 'Démon' 5-Shelf System for GUBI in American Walnut
By Mathieu Matégot, Gubi
Located in Glendale, CA
Mathieu Matégot 'Démon' 5-Shelf System for GUBI in American Walnut.
The Démon Shelf, or the Biblio-Démon in Matégot’s original 1954 sketches, was part of a “plan d’execution de la...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Danish Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Materials
Metal
Paul Evans Cityscape Brass Shelf
By Paul Evans
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Paul Evans Cityscape with brass holders and glass shelf. In original condition with visible wear, consistent with age and use. Another available in chrome.
Category
1970s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Materials
Brass
Bookcase in Brazilian Wood
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
We work with artisans who masterfully restore typical pieces from each period of our history, valuing their different preservation techniques. Teamwork has built this pioneering comp...
Category
1940s Brazilian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Materials
Wood
Gordo Bookshelf, Solid Wood, Powder Coated Steel, Customizable
Located in Louisville, KY
The Gordo bookcase is constructed in our Brooklyn studio and local partners using premium domestic hardwoods and powder coated steel. The angled legs allow the shelving unit to be fr...
Category
2010s American Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Materials
Steel
Italian Library 1960s
Located in Lasne, BE
Rolling bookcase. Opening with glass and brass knob. Wear due to time and age (see photo).
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Materials
Brass, Metal
Teak Glass-Front Bookcase by Børge Mogensen for Søborg Møbler
Located in Norwalk, CT
A fabulous high quality two-piece Danish mid-century bookcase display cabinet in teak wood, designed by Børge Mogensen for the Danish manufacturer Søborg Møbler. This cabinet feature...
Category
1960s Danish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Materials
Teak
Italian Wood Wardrobe Attributed to Paolo Buffa, Italy, 1950
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Carpaneto Piacentino, Italy
Two door wardrobe attributed to Paolo Buffa.
This armoire, made in walnut wood present a geometrical grid decoration with twelve section.
The interiors differ from each side, the l...
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Materials
Wood, Walnut
Modern Shagreen Bookcase, Dark
Located in Westwood, NJ
A modern bookcase with a polished nickel frame and covered in a dark grey Shagreen embossed leather wrap, with floating shelves and a large bottom drawer also with polished nickel ha...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary European Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Materials
Metal
Ilmari Tapiovaara for La Permanente Mobili Cantù Bookcase in Teak
Located in Waalwijk, NL
IImari Tapiovaara for Permanente Mobili Cantù, bookcase, teak, lacquered wood, Italy, circa 1957
This grand bookcase executed in teak is designed by the Finnish designer Ilmari Ta...
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Materials
Teak
Claudio Salocchi Italian Midcentury Bookcase for Sormani 60's
Located in bari, IT
Amazing bookcase model Centro by Claudio Salocchi for Sormani mid 60's.
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Materials
Metal
