Skip to main content

New in Modern Bookcases

MODERN STYLE

The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw sweeping social change and major scientific advances — both of which contributed to a new aesthetic: modernism. Rejecting the rigidity of Victorian artistic conventions, modernists sought a new means of expression. References to the natural world and ornate classical embellishments gave way to the sleek simplicity of the Machine Age. Architect Philip Johnson characterized the hallmarks of modernism as “machine-like simplicity, smoothness or surface [and] avoidance of ornament.”

Early practitioners of modernist design include the De Stijl (“The Style”) group, founded in the Netherlands in 1917, and the Bauhaus School, founded two years later in Germany.

Followers of both groups produced sleek, spare designs — many of which became icons of daily life in the 20th century. The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics. While Bauhaus principals Marcel Breuer and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe created furniture from mass-produced, chrome-plated steel, American visionaries like Charles and Ray Eames worked in materials as novel as molded plywood and fiberglass. Today, Breuer’s Wassily chair, Mies van der Rohe’s Barcelona chaircrafted with his romantic partner, designer Lilly Reich — and the Eames lounge chair are emblems of progressive design and vintage originals are prized cornerstones of collections.

It’s difficult to overstate the influence that modernism continues to wield over designers and architects — and equally difficult to overstate how revolutionary it was when it first appeared a century ago. But because modernist furniture designs are so simple, they can blend in seamlessly with just about any type of décor. Don’t overlook them.

6
to
4
1
6
4
6
6
5
3
2
1
1
6
Height
to
Width
to
Depth
to
6
4
3
3
2
5
5
1
5
3
1
Style: Modern
This Week's Listings Only
Modern Hobart Bookcase, American Oak, Bronze, Handmade in Portugal by Greenapple
Located in Lisboa, PT
Hobart Bookcase, Contemporary Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Greenapple. The Hobart modern bookcase was born to mimic the natural ebb and flow of life. Through its ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese New in Modern Bookcases

Materials

Brass

Contemporary Shelving Room Divider "30/30 L" in Walnut by Casey Lurie Studio
Located in Chicago, IL
Part room divider, part bookcase, part screen, the "30/30" series is an extremely versatile shelving system. Named for the degrees of the alternately angled dividers which give the ...
Category

2010s North American New in Modern Bookcases

Materials

Walnut, Wood

Modern Hobart Bookcase, Beige Gold Bronze, Handmade in Portugal by Greenapple
Located in Lisboa, PT
Hobart Bookcase, Contemporary Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Greenapple. The Hobart modern bookcase was born to mimic the natural ebb...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese New in Modern Bookcases

Materials

Wood, Oak

Modern Lage Bookcase Set/2, Brass Oak Root, Handmade in Portugal by Greenapple
Located in Lisboa, PT
Set of 2 Lage Bookcases, Contemporary Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Greenapple. The Lage modern bookcase was designed to be the focal ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese New in Modern Bookcases

Materials

Metal, Brass

Modern Black Lage Bookcase, Brass Walnut, Handmade in Portugal by Greenapple
Located in Lisboa, PT
Lage Bookcase, Contemporary Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Greenapple. The Lage modern bookcase was designed to be the focal point in a...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese New in Modern Bookcases

Materials

Metal, Brass

Modern Hobart Bookcase, American Oak, Bronze, Handmade in Portugal by Greenapple
Located in Lisboa, PT
Hobart Bookcase, Contemporary Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Greenapple. The Hobart modern bookcase was born to mimic the natural ebb...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese New in Modern Bookcases

Materials

Wood, Oak

Related Items
19th Century George III Mahogany Bureau Bookcase
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
For sale is a good quality George III mahogany bureau bookcase. Having two glazed doors in the top, both opening to reveal adjustable shelves. Below this is the bureau section, with ...
Category

Early 19th Century English Antique New in Modern Bookcases

Materials

Mahogany

Mid-Century Modern Bookcase by Ico Parisi for MIM Rome
Located in Albano Laziale, Rome/Lazio
Wall unit designed by Ico Parisi 1958 for MiM, Rome. All shelves are adjustable in height and also has moveable stands for books which are adjustable. The unit is designed to lean on...
Category

20th Century Italian New in Modern Bookcases

Materials

Aluminum

Henredon Georgian Walnut Drop Front Secretary Desk With Bookcase Hutch
Located in South Bend, IN
A beautiful Georgian or Queen Anne style bureau with drop front secretary desk and bookcase hutch top By Henredon USA, Circa 1980s Gorgeous figured walnut, with original bra...
Category

Late 20th Century American New in Modern Bookcases

Materials

Brass

Rare Midcentury Bookcase in Rosewood by Børge Mogensen, 1960s
Located in Lejre, DK
Low bookcase roseoowd. Designed by MAA. Børge Mogensen in 1958, this piece is made by CM Madsen cabinetmakers Denmark in the 1960s. Great original condition.
Category

1950s Danish Vintage New in Modern Bookcases

Materials

Rosewood

Important Louis Majorelle Art Nouveau Bookcase Desk Desk-Chair & Filing Cabinet
Located in Lisse, NL
Unique museum quality, 4-piece Parisian Art Nouveau office furniture set. As far as we know, this is the most complete, Louis Majorelle office furniture set that has been offered in the world in the past 50 years. Most collectors and enthousiasts will know how rare a set like this is, but what makes it even more astonishing is its condition. Apart from the leather on the back of the original desk chair, this set could hardly be in better condition and it would certainly grace any museum for applied arts. The only known office set that comes close to this original and complete set is in the collection of the MAAS museum in Sydney, Australia. So if you are looking for an original, great condition and very rare, antique office interior by one of the world's best Art Nouveau designers then this is your chance. We are convinced it will be the only one you'll ever get. Also, because the Majorelle filing cabinet in this set is the first one of its kind that we have ever seen. For this amazing set of four we have created three listings so that we are able to show you enough pictures of the many hand carved and hand-crafted wooden, bronze, glass and design details per item. Mind you, this stunning and almost 8 feet tall 'bibliotheque' or 'library bookcase' is the first one of the three listings that, together, show and describe this unique Louis Majorelle office of amazing quality and beauty. In image 8 of this listing is a photo of the complete set as shot in one of our facilities. This here Majorelle bookcase is the largest and best condition specimen that you will ever see and the workmanship is as good as you will ever be able to find. The deeply hand carved organic plant motifs are simply amazing and these motifs are to be found in all four pieces that this set consists of. What makes this stunning and predominantly solid nutwood bookcase extra special are the inlaid geometrical patterns in both the door panels and in the sides. However, the most impressive and aesthetically special features are the mint condition art glass panels with the top quality forged and hand hammered brass details in the upper part of each door. These metal worker's details, by the way, are the same organic plant motifs as the hand carved ones in the legs and in the 'roof' of this largest ever Majorelle cabinet (as shown in image 9 of this listing). Especially with the doors open you can see the vivid irridescent colors that are in the glass art panels. Below these art glass panels in the doors are large and also superb condtion, beveled glass windows. All the bookshelfs inside of this work of art bookcase are height adjustable and all are in very good condition too. All three doors come with perfect working locks and each door has its own bronze Majorelle designed key (one key is original and we had two more cast). Finally, this antique and museum quality, Art Nouveau gem...
Category

Early 20th Century French New in Modern Bookcases

Materials

Brass, Bronze, Iron

Midcentury Blonde Oak Barrister's Bookcase Display Cabinet
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
Well constructed blonde oak barrister in good condition with brass knobs and sound mechanism. Dismantles easily on raised base, nice size. Shows beautifu...
Category

1950s Canadian Vintage New in Modern Bookcases

Materials

Oak

Danish Rosewood Desk and Bookcase with Sliding Doors, 1950
Located in Lisboa, Lisboa
A beautiful Danish rosewood desk cabinet with upper shelving. Features adjustable shelving with additional storage behind the 2 sliding doors and an extendable writing surface. Has a...
Category

1950s Danish Vintage New in Modern Bookcases

Materials

Rosewood

Baker Furniture French Provincial Walnut Secretary Desk With Bookcase Hutch
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous French Provincial Louis XV style bureau with drop front secretary desk and bookcase hutch top By Baker Furniture USA, Circa 1960s Carved walnut, with original brass har...
Category

1960s American Vintage New in Modern Bookcases

Materials

Brass

Restored Mid-Century Modern Walnut Bookcase
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Indulge in the charm of vintage design with our expertly restored mid-century modern bookcase, skillfully crafted by our team of professional craftsmen...
Category

1980s American Vintage New in Modern Bookcases

Materials

Metal

Italian Modern Brick System Bookcase by DDL Studio for Collezioni Longato 1970s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern modular plastic Brick System bookcase by De Pas, D'Urbino and Lomazzi for Collezioni Longato Padova, 1970s. Brick System modular bookcase, ...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage New in Modern Bookcases

Materials

Plastic

Pair of French Mahogany and Bronze Open Bookcases
By Adam Weisweiler
Located in London, GB
A pair of Petit Bibliotheques in the manner of Adam Weisweiler constructed using a finely patinated mahogany, brass and bronze; rising from bronze shod turned and tapering circular ...
Category

19th Century French Antique New in Modern Bookcases

Materials

Brass, Bronze

Vintage Oak 4 Tier Industrial x Frame Freestanding Bookcase Etagere Shelf
Located in Dayton, OH
An open frame industrial style x frame bookcase or room divider from the last quarter of the 20th century. Made from oak with four long shelves. The unit can be broken down folding u...
Category

Late 20th Century New in Modern Bookcases

Materials

Oak

Modern bookcases for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Modern bookcases for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage bookcases created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include case pieces and storage cabinets, more furniture and collectibles, wall decorations and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, wood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Modern bookcases made in a specific country, there are Europe, Italy, and Denmark pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original bookcases, popular names associated with this style include DeCastelli, Kartell, Souda, and Danese Milano. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for bookcases differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $120 and tops out at $96,530 while the average work can sell for $3,910.

Recently Viewed

View All