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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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 chair — crafted 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.
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Style: Modern
Period: 21st Century and Contemporary
Contemporary Bookcase Floor to Ceiling Storage Unit Brass Marble Bookshelf
Located in Milan, IT
Bookcase 01
Floor to ceiling bookcase featuring 3 back-painted glass doors colored in neutral tones, marble or onyx top, lacquered wooden interior and brass shelving. Each of the th...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Bookcases
Materials
Carrara Marble, Brass
Modern Minimalist Bookcase with Shelves in Walnut Wood and Brushed Brass
Located in Vila Nova Famalicão, PT
The "Bookcase ExCentric 2.0" listed here is a Showroom Sample made in walnut wood and brushed brass.
It's also available an Executive Desk from the same collection, with the same ma...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Bookcases
Materials
Cut Steel, Metal, Brass
Steel Room Divider Shelving - Customisable
By &New
Located in Leicester, GB
Modern freestanding shelves unit for books, objects and plants. The shelves are designed to look delicate and airy but strong. The straight back d...
Category
2010s British Modern Bookcases
Materials
Steel
Knots and Tubes Shelve in Marble
Located in London, GB
'Knots and Tubes' celebrates construction and functions like a scaffolding system for the living room or the office. It makes all its connections visible to create a visual depth. Each piece can be extended in all direction to fit any need. It is easily mountable and survives every move to be reassembled in the next place.
Sideboard P...
Category
2010s Portuguese Modern Bookcases
Materials
Marble, Steel
Set of 4 Strut Shelves from Souda, Black, Made to Order
By Souda
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Price on this configuration includes 4 84" Shelves & 12 Brackets. This shelving system is really easy to customize: we offer multiple wood finishes, bracket finishes, and we can adju...
Category
2010s American Modern Bookcases
Materials
Metal, Steel
Set of 2 Strut Shelves from Souda, Black, Made to Order
By Souda
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Price on this configuration includes 2 52" Shelves & 4 Brackets. This shelving system is really easy to customize: we offer multiple wood finishes, bracket ...
Category
2010s American Modern Bookcases
Materials
Metal, Steel
Contemporary Bookcase Onyx Top Floor to Ceiling Storage Unit Brass Bookshelf
Located in Milan, IT
Bookcase 01
Floor to ceiling bookcase featuring 3 back-painted glass doors colored in red tones, onyx or marble top, lacquered wooden interior and brass shelving. Each of the three ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Bookcases
Materials
Onyx, Brass
DeCastelli Celato 45 Cabinet in Brass by R & D De Castelli
By DeCastelli
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Celato is a reference to what is concealed to keep a memory intact; it’s an archetype in which beauty is revealed in stages. A monolithic appearance makes Celato a contemporary menhi...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Bookcases
Materials
Stainless Steel
DeCastelli Cahier Cabinet in Copper by Zanellato/Bortotto
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The fire enamelling on copper is a technique that has a strong link with metal and with the territory, in particular with the figure of Paolo De Poli and his works, which firstly int...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Bookcases
Materials
Copper
DeCastelli Existence Wall Four-Tier Bookcase in Stainless Steel
Located in Brooklyn, NY
“Why should bookcases always be straight, long, vertical, right-angle planes to keep nothing but books perfectly straight and composed? [...] And don’t we like to keep a few small ob...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Bookcases
Materials
Stainless Steel
21st Century Modern Bookshelf with Agglomerated Wood Top Ethrio Made in Italy
Located in Sant'Elena, IT
This is a very flexible shelving system that can suit any type of space. With a simple shifting in the assembling of the shelves, a variety of possible configurations is available, d...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Bookcases
Materials
Steel
Set of 4 Strut Shelves from Souda, Modern White Wood Wall Shelf/Bookcase
By Souda
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Price includes 4 84" long shelves with 12 white brackets. This shelving system is really easy to customize: we offer multiple wood finishes, bracket fin...
Category
2010s American Modern Bookcases
Materials
Metal, Steel
Amorph Flux bookcase, shelves, Lacquered Red Facing Left and Right
By Amorph Inc.
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Flux shelf is a sculptural art furniture piece designed by Amorph. Flux could be fitted in modern office or home as a featured contemporary piece...
Category
2010s American Modern Bookcases
Materials
Steel
DeCastelli Nippon Bookcase in Stainless Steel by Alberto Nason
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Nippon is a 'display case', a piece of furniture designed to hold books, objects and accessories. According to the needs of the space where it will be used, it can become
a bookcase, display cabinet, a notice board...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Bookcases
Materials
Metal
NOBRE Bookcase in Glossy Ebony Makassar and Antique Brass Trims
Located in Frazão, Porto
The versatile Nobre bookcase can be used on the wall or as a room separator. Made of solid wood with metal details in Stainless Steel or Antique Brass. ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Bookcases
Materials
Brass, Stainless Steel
Set of 4 Strut Shelves from Souda, Black and Maple, Made to Order
By Souda
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Price on this configuration includes 4 52" shelves & 8 brackets. This shelving system is really easy to customize: we offer multiple wood finishes, bracket finishes, and we can adjus...
Category
2010s American Modern Bookcases
Materials
Metal, Steel
Modern Zebra Wood Chrome Glass Jewelry Closet Display Counter Case with Drawer
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Modern zebra wood chrome glass jewelry closet display counter case with drawer. Item features chrome base, glass top, display surface, beautiful wood...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Bookcases
Materials
Glass, Zebra Wood
Bones Bookcase by Matteo Zorzenoni
Located in Milan, IT
Defined by soft lines and visual lightness, the Bones Bookcase is carefully crafted of solid wood with a glossy cerulean lacquered finish that creates superb visual impact in a moder...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Bookcases
Materials
Wood
"ZigZag" Bronze Painted Steel and Walnut Low Bookcase by K. Grcic, Driade
Located in Brooklyn, NY
"ZigZag" is a low bookcase, designed by Konstantin Grcic and manufactured by Driade, featuring structure in bronze painted steel and Canaletto walnut veneered shelves. Bookends in sh...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Bookcases
Materials
Steel
Modern Bookcase Cabinet The Peabody Collection
Located in Oak Harbor, OH
Designer: Lawrence Peabody
Manufacturer: Craft Associates Furniture
Period/Model: Mid-Century Modern
Specs: Black walnut, Claro walnut veneer
This Lawrence Peabody modern bookcase ...
Category
2010s American Modern Bookcases
Materials
Walnut
DeCastelli Celato 80 Cabinet in Brass by R & D De Castelli
By DeCastelli
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Celato is a reference to what is concealed to keep a memory intact; it’s an archetype in which beauty is revealed in stages. A monolithic appearance makes Celato a contemporary menhi...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Bookcases
Materials
Stainless Steel
DeCastelli Celato 45 Cabinet in Stainless Steel by R & D De Castelli
By DeCastelli
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Celato is a reference to what is concealed to keep a memory intact; it’s an archetype in which beauty is revealed in stages. A monolithic appearance makes Celato a contemporary menhi...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Bookcases
Materials
Stainless Steel
Orizaba Two Sided Bookcase Module C, Wood and Aluminium, Contemporary Design
Located in Mexico City, MX
This two sided bookshelf stands out for its sleek design. This bookshelf was conceived as a compound of modular pieces that can be assembled in differe...
Category
2010s Mexican Modern Bookcases
Materials
Metal
BIS Bookshelf in Cherry Tree Veneer and Brown Glass
Located in London, GB
The BIS project for MOB seeks to be installed as a sort of island in space, accentuating its semi-translucent composition and operability on both sides of the furniture. In some way this "screen" modifies the space, divides it and conditions its use, allowing to dispose objects or not, on both sides of the furniture. Thanks to the use of reflective glasses as separators; the objects and the traffic can be observed from the opposite side. Its modular, basic and simple way, together with the use of transparency, try to connect conceptually with the use of the oriental screen...
Category
2010s Portuguese Modern Bookcases
Materials
Steel
Contemporary Leather Bookcase Scala by Stephane Parmentier for Giobagnara
Located in Warsaw, PL
Leather bookcase by Stephane Parmentier for Giobagnara.
The object presented in the image has following finish: F09 Brown Nappa Le...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Bookcases
Materials
Leather, Wood
Four Shelves 'Verticale' Polished Oak Shelving Unit
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Four shelves 'Verticale' polished oak shelving unit.
Highest quality solid oak construction.
Comes in 2 parts connected with dowels, for easy ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Bookcases
Materials
Oak
Danese Milano Gran Livorno Black Wall Bookcase in Metal by Marco Ferreri
Located in Hicksville, NY
Black Gran Livorno is a small, freestanding bookcase. It is the evolution of the Livorno bookcase, and maintains the same structural principals and minimal form. The piece is made of...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Bookcases
Materials
Metal
Set of 4 Strut Shelves from Souda, Maple, Extra Long, Made to Order
By Souda
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Price on this configuration includes 4 116" shelves and 16 brackets. This shelving system is really easy to customize: we offer multiple wood finishes, bracket finishes, and we can a...
Category
2010s American Modern Bookcases
Materials
Metal, Steel
Contemporary Cioccolata Bookshelf in Aluminium by Altreforme
By Aziz Sariyer
Located in Calolziocorte (Lecco) Italy, IT
Cioccolata is a bookcase whose taste is refined, sweet and incredibly unique. It envelopes in its symmetric folds the magic pages of a good book, the scent of the most beautiful flow...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Bookcases
Materials
Aluminum
Contemporary Clay Bookshelves by Maarten Baas
By Maarten Baas
Located in Warsaw, PL
These vibrant Bookshelves are from Maarten Baas’s iconic ‘Clay’ collection launched in 2006. The idiosyncratic childishness of this collection is created through Baas’s individual ha...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Dutch Modern Bookcases
Materials
Metal
DeCastelli Celato 130 Cabinet in Brass by R & D De Castelli
By DeCastelli
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Celato is a reference to what is concealed to keep a memory intact; it’s an archetype in which beauty is revealed in stages. A monolithic appearance makes Celato a contemporary menhi...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Bookcases
Materials
Stainless Steel
Danese Milano Gran Livorno Self Standing Black Metal Bookcase by Marco Ferreri
Located in Hicksville, NY
Black Gran Livorno self standing is a freestanding bookcase. The piece consists of two shelving units leaning against one another back-to-back and lends itself to be used not only as...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Bookcases
Materials
Metal
Danese Milano Sarmiento Large Bookcase in White Metal by Francisco Gomez Paz
Located in Hicksville, NY
Sarmiento brings together both technological and conceptual innovation into one wall-mounted bookcase with tilted shelves. Although the structure is minimal it provides a myriad of p...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Bookcases
Materials
Metal
21st Century Modern Steel White Bookshelves Wave Made in Italy
Located in Sant'Elena, IT
The Wave series is the result of a gesture, a natural movement that gives birth to sinuous and minimal forms without neglecting the functionality of the object. It consists of wall s...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Bookcases
Materials
Steel
DeCastelli Existence Three-Tier Bookcase in Stainless Steel by Michele De Lucchi
Located in Brooklyn, NY
“Why should bookcases always be straight, long, vertical, right-angle planes to keep nothing but books perfectly straight and composed? [...] And don’t we like to keep a few small ob...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Bookcases
Materials
Stainless Steel
Simply Modern Bookcase
Located in Westwood, NJ
An elegant modern open bookcase with a lacquered interior, leather-wrapped drawers and our Cardamon finish frame and handles, with brushed brass f...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Modern Bookcases
Materials
Leather, Wood
"Zigzag" Black or White Painted Steel Low Bookcase by Konstantin Grcic, Driade
Located in Brooklyn, NY
"Zigzag" is a low bookcase, designed by Konstantin Grcic and manufactured by Driade, featuring structure and shelves in steel finished with epoxy paint in white or black colors. Book...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Bookcases
Materials
Steel
Set of 2 Strut Shelves from Souda, Black and Maple, Made to Order
By Souda
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Price on this configuration includes 2 84" shelves and 6 brackets. This shelving system is really easy to customize: we offer multiple wood finishes, bracket finishes, and we can adj...
Category
2010s American Modern Bookcases
Materials
Metal, Steel
Set of 3 Strut Shelves from Souda, Black, Made to Order
By Souda
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Price on this configuration includes 3 84" shelves and 9 brackets. This shelving system is really easy to customize: we offer multiple wood finishes, bracket finishes, and we can adj...
Category
2010s American Modern Bookcases
Materials
Metal, Steel
Set of 5 Strut Shelves from Souda, White, Modern Wood Wall Shelf or Bookcase
By Souda
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Price includes 5 84" long white shelves with 15 white brackets. This shelving system is really easy to customize: we offer multiple wood finishes, brack...
Category
2010s American Modern Bookcases
Materials
Metal, Steel
DeCastelli Celato 220 Cabinet in Copper by R & D De Castelli
By DeCastelli
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Celato is a reference to what is concealed to keep a memory intact; it’s an archetype in which beauty is revealed in stages. A monolithic appearance makes Celato a contemporary menhi...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Bookcases
Materials
Brass
Modern by Carpanelli Bookcase
By Carpanelli
Located in Desio, IT
"Gae" modular bookcase is inspired by the volumes of Piazza Gae Aulenti in Milan. The materials used for the compositions are precious woods such as light Tay, Dark Tay, Canaletto Wa...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Bookcases
Materials
Leather, Wood
Set of 6 Strut Shelves from Souda, Black, Modern, Made to Order
By Souda
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Price on this configuration includes 6 84" shelves and 18 brackets. This shelving system is really easy to customize: we offer multiple wood finishes, bracket finishes, and we can ad...
Category
2010s American Modern Bookcases
Materials
Metal, Steel
Set of 3 Strut Shelves from Souda, Maple, Extra Long, Made to Order
By Souda
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Price on this configuration includes 3 116" shelves and 12 brackets. This shelving system is really easy to customize: we offer multiple wood finishes, bracket finishes, and we can a...
Category
2010s American Modern Bookcases
Materials
Metal, Steel
Elegant Tall Brass and White Laquer Etagere with 2 Drawers
Located in Hopewell, NJ
A sleek stylish modern tall etagere bookcase having a sexy mix of brass, white lacquer and 4 smoky glass shelves. There are two roomy drawers on the botto...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Bookcases
Materials
Brass
Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH NYNY Bookcase with Lacquered Wood and Brass Frame
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Distinctively asserting its modernity, Gebrüder Thonet Vienna has adopted its archetypes, bent-wood and woven cane, to design NYNY, a piece of furniture with a strong emotional dimen...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Modern Bookcases
Materials
Wood
Danese Milano Bincan Leggio Book Stand A5 in Black by Naoto Fukasawa
Located in Hicksville, NY
Bincan leggio is part of the Bincan collection, which was designed for the work place and can be adapted to any environment whether internal or external, public or private. The lecte...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Bookcases
Materials
Metal
Isabella Costantini, Italy, Duilio Low Bookcase with Two Doors
Located in Ascoli Piceno, IT
Designed by IC and beautifully crafted by Italian artisans, the Duilio bookcase features an open compartment with two large shelves embraced by ribbed do...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Bookcases
Materials
Brass
Set of 5 Strut Shelves from Souda, Black, Extra long, Made to Order
By Souda
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Price on this configuration includes 5 116" shelves and 20 brackets. This shelving system is really easy to customize: we offer multiple wood finishes, bracket finishes, and we can a...
Category
2010s American Modern Bookcases
Materials
Metal, Steel
21st Century by Pelizzari Studio Wood Black Lacquered Bookcase Etched Brass Skin
Located in Brescia, IT
The etched brass skin that surrounds this bookcase, called Folio, interprets the play of full and empty spaces of the initial volume, allowing the internal wooden elements to configu...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Bookcases
Materials
Brass
DeCastelli Existence Wall Five-Tier Bookcase in Brass by Michele De Lucchi
Located in Brooklyn, NY
“Why should bookcases always be straight, long, vertical, right-angle planes to keep nothing but books perfectly straight and composed? [...] And don’t we like to keep a few small ob...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Bookcases
Materials
Brass
DeCastelli Celato 160 Cabinet in Stainless Steel by R & D De Castelli
By DeCastelli
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Celato is a reference to what is concealed to keep a memory intact; it’s an archetype in which beauty is revealed in stages. A monolithic appearance makes Celato a contemporary menhi...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Bookcases
Materials
Stainless Steel
DeCastelli Tako Cabinet in Brass by Filippo Pisan
By DeCastelli
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Clean volumes for a console with quite simple lines, emphasising the nobility of the metals that clad the large faces of the drawers. Available both in a h...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Bookcases
Materials
Iron
Fit Red Bookcase by Marc Sadler
By Da A
Located in Milan, IT
A unique piece of modern sophistication, this bookcase will add a colorful and elegant accent to any contemporary indoor or outdoor area. Resting on turned brass feet and equipped wi...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Bookcases
Materials
Brass, Steel
Danese Milano Sarmiento Small Bookcase in White Metal by Francisco Gomez Paz
Located in Hicksville, NY
Sarmiento brings together both technological and conceptual innovation into one wall-mounted bookcase with tilted shelves. Although the structure is minimal it provides a myriad of p...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Bookcases
Materials
Metal
DeCastelli Large Babele Tower Bookcase in Brass by Martinelli Venezia
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Aspirations of higher knowledge find three-dimensional representation in the striking verticality of this tower bookcase, stripped of all non-essential ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Bookcases
Materials
Brass
21st Century by Pelizzari Studio Makassar Ebony Bookcase Etched Brass Legs
Located in Brescia, IT
Much more than just an expositor, the bookcase, called Reflection, get nearer to the new daily habits. With researched functionality they provide continuity with the contemporary lif...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Bookcases
Materials
Brass
Contemporary Sculptural Black Steel Etagere Bookcase Storage Shelf USA
Located in Chicago, IL
The contemporary modern Black Steel Ahn etagere is a study in positive and negative space. With its five different asymmetrical and organic surfaces, Ahn is a minimal sculpture in its own right, playing with balance and tension between the shelves while serving as an etagere, bookcase, or storage shelf...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Bookcases
Materials
Steel
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.
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