Modern Shelves
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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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
Interconnected Rectangular Prisms, Stainless Steel Shelf with Stone by Lee Sisan
Located in Geneve, CH
Proportions of stone shelf by Lee Sisan, 2020
Dimensions: W 36 x D 28 x H 80 cm
Materials: Stainless steel, natural stone
Each piece is made to o...
Category
2010s South Korean Modern Shelves
Materials
Stone, Steel
Contemporary Display Shelving "Primo" in White Oak and Brass by Casey Lurie
By Casey Lurie
Located in Chicago, IL
“Shelving can be the most mundane thing you own, or it can be the beautiful bones of a room, as pleasing to see as anything it displays. Casey Lurie’s Primo system would be the latter.”
William L. Hamilton, The Wall Street Journal
The Primo shelving...
Category
2010s American Modern Shelves
Materials
Brass
Vodo bench, in oak and metal, by Accardi Buccheri for Medulum
Located in Meolo, Venezia
Vodo is a line of furniture redefining internal landscapes. Objects made of bent
sheets of metal, recalling voids like windows opened towards inhabited spaces,
sculptures that become a bench, a bookcase, a bedside table or a consolle.
Elementary forms inspired by architectural shapes...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Shelves
Materials
Sheet Metal
Set of 4 Strut Shelves from Souda, 84in, 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 Shelves
Materials
Metal, Steel
Hanging Cabinet by George Nakashima
Located in San Francisco, CA
This rare and unique walnut hanging cabinet by George Nakashima is a beautiful and functional piece of modern furniture with sliding doors. The cabinet features an overhang top with one free edge above two doors that conceal one adjustable shelf.
Crafted from high-quality American black walnut wood, this cabinet has been fully restored at the Nakashima workshop...
Category
1950s American Vintage Modern Shelves
Materials
Walnut
Baker Furniture Walnut 3 Tier Etagere Book Shelf with Drawers
Located in Countryside, IL
Baker Furniture Walnut 3 Tier Etagere Book Shelf with Drawers
This etagere measures: 50 wide x 19 deep x 38 inches high
We take our photos in a controlled lighting studio to show a...
Category
Early 2000s American Modern Shelves
Materials
Walnut
Modern Free-Standing Glass Shelf
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Tempered Glass Shelf. 4 glass shelves fit into the curved column cut-outs. Very solid design that sits very well! Columns can be adjusted a bit as to where they sit. 2 Lower shel...
Category
1990s Italian Modern Shelves
Materials
Glass
Grounded Collection Leather-Wrapped Shelf
By Stephen Kenn
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Conceived while in lockdown in 2020, the Grounded Collection from Stephen Kenn is a mediation on being grounded in peaceful creative work, while enduring forced isolation from commun...
Category
2010s American Modern Shelves
Materials
Cast Stone, Steel
Amuneal's Collector's 1 Bay Shelving Unit
By Amuneal
Located in New York, NY
This single bay version of Amuneal’s Collector’s shelving unit features solid machined brass fittings and posts in a warm brass finish. The unit mou...
Category
2010s American Modern Shelves
Materials
Brass
Sarreid Wall Shelf, Carved Wood, Gargoyle, Lion, Made in Spain
By Sarreid Ltd.
Located in Miami, FL
Pair of Sarreid carved wood shelves. Can be used with glass top as seen in pictures or without. Made in Spain.
Measures: Glass top is 108 (length)...
Category
1970s Spanish Vintage Modern Shelves
Materials
Glass, Wood
shelve by Marcel Gascoin edited by Arhec
Located in PARIS, FR
This oak shelve from 1949 is an emblematic piece of Marcel Gascoin's work and of the housing Reconstruction period.
Marcel Gascoin, born August 24, 1907 in Le Havre and died October ...
Category
1950s French Vintage Modern Shelves
Materials
Oak
Contemporary Bookcase Lacquered, Veneer Oak/Walnut
Located in NEW YORK, NY
Modular bookcase that is available in various sizes. It consists of shelves, back panels and fronts in the shape of a cross. The back panels and the shelves can be either wood veneer...
Category
2010s European Modern Shelves
Materials
Wood, Lacquer
21st Century Matteo Zorzenoni Bones Bookcase Blue Lacquered Wood Bones Scapin
Located in Tezze sul Brenta, IT
Bones bookcase, Colorama Collection
Design by Matteo Zorzenoni for Scapin Collezioni
Soft lines and visual lightness are the key traits that dist...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Shelves
Materials
Ash, Wood
Cheba bookcase, in lacquered metal snd plywood, by Accardi Buccheri for Medulum
Located in Meolo, Venezia
Tables on one or more levels, furnish ironically without remaining unnoticed. Ideal companions for public and private environments and contexts.
The structure is a curved metal roun...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Shelves
Materials
Metal
Genie Sculptural Hand Carved, Floating Shelf in Ash Wood by David Tragen
By David Tragen
Located in Manchester, GB
If you’re looking to conjure up something special for displaying your favourite ornament, Genie will be more than happy to grant you this wish. As if from nowhere a smoke-like wisp a...
Category
2010s British Modern Shelves
Materials
Ash
Room Collection Shelf, Pine Wood Storage Blocks by Erik Olovsson & Kyuhyung Cho
Located in Stockholm, SE
Room Collection is a shelving system, various geometric voids inspired by architecture and the objects they can hold. When all the elements of ROOM are combined it forms either a long shelf...
Category
2010s Swedish Modern Shelves
Materials
Pine
Large Modern Shelving Unit
Located in Greenwich, CT
Our La Scalia shelving unit is a large custom built bookshelf with four pillars supporting floating shelves. Each pillar is wrapped in a textured vinyl that comes in five different color ways: Platinum, Silver, Rose Gold, Old Bronze and Iron. Each shelf shown is lacquered in white dove with a glossy finish. Customers choose color, finish and size. The unit is a functional modern design perfect for storing books and home decor accents...
Category
2010s American Modern Shelves
Materials
Wood, Lacquer
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 Modern Shelves
Materials
Oak, Wood
Orange Luna Storage Cabinet by Patricia Urquiola
Located in Geneve, CH
Orange luna storage cabinet by Patricia Urquiola
Materials: Walnut veneer on medium, or orange lacquer on medium. 2 sliding doors in two-tone lacquered hemispheres or in varnished wa...
Category
2010s French Modern Shelves
Materials
Walnut, Lacquer
Solid Dark Stainless Steel Wall Object with Natural Stones by Lee Sisan
Located in Geneve, CH
Proportions of Stone Wall Object by Lee Sisan
Dimensions: W 60 x D 60 x H 26 cm
Materials: Stainless steel, natural stone.
Each piece is made to order and uses natural stones, so pl...
Category
2010s South Korean Modern Shelves
Materials
Stone, Stainless Steel
Italian Modern Black Wood Convex Shape Wall Bookcase Joe Colombo Style, 1980s
By Joe Colombo
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern black wood convex shape wall bookcase in the style of Joe Colombo 1980s.
Bookcase in black wood, composed of 3 long vertical shelves a...
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Modern Shelves
Materials
Wood
Amuneal's Loft 3 Post Back Bar Unit with Pull Out Wine Cabinets
By Amuneal
Located in New York, NY
Amuneal's Loft 3 Post Bar Cabinet and shelving with pull out wine storage is shown here in Cerused Chestnut, Charred Pine, Blackened Steel and Bronze. Our loft posts in blackened gunmetal and fully machined brass fittings in our buffed brass finish mount from the top of our cabinet and tie back to the wall to support 8 shelves. Amuneal’s proprietary machined hardware clamps onto the posts so that the shelves can be easily adjusted at any time. The burnt oak shelves are milled in house from solid white oak to a thickness of 1.5” before being hand-finished using the traditional Shou Sugi Ban process of burning the wood. Once completed, the shelves are sealed with a protective coating that keeps that burnt finish from rubbing off. The combination of blackened steel posts, machined and patinated brass hardware and the charred oak shelves make this a stunning and sculptural shelving option for any space. Integrated bronze bottle stops...
Category
2010s American Modern Shelves
Materials
Brass, Bronze, Steel
Elemen Shelving Solid Walnut Shelving System, Custom Arrangements Possible
By KLN Studio
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Elemen shelving system features solid walnut shelving with a gem cut edge, joined with single vertical members to produce a striking and dynamic visual statement. The concealed w...
Category
2010s American Modern Shelves
Materials
Walnut
Opinion Ciatti Henry II Triangular Corner Wall Shelf
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Well defined with contemporary lines, a geometric design and unusual shapes in order to surprise and astonish. Henri is the collection of shelves designed by Bruno Rainaldi, characte...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Shelves
Materials
Stainless Steel
Capanna Solid Wood Library, Walnut in Hand-Made Natural Finish, Contemporary
By Dale Italia
Located in Cadeglioppi de Oppeano, VR
Capanna is a wall bookcase equipped with shelves and support floors and made of precious canaletto walnut finished with acrylic. The Italian artisan tradition is reinterpreted in a contemporary design to create a refined piece of wooden furniture...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Shelves
Materials
Walnut
Dragon Shelf Contemporary Shelf in Black Walnut
Located in London, GB
Dragon Shelf is a shelf-unit that is entirely crafted from massive black walnut (Noce Canaletto). This object can be used as a display unit for collectibl...
Category
2010s Macedonian Modern Shelves
Materials
Walnut
Perforated Large Storage Box, Solid Birch Wood Perforated Box by Erik Olovsson
Located in Stockholm, SE
Wooden storage box made in holed solid birch wood. Large holes creates a distinct graphic look and allows light to flow through. The boxes are light and easy to hold. They work both ...
Category
2010s Swedish Modern Shelves
Materials
Birch
Moroso SECRET CUBIC SHELVES by Olafur Eliasson
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Moroso presents “Secret Cubic Shelves”, designed by Icelandic-Danish artist Olafur Eliasson.
A result of the artist’s intensive, decades-long engagement with geometry, the shelves a...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Shelves
Materials
Steel
Onda Hand Carved, Sculptural, Floating Shelf in Cherry Wood by David Tragen
By David Tragen
Located in Manchester, GB
Onda, is a gently flowing wave-like creation, designed to bring sensual curves into your living environment. This sculptural, wooden piece can be used purely as wall decoration or, w...
Category
2010s British Modern Shelves
Materials
Cherry, Walnut, Maple
Vodo bookcase, in oak and metal, by Accardi Buccheri for Medulum
Located in Meolo, Venezia
Vodo is a collection made up of folded sheet metal structures and solid wood
shelves fixed by a joint. Whether it is our bench, stool, console or bookcase,
VODO will be perfect for ...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Shelves
Materials
Sheet Metal
One Series Shelves Contemporary Shelve in Steel
Located in London, GB
Limited resources like materials and methods sometimes stimulate designer's imagination. One series uses a single sheet of metal without waste so that it creates novel aesthetic and ...
Category
2010s South Korean Modern Shelves
Materials
Steel
DeCastelli Monolìte Divider by Tipstudio
By TIPSTUDIO, DeCastelli
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Monolìte is an architectonic partition that, like a solid body smoothed by nature’s erosive elements, evokes geological formations along its surface.
This partition is a vertical el...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Shelves
Materials
Brass
Yusu Shelving and Storage Unit II
By LAGU
Located in İSTANBUL, TR
Yusu Shelf and Storage Unit offers a solution where you can easily display and store your products. Yusu, made of durable beech plywood, offers customizable dimensions to suit your l...
Category
2010s Turkish Modern Shelves
Materials
Metal
alvar aalto 111 shelf
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Tomi, Nagano
1940' alvar aalto design 111 shelf.
This is made in Hedemora for export to abroad aalto furnitures during WW2.
Category
1940s Finnish Vintage Modern Shelves
Materials
Birch
Modernist off-white Dutch shelving system reminiscent of Gerrit Rietveld, 1930s
Located in London, England
Stunning off-white 1930’s Dutch shelving system.
Well balanced and beautifully refined design, reminiscent of Gerrit Rietveld.
W 181cm x H 121cm x D 26cm
Category
Mid-20th Century Modern Shelves
Materials
Pine
Modern Six Tier Etagere
Located in Westwood, NJ
Modern Six Tier Etagere, built from hardwood solids with beveled, ebonized, posts and rails. The shelves feature flat-cut paldao with a light transparent ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Modern Shelves
Materials
Metal
Modern Rustic Oak Etagere, Light
Located in Westwood, NJ
A modern rustic-style light oak etagere with five oak-crafted display shelves firmly supported by a crossed "X" stretcher at its back. It is secured with a...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Modern Shelves
Materials
Wood
e15 Mate Shelf by Florian Asche
By Florian Asche, e15
Located in New York, NY
The distinct solid wood shelf unit Mate is leant against the wall and thus expresses casual spontaneity. The shelves are fastened to the backboard by means of a classic dovetail join...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary German Modern Shelves
Materials
Wood
Shelf "Gridlock" kaidan dansu handcrafted from black walnut
Located in Carnota, A Coruña, Galicia
The design of this shelf from black walnut with an oil finish is based on the traditional Japanese furniture piece called Hako Kaidan or...
Category
2010s Spanish Modern Shelves
Materials
Wood, Hardwood
Cross Bookcase by Alva Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Cross Bookcase by Alva Design
Materials: MDF veneered in natural wood, Tempered glass 12mm
Dimensions: w 141 x h 182 x d 41,2 cm
Finishing: Cristal glass
Wood (availa...
Category
2010s Brazilian Modern Shelves
Materials
Glass, Wood
Luca Meda Shelving Unit, Molteni, Italy, c1970
By Luca Meda, Molteni & C
Located in London, GB
Luca Meda grew up and studied in Milan, graduating from the renowned Art School of Brera in the heart of the city. He continued his studies in Germany, at the Hochschule für Gestaltu...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Shelves
Materials
Wood
Connect Bookcase or Shelf Customizable in Blackened Steel and Polished Bronze
Located in Vancouver, BC
The Connect bookcase is designed to express the process by which each piece is created, with visible construction and fastening details that are integral to the final piece. Traditional joinery techniques are used in conjunction with mass manufacturing technology to create this unique metal cabinetry...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Canadian Modern Shelves
Materials
Bronze, Steel
Into The Woods Bookcase, White and Brass, InsidherLand by Joana Santos Barbosa
Located in Maia, Porto
A long walk through a Swedish forest beneath intertwined branches of huge trees, was the inspiration of the dazzling Into the Woods bookcase.
T...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Shelves
Materials
Brass
Moooi Oblique Big Cupboard/Wall Shelf in Curry Lacquered Beech
By Moooi, MARCEL WANDERS
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Oblique is a cupboard slash a wall shelf. Make this the mood board of your lifestyle. Display all your favorite publications, company magazines, booklets, guides or photos in the chi...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Dutch Modern Shelves
Materials
Beech
Mirth Shelveing/Room Divider in Polished Concrete by Neal Aronowitz
Located in Portland, OR
The extraordinary and playful Mirth Shelving/Room Divider is a harmonious blend of functionality and artistic expression. Crafted from concrete, finished to an impeccably high smooth...
Category
2010s American Modern Shelves
Materials
Cement
Wall Mounted Bedside Drawer, Black Wood & Bronze Ribbon Hardware by Debra Folz
By Debra Folz
Located in Pawtucket, RI
An interest in the translation of textile languages and soft surfaces through furniture forms has led to the development of a unique hardware and storage collection. Inspired by ribb...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Shelves
Materials
Bronze
Perforated Small Low Storage Box, Birch Wood Perforated Box by Erik Olovsson
Located in Stockholm, SE
Wooden storage box made in holed solid birch wood. Large holes creates a distinct graphic look and allows light to flow through. The boxes are light and easy to hold. They work both ...
Category
2010s Swedish Modern Shelves
Materials
Birch
Opinion Ciatti Henry III Triangular Wall Shelf Right
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Well defined with contemporary lines, a geometric design and unusual shapes in order to surprise and astonish. Henri is the collection of shelves designed by Bruno Rainaldi, characte...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Shelves
Materials
Stainless Steel
BIJOU, Modern Sculptural Shelf, Object of Art, Collectible Quiet Luxury
Located in Hoboken, NJ
BIJOU- "an object, especially of a residence, small and elegant."
Sculptural shelf with organic curves. Showcase a favorite object, create an accent in a space. As functional as it i...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Shelves
Materials
Sapele Wood
Montana Module With Four Large Compartments By Peter J. Lassen For Montana
Located in Lejre, DK
Grey Montana module with four large compartments, designed by Peter J. Lassen.
Dimensions: H:70cm W:70cm D:30cm
Category
Late 20th Century Danish Modern Shelves
Materials
Wood
Rossana Orlandi Aqua Shelf B in Mirrored Gold by Francesco Messina for Cypraea
Located in Milan, IT
Designed by Francesco Maria Messina
The collection is characterized by the use of two materials and two textures that are brought together to create a dialogue, mirroring the rela...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Mauritian Modern Shelves
Materials
Aluminum
Contemporary Half Moon Etagere
Located in Westwood, NJ
A contemporary-style half-moon etagere with a light and airy design. The tall frame has been given a high polished gold finish and surrounds each of the six...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Modern Shelves
Materials
Metal
Large Dassi Mahogany Wall Unit Bookcase, 4 doors, Part of Unique Living Room 1940
Located in Rome, IT
Important wall unit bookcase and bar, cabinet, 1940.
Executed by Dassi and attributed to Ico Parisi
Unique living room
Stunning details "grissinato mahogany wood"
Part of unique living room designed to commission
Mahogany, maple wood, brass details
this wall unit consist in two units
Measures: H 168cm, 295 x 39 cm.
top unit: shelves, two large doors...
Category
1940s Italian Vintage Modern Shelves
Materials
Brass
Pair of Chrome, Brass and Glass Etageres
Located in Pasadena, TX
This is a wonderful pair of modern etageres. They're made of chrome with brass accents. They have 4 glass shelves. We also have a matching coffee table as seen in the advertisement.
...
Category
Late 20th Century American Modern Shelves
Materials
Brass, Chrome
Janet Schwietzer, Pace, Modern Obra Bookshelf, Red Lacquer, Steel, glass, 1990s
Located in Manhasset, NY
Pace Collection "Obra" three section wall unit by Janet Schwietzer
Iconic design by Janet Schwietzer for Pace Collection, circa 1970s. A group of three Illuminating étagère wall uni...
Category
Late 20th Century American Modern Shelves
Materials
Metal
Windsor-Style Black and Gold Bordered Desk Top Shelving
Located in Queens, NY
Windsor-style (modern) black top of desk shelving unit with three compartments trimmed in gold, nailhead-like dots, and scalloped top and bottom edges.
...
Category
20th Century Unknown Modern Shelves
Materials
Porcelain
Buredo Moku I Shelving and Storage Unit
By LAGU
Located in İSTANBUL, TR
- LED illuminated back panel
- Natural oak veneer shelves
- Natural oak veneer removable storage cases
- Robust metal frame
Category
2010s Turkish Modern Shelves
Materials
Metal
Signed Lucite and Chrome Étagère by Charles Hollis Jones
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A glamorous clear acrylic and polish chrome with glass shelves étagère design in 1973 by renowned American design Charles Hollis Jones for Paul Laszlo. The étagère is in original con...
Category
1970s American Vintage Modern Shelves
Materials
Chrome
Modern shelves for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Modern shelves 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 shelves created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include case pieces and storage cabinets, wall decorations, tables and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Modern shelves made in a specific country, there are Europe, Italy, and North America pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original shelves, popular names associated with this style include Marcel Wanders, Moooi, Souda, and Casey Lurie. 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 shelves differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $11 and tops out at $88,764 while the average work can sell for $3,091.