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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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
Soft Shelves Green by Manon Ritaly
Located in Geneve, CH
Soft shelves green by Manon Ritaly
Dimensions: 100 x 65 x 30cm
Materials: Steel, fabric, foam, ceramic
Manon Ritaly, Designer, visual artist, dream...
Category
2010s French Modern Shelves
Materials
Steel
Cave Inspired Form, Natural Beige Fiberglass Cabinet with Three Openings by kar
Located in Geneve, CH
Cave cabinet by kar
Dimensions: W 138 x D 38 x H 43 cm
Materials: FRP
Available in black.
Kar, is the root of Sanskrit Karma, meaning karmic repetition. We seek the cause and effect...
Category
2010s Chinese Modern Shelves
Materials
Fiberglass
Rossana Orlandi Aqua Shelf A 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
Monument Shelves in White Travertine by Mathieu Girard & Gauthier Pouillart
By La Chance
Located in Geneve, CH
Monument Shelves in White Travertine by Mathieu Girard & Gauthier Pouillart
Dimensions: L 130 x H 117
Materials: white travertine shelves and columns
Material available: Birchwood, ...
Category
2010s French Modern Shelves
Materials
Wood
Rossana Orlandi Aqua Shelf C 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
Small Silver Contemporary Shelf
Located in Geneve, CH
Small silver Contemporary shelf
Dimensions: L 40.4 x W 25.3 x H 12 cm
Materials: Steel.
Also available in black and gold.
It is not always ...
Category
2010s Danish Modern Shelves
Materials
Steel
Cornisa Shelfs by Lluís Clotet & Oscar Tusquets
Located in Geneve, CH
Cornisa Shelfs by Lluís Clotet & Oscar Tusquets
Dimension: D 26 x W 250 x H 6 cm
Having been in our catalogue for nearly 50 years, the Cornisa shelving is one our most functional d...
Category
2010s Spanish Modern Shelves
Materials
Aluminum
2023 Z-Shelf Kit 4 Library Left MO by Ron Arad for Moroso
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Z-shelf (left), originally designed by Ron Arad. These examples were produced by Moroso in Italy circa 2023. The shelves are made completely of black sheet steel. The liste...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Shelves
Materials
Steel
Tapparelle Medium Cabinet, Cherry Red by Colé Italia
Located in Geneve, CH
Tapparelle Medium Cabinet, cherry red by Colé Italia with Emmanuel Gallina
Dimensions: H.115 D.42 W.42 cm
Materials: Container with legs and “tapparella” sliding shutter in solid o...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Shelves
Materials
Oak
Tapparelle Wheels Cabinet, Azure by Colé Italia
Located in Geneve, CH
Tapparelle wheels cabinet, Azure by Colé Italia with Emmanuel Gallina
Dimensions: H.55 D.40 W.40 cm
Materials: Container on wheels with plinth and “tapparella” sliding shutter in s...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Shelves
Materials
Glass, Oak
Fluid Shelf by Roberto Giacomucci
Located in Geneve, CH
Fluid shelf by Roberto Giacomucci
Materials: Wood, liquid metal
Dimensions: L 100 x P 40 x H 180 cm
The freak collection is made of wood coated with liquid metal, a 95% real met...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Shelves
Materials
Metal
Contemporary Asymmetrical Bookcase with Teak Wall Panel and Aluminum Shelving
By Tisettanta
Located in Chicago, IL
Bookcase unit to be horizontally or vertically positioned. Shelves in aluminium varnished folded sheet metal. Back panel in teak wood.
Designed by Giuseppe Vigano for Tisettanta
...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Shelves
Materials
Aluminum
Floral Shelf with Three Plates by Chanel Kapitanj
Located in Geneve, CH
Floral Shelf with Three Plates by Chanel Kapitanj
Dimensions: D 62 x W 40 x H 100 cm
Materials: Metal
Unique Piece
This collection aims to offer completely unique pieces. Each is di...
Category
2010s Belgian Modern Shelves
Materials
Metal
21st Century Matteo Zorzenoni Bones Bookcase Black PaintedWood Scapin Collezioni
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 distinguish the Bones bookcase. Thanks t...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Shelves
Materials
Wood
Handmade Low Commode by Jiří Krejčiřík
Located in Geneve, CH
Handmade Low Commode by Jirí Krejcirík
Dimensions: 130 x 50 x 53 cm
Material: Birch Wood
Also available in other materials and dimensions.
The furniture is inspired by Czech Ar...
Category
2010s Czech Modern Shelves
Materials
Wood, Birch
DeCastelli Talea 185 Bookshelf in Copper with 4 Wooden Shelves by LucidiPevere
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Thin perpendicular supports fall from the ceiling to be anchored to the wall in delicate curves. Like climbing vines, they create a new kind of suspended architecture. Each branch becomes a support for one or more shelves in a modular composition with clear botanical inspiration. The gaze bounces between the dark hues of the Gabon Ebony...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Shelves
Materials
Copper
21st Century Psyco Bookcase in Brushed Bronze finishing by Gianfranco Ferré Home
Located in Cantù, Lombardia
An imposing, sculptural element with an oriental-inspired design, whose structure is the result of a symmetrical game between two identical pieces. Original and scenographic, it play...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Shelves
Materials
Brass
Floor Shelf by Kristina Dam Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Floor shelf by Kristina Dam Studio.
Materials: Solid oak & walnut with oil treatment.
Dimensions: 25 x 100 x H 46cm.
The stack floor shelves are a nat...
Category
2010s Danish Modern Shelves
Materials
Oak, Walnut
Small Black Steel Contemporary Shelf
Located in Geneve, CH
Small black steel contemporary shelf
Dimensions: L 39 x W 23 x H 23 cm
Materials: Steel with Powder Coating.
Available in colors: Black, Bordeaux, for...
Category
2010s Danish Modern Shelves
Materials
Steel
Riley 5 Shelf Unit by Dare Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Riley 5 shelf unit by Dare Studio, 2018
Dimensions: H 164.5 cm, D 40 cm, W 180 cm
Materials: European white oak with black stain, powder coated frame in blac...
Category
2010s British Modern Shelves
Materials
Brass
Modern Daniele Papuli for Dilmos Bookshelf Storage Handmade Paper
Located in Milan, IT
Totem sculpture of angular shape with support on the ground, made with strips of selected paper for weight and color for Dilmos Milnao. The Totem is equipped with an internal, laminated lamellar structure with three shelves. Metria is a single vertical element which in composition with several elements, it becomes a modular partition wall...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Shelves
Materials
Paper
Teteia, Wall Shelve by Cultivado Em Casa
Located in Geneve, CH
Thethea - wall shelve by Cultivado Em Casa
Dimensions: 50 x 38 x 140 cm
Materials: MDF, carbon steel. Painting in Duco paint
Teteia is a suspended bookcase...
Category
2010s Brazilian Modern Shelves
Materials
Steel
Set of 3 Strut Shelves from Souda, 116in, Black, Made to Order
By Souda
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Price on this configuration includes 3 116" Shelves & 12 Brackets. This shelving system is really easy to customize: we offer multiple wood finishes, bracket finishes, and we can adj...
Category
2010s American Modern Shelves
Materials
Metal, Steel
Set of 4 Strut Shelves from Souda, 52in, Black and Walnut, Made to Order
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 Shelves
Materials
Metal, Steel
Proportions of Stone Shelf Level 07 by Lee Sisan
Located in Geneve, CH
Proportions of stone shelf level 07 by Lee Sisan
Dimensions: W 76 x D 76 x H 160 cm
Materials: stainless steel, natural stone
Each piece is made to or...
Category
2010s South Korean Modern Shelves
Materials
Stone, Steel
White Grid Coat Stand by Kristina Dam Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
White grid coat stand by Kristina Dam Studio
Materials: white powder-coated steel.
Also available in different colors.
Dimensions: 40 x 80 x H 160cm.
The Modernist furniture ...
Category
2010s Danish Modern Shelves
Materials
Steel
Set of 3 Strut Shelves from Souda, 84in, 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 Shelves
Materials
Metal, Steel
Comet, Hand Carved, Sculptural Floating Shelf in Ash Wood by David Tragen
By David Tragen
Located in Manchester, GB
Comet catches the movement of light across the sky, in this angular, twisting floating shelf, which along with Corona, features in the Celestial Series. Its tapering form creates a s...
Category
2010s British Modern Shelves
Materials
Ash
21st Century Taxila Bookcase in Wood and Metal by Etro Home Interiors
Located in Cantù, Lombardia
The bamboo cane, an evocative element of naturalistic inspiration, is proposed with a polished brass finish, a reference to ethnicity that meets the refinement of precious materials,...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Shelves
Materials
Metal
Set of Three Burl Wood and Smoked Plexiglass Bookcases
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Set of three vintage bookcases. Burl wood shelves and smoked plexiglass vertical supports with brass fittings, American, 1970s.
Category
Late 20th Century American Modern Shelves
Materials
Plexiglass, Burl
Moooi Oblique Small Cupboard/Wall Shelf in Grass Green Lacquered Beech
By MARCEL WANDERS, Moooi
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
Set of 4 Strut Shelves from Souda, 84in, White, 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
Gravità Solid Wood Library, Walnut in Hand-Made Natural Finish, Contemporary
By Dale Italia
Located in Cadeglioppi de Oppeano, VR
The Gravità solid wood bookcase is a simple and linear composition that conveys a feeling of suspension. It uses magnetic vertical elements to hide...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Shelves
Materials
Walnut
Nube Italia Link Double Shelves in Natural Taupe Wood by Kemistry of Style
Located in New York, NY
"Modular system for shelves and cabinets. Metal frame available in bright or brushed chromium-plated, burnished or painted. Wooden parts in veneered wood or polished or mat lacquered...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Shelves
Materials
Metal
21st Century Psyco Bookcase in Black Chrome Finishing by Gianfranco Ferré Home
Located in Cantù, Lombardia
A new chrome-plated London smoke grey for the Psycho bookcase was presented for the first time at the Salone del Mobile, in 2018. The original orient...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Shelves
Materials
Chrome
Parade Wall Shelf, by Morten & Jonas from Warm Nordic
Located in Viby J, DK
Elegant metal shelving unit with plenty of space for all your favourite possessions. Parade is perfect for putting your belongings on display with the shelving unit serving as a beautiful frame. It comes either as a complete shelving unit or as an extended version with extra shelves, inspired by 1960s-style wooden shelves or luggage racks on trains, with the same lightweight idiom and functionality. This means that Parade can be used in an infinite number of ways: from the stylish storage of teapot, cups and plates in the kitchen to the display of books, pretty vases...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Modern Shelves
Materials
Steel
Set of 5 Strut Shelves from Souda, 116in, Black and Walnut, Made to Order
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Price on this configuration includes 5 116" shelves & 20 brackets. This shelving system is really easy to customize: we offer multiple wood finishes, bracket finishes, and we can adj...
Category
2010s American Modern Shelves
Materials
Metal, Steel
Karl Springer styled Lucite / Bamboo / Glass Etagere
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A very well crafted Etagere with clear Lucite posts straddled by hardened bamboo pieces woven to each corner making for nice detailed construction . Five glass shelves that include t...
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Shelves
Materials
Bamboo, Glass, Lucite
Set of 5 Strut Shelves from Souda, 84in, Black and Maple, Made to Order
By Souda
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Price on this configuration includes 5 84" Shelves & 15 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
Ralph Lauren Sideboard Console Slate Stone Door and Shelves Rare Luxury Timber
By Ralph Lauren
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this new ex-showroom stock Ralph Lauren light luxury hardwood timber sideboard buffer with solid polished slate sto...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Shelves
Materials
Slate
Set of 2 Strut Shelves from Souda, 52in, 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 finishes, and we can adjus...
Category
2010s American Modern Shelves
Materials
Metal, Steel
ClassiCon Paris 3 Shelves in Black by E. Barber & J. Osgerby
Located in New York, NY
Furnishing is a creative game of possibilities. The shelving unit Paris by the London design team of Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby offers plenty of Scope to indulge the urge to play....
Category
21st Century and Contemporary German Modern Shelves
Materials
Steel
Incrocio Gold Bookshelves By Andrea Branzi
By Ghidini 1961
Located in Milan, IT
This elegant frame can be used to display photos, small pots and books and other little objects. It is created by Andrea Branzi and features a structure of parallel and perpendicular...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Shelves
Materials
Stainless Steel
ClassiCon Paris 3 Shelves in White and Grey by E. Barber & J. Osgerby
Located in New York, NY
Furnishing is a creative game of possibilities. The shelving unit Paris by the London design team of Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby offers plenty of scope to indulge the urge to play....
Category
21st Century and Contemporary German Modern Shelves
Materials
Steel
Set of 3 Strut Shelves from Souda, 116in, Black and Maple, Made to Order
By Souda
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Price on this configuration includes 3 116" Shelves & 12 Brackets. This shelving system is really easy to customize: we offer multiple wood finishes, bracket finishes, and we can adj...
Category
2010s American Modern Shelves
Materials
Metal, Steel
Amuneal's 2 Bay Collector's Brass Shelving Unit+Oxidized Oak Adjustable Shelves
By Amuneal
Located in New York, NY
This two-bay version of Amuneal’s collector’s shelving unit features solid machined brass fittings and posts in a warm brass finish. The unit mounts to the floor and to the wall to s...
Category
2010s American Modern Shelves
Materials
Brass
Vodo bench, in oak and colored 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 console.
Elementary forms inspired by architectural shapes...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Shelves
Materials
Sheet Metal
Modern Etagere w/Black & Charcoal Gray Textured Metal Tube Frame & Glass Shelves
Located in Topeka, KS
Awesome vintage Modern etagere with black & charcoal gray textured metal tube frame & 5 glass shelves. Beautiful condition, keeping in mind that this is vintage and not new so will h...
Category
Late 20th Century Modern Shelves
Materials
Metal
21st Century Eret Console in Tropicalized Metal by Samer Alameen
Located in Cantù, Lombardia
"Meccano: more than a toy, an iconic building set teaching basic mechanical principles. Over a hundred years since its inception, this game inspires a brand new artifact. Eret is a s...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Shelves
Materials
Stainless Steel
Set of 6 Strut Shelves from Souda, 84in, 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 Shelves
Materials
Metal, Steel
Vintage Midcentury Custom Oak Gilt Steel Metal Shelf Etagere Display Case
Located in Wilton, CT
Large, vintage, custom gilt steel and oak etagere, circa 1960s-1970s, with four heavy 1/2" chamfered glass shelves. Measures: 78" high, 35" wide, 19" deep. Excellent vintage conditio...
Category
1970s American Vintage Modern Shelves
Materials
Steel
Contemporary Minimal Sculptural Metal Black Corner Shelf, USA, in Stock
Located in Chicago, IL
This contemporary sculptural single metal minimal corner shelf is perfect for any space be it a living room, office, or bathroom.
In stock: These Minimalist shelves, whether insta...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Shelves
Materials
Steel
Into The Woods Bookcase, White (in stock), 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.
The woods are captured by the elegant sh...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Shelves
Materials
Brass
Into the Woods Bookcase, Walnut (in stock), 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.
The woods are captured by the elegant sh...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Shelves
Materials
Brass
ClassiCon Taidgh Shelf D in Walnut by Taidgh O’Neill
Located in New York, NY
Sculpture or shelf, storage surface or object – the various models of the Taidgh series created by the Californian designer Taidgh O’Neill move within these poles. Surfaces provide r...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary German Modern Shelves
Materials
Walnut
AS4 modular wall unit 32" wide bookshelf in solid walnut and blackened steel
Located in Newburgh, NY
The AS4 modular shelving unit is handmade using solid hardwood with dovetail joinery, and solid steel. This single-bay shelving unit can easily be rearranged, expanded upon, and rel...
Category
2010s American Modern Shelves
Materials
Steel
Wall-Mounted Tidal Shelf in Red Powder-Coated Aluminum by Jonathan Nesci
Located in Columbus, IN
The wall-mounted, tidal shelf is formed out of 1/4 inch thick, powder-coated aluminum. Each shelf has a welded U-channel to the reverse of the shelf and ea...
Category
Early 2000s American Modern Shelves
Materials
Aluminum
Wall Mounted Console 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
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.