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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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
Tapparelle Medium Cabinet, Mustard Yellow by Colé Italia
Located in Geneve, CH
Tapparelle medium cabinet, mustard yellow by Colé Italia with Emmanuel Gallina
Dimensions: H.115 D.42 W.42 cm.
Materials: Container with legs and “tapparella” sliding shutter in soli...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Shelves
Materials
Oak
Tapparelle Large Cabinet, Blue / Gray by Colé Italia
Located in Geneve, CH
Tapparelle large cabinet, blue / gray by Colé Italia with Emmanuel Gallina
Dimensions: H.135, D.46, W.78 cm
Materials: Container with legs and “tapparella” sliding shutter in solid...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Shelves
Materials
Oak
Tapparelle Sideboard, Cherry Red by Colé Italia
Located in Geneve, CH
Tapparelle sideboard, cherry red by Colé Italia with Emmanuel Gallina
Dimensions: H.75 D.50 W.160 cm.
Materials: Container with legs and “tapparella” sliding shutter in solid oak. Ma...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Shelves
Materials
Oak
Fläpps Shelf 40x40-1 - PS Collage 3 by Pattern Studio
Located in Berlin, BE
The Small One
Perfectly Square. Fits anywhere - even in the smallest shelf system. This is the perfect hallway shelf, night table, vase holder or cookb...
Category
2010s German Modern Shelves
Materials
Plywood
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 Large Cabinet, Cherry Red by Colé Italia
Located in Geneve, CH
Tapparellelarge cabinet, cherry red by Colé Italia with Emmanuel Gallina
Dimensions: H.135, D.46, W.78 cm
Materials: Container with legs and “tapparella” sliding shutter in solid oak...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Shelves
Materials
Oak
Tapparelle Hanging Unit, Cherry Red by Colé Italia
Located in Geneve, CH
Tapparelle Hanging unit, Lacquered in cherry red by Colé Italia with Emmanuel Gallina
Dimensions: H.60, D.60, W.22 cm
Materials: Container with “tappare...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Shelves
Materials
Oak
Proportions of Stone Shelf Level 05 by Lee Sisan
Located in Geneve, CH
Proportions of Stone Shelf Level 05 by Lee Sisan
Dimensions: W 64 x D 59 x H 110 cm
Materials: Stainless steel, natural stone
Each piece is made to order ...
Category
2010s South Korean Modern Shelves
Materials
Stone, Steel
Tapparelle Wheels Cabinet, Cherry Red by Colé Italia
Located in Geneve, CH
Tapparelle wheels cabinet, cherry red by Colé Italia with Emmanuel Gallina
Dimensions: H.55 D.40 W.40 cm
Materials: Container on wheels with plinth and “tapparella” sliding shutter...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Shelves
Materials
Glass, Oak
Set of 2, Libra Shelves 120 by Colé Italia
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 2, Libra Shelves 120 by Colé Italia with Martinelli/Venezia
Dimensions: H.42 D.20 W.124 cm
Materials: Shaped solid oak wall shelf; black lacquered iron stirrups
Also avai...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Shelves
Materials
Oak
Tapparelle Large Cabinet, Black by Colé Italia
Located in Geneve, CH
Tapparelle Large Cabinet, Black by Colé Italia with Emmanuel Gallina
Dimensions: H.135, D.46, W.78 cm
Materials: Container with legs and “tapparella” sliding shutter in solid oak.
Ma...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Shelves
Materials
Oak
Proportions of Stone Shelf Level 03 by Lee Sisan
Located in Geneve, CH
Proportions of Stone Shelf Level 03 by Lee Sisan
Dimensions: W 54 x D 54 x H 65 cm
Materials: Stainless steel, natural stone
Each piece is made to order a...
Category
2010s South Korean Modern Shelves
Materials
Stone, Steel
Tapparelle Sideboard, Blue / Grey by Colé Italia
Located in Geneve, CH
Tapparelle sideboard, blue / grey by Colé Italia with Emmanuel Gallina.
Dimensions: H.75 D.50 W.160 cm.
Materials: Container with legs and “tapparella” sliding shutter in solid oak...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Shelves
Materials
Oak
Tapparelle Sideboard, Sand White by Colé Italia
Located in Geneve, CH
Tapparelle sideboard, sand white by Colé Italia with Emmanuel Gallina
Dimensions: H.75 D.50 W.160 cm
Materials: Container with legs and “tapparella” sliding shutter in solid oak. Mat...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Shelves
Materials
Oak
Fläpps Shelf 80x80-2 - Black
Located in Berlin, BE
Whoever wants to equip a library with Fläpps is guaranteed to have a lot of fun with the Fläpps shelf 80x80-2, which combines perfectly with the Fläpps shelf 80x80-3 or the Fläpps secretary 80x80-2, not only to form libraries or entire walls, but also as an office shelf...
Category
2010s German Modern Shelves
Materials
Plywood
Fläpps Shelf, 1 - Vallunaraju by Joe Mania
Located in Berlin, BE
The Midsized
The midsized Fla¨pps Wall shelf adheres to standards. Kept in 3:2 format it gets on well with photographers critical eyes. With its narrow 60cm it harmonizes perfectl...
Category
2010s German Modern Shelves
Materials
Plywood
Fläpps Shelf, Criss Cross Red
Located in Berlin, BE
The small one
Perfectly square. Fits anywhere - even in the smallest shelf system. This is the perfect hallway shelf, night table, vase holder or cookbook shelf. There when you ne...
Category
2010s German Modern Shelves
Materials
Plywood
Tapparelle Sideboard, Black by Colé Italia
Located in Geneve, CH
Tapparelle sideboard, Black by Colé Italia with Emmanuel Gallina
Dimensions: H.75 D.50 W.160 cm
Materials: Container with legs and “tapparella” sliding shutter in solid oak. Matt lac...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Shelves
Materials
Oak
Tapparelle Hanging Unit, Blue / Gray by Colé Italia
Located in Geneve, CH
Tapparelle Hanging Unit, Lacquered in Blue / Gray by Colé Italia with Emmanuel Gallina
Dimensions: H.60, D.60, W.22 cm
Materials: Container with “tapparel...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Shelves
Materials
Oak
Pink Primitive Bookshelf by Studio Nucleo, Made in Italy
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
The Primitive bookshelf was one of the strongest and most iconic products designed by Studio Nucleo. Initially made as a limited-edition product, t...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Shelves
Materials
Fabric, Wood
Fläpps Shoe Rack, Black
Located in Berlin, BE
To eliminate mountains of shoes under the wardrobe, all Fläpps wall shelves with a small depth can now be conver- ted into a shoe shelf with a simple trick. By inserting small magnet...
Category
2010s German Modern Shelves
Materials
Plywood
Fläpps Shelf 40x40-1 - Alps by Joe Mania
Located in Berlin, BE
The Small One
Perfectly Square. Fits anywhere - even in the smallest shelf system. This is the perfect hallway shelf, night table, vase holder or cookb...
Category
2010s German Modern Shelves
Materials
Plywood
Fläpps Shelf-1 - Alps by Joe Mania
Located in Berlin, BE
The Midsized
The midsized Fla¨pps Wall shelf adheres to standards. Kept in 3:2 format it gets on well with photographers critical eyes. With its narrow 60cm it harmonizes perfectl...
Category
2010s German Modern Shelves
Materials
Plywood
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
Tapparelle Wheels Cabinet, Mustard Yellow by Colé Italia
Located in Geneve, CH
Tapparelle wheels cabinet, mustard yellow by Colé Italia with Emmanuel Gallina
Dimensions: H.55 D.40 W.40 cm
Materials: Container on wheels with plinth and “tapparella” sliding shu...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Shelves
Materials
Oak, Glass
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
Fläpps Shelf-1 - Alps by Joe Mania
Located in Berlin, BE
The Slim One
Embrace compact living with the smallest solution in the Fläpps range. Just 27 cm high, it fits under the lowest of ceilings and the narrowest of hallways. For booklo...
Category
2010s German Modern Shelves
Materials
Plywood
Fläpps Shelf, Black
Located in Berlin, BE
The Triple Slim
The Triple Slim offers shelving space to cater for bookworms, film buffs and music lovers alike. As with all Fläpps products, it can be combined with other solutio...
Category
2010s German Modern Shelves
Materials
Plywood
Set of 2, Libra Shelves 60 by Colé Italia
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 2, Libra shelves 60 by Colé Italia with Martinelli/Venezia
Dimensions: H.42 D.20 W.55 cm
Materials: Shaped solid oak wall shelf; black lacquered iron stirrups
Also availa...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Shelves
Materials
Oak
Fläpps Shelf-1 - Alps by Joe Mania
Located in Berlin, BE
The Midsized
The midsized Fla¨pps Wall shelf adheres to standards. Kept in 3:2 format it gets on well with photographers critical eyes. With its narrow 60cm it harmonizes perfectl...
Category
2010s German Modern Shelves
Materials
Plywood
Fläpps Shelf-1 - Vallunaraju by Joe Mania
Located in Berlin, BE
The Midsized
The midsized Fla¨pps Wall shelf adheres to standards. Kept in 3:2 format it gets on well with photographers critical eyes. With its narrow 60cm it harmonizes perfectl...
Category
2010s German Modern Shelves
Materials
Plywood
Fläpps Shelf, Wild and Free by Ingrid Beddoes
Located in Berlin, BE
The Midsized
The midsized Fla¨pps Wall shelf adheres to standards. Kept in 3:2 format it gets on well with photographers critical eyes. With its narrow 60cm it harmonizes perfectl...
Category
2010s German Modern Shelves
Materials
Plywood
Fläpps Shelf 40x40-1 Bubbles Indigo by Pattern Studio
Located in Berlin, BE
The Small One
Perfectly Square. Fits anywhere - even in the smallest shelf system. This is the perfect hallway shelf, night table, vase holder or cookbook shelf. There when you ne...
Category
2010s German Modern Shelves
Materials
Plywood
Remix Vol 5. Bookshelf, Limited Edition by Belén Moneo
By Belén Moneo
Located in Geneve, CH
REmix vol 5. bookshelf, Limited Edition by Belén Moneo
Limited to 3 Units
Dimensions: 150 x 37 x H 150 cm
Materials: varnished beech wood columns. Transparent methacrylate shelves.
Moneo Brock presents a new edition to the REmix project (vol.5) created by BD Barcelona Design with the aim of REcovering, REcycling and REusing obsolete material that accumulates in warehouses, giving it a second chance. Belén Moneo has faced the challenge of converting old legs in stock into a limited edition of bookshelves and a colourful collection of bookends, that will become part of BD’s Art Edition Catalogue. The legs are from the Romana Table that her father and architect, Rafael Moneo...
Category
2010s Spanish Modern Shelves
Materials
Glass, Wood
Fläpps Shelf 40x40-1 - Sunrise by Joa Herrenknecht
Located in Berlin, BE
The Small One
Perfectly Square. Fits anywhere - even in the smallest shelf system. This is the perfect hallway shelf, night table, vase holder or cookbook shelf. There when you ne...
Category
2010s German Modern Shelves
Materials
Plywood
Tapparelle Medium Cabinet, Blue / Gray by Colé Italia
Located in Geneve, CH
Tapparelle medium cabinet, blue / gray 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
Fläpps Shelf-1 - PS Collage 3 by Pattern Studio
Located in Berlin, BE
The Midsized
The midsized Fla¨pps Wall shelf adheres to standards. Kept in 3:2 format it gets on well with photographers critical eyes. With its narrow 60cm it harmonizes perfectl...
Category
2010s German Modern Shelves
Materials
Plywood
Flapps Shelf, 1 - Watercolor Stripes by Kind of Style
Located in Berlin, BE
The Midsized
The midsized Fla¨pps Wall shelf adheres to standards. Kept in 3:2 format it gets on well with photographers critical eyes. With its narrow 60cm it harmonizes perfectl...
Category
2010s German Modern Shelves
Materials
Plywood
Fläpps Shelf 80x27-1 - PS Collage 3 by Pattern Studio
Located in Berlin, BE
The Slim One
Embrace compact living with the smallest solution in the Fläpps range. Just 27 cm high, it fits under the lowest of ceilings and the narrowest of hallways. For booklo...
Category
2010s German Modern Shelves
Materials
Plywood
Fläpps Shelf Fading Grey by Monika Strigel
Located in Berlin, BE
The Midsized
The midsized Fla¨pps Wall shelf adheres to standards. Kept in 3:2 format it gets on well with photographers critical eyes. With its narrow 60cm it harmonizes perfectl...
Category
2010s German Modern Shelves
Materials
Plywood
Fläpps Shelf 80x27-1 - Black
Located in Berlin, BE
The Slim One
Embrace compact living with the smallest solution in the Fläpps range. Just 27 cm high, it fits under the lowest of ceilings and the narrowest of hallways. For booklo...
Category
2010s German Modern Shelves
Materials
Plywood
Fläpps Shelf-1 - Watercolor Stripes by Kind of Style
Located in Berlin, BE
The Midsized
The midsized Fla¨pps Wall shelf adheres to standards. Kept in 3:2 format it gets on well with photographers critical eyes. With its narrow 60cm it harmonizes perfectl...
Category
2010s German Modern Shelves
Materials
Plywood
Fläpps Shelf, Puerto Natales by Joe Mania
Located in Berlin, BE
The Midsized
The midsized Fla¨pps Wall shelf adheres to standards. Kept in 3:2 format it gets on well with photographers critical eyes. With its narrow 60cm it harmonizes perfectl...
Category
2010s German Modern Shelves
Materials
Plywood
Fläpps Shelf 40x40-1 - Watercolor Stripes by Kind of Style
Located in Berlin, BE
The Small One
Perfectly Square. Fits anywhere - even in the smallest shelf system. This is the perfect hallway shelf, night table, vase holder or cookb...
Category
2010s German Modern Shelves
Materials
Plywood
Contemporary Room Divider Shelving "30/30 L" in Oak by Casey Lurie Studio
By Casey Lurie
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 p...
Category
2010s North American Modern Shelves
Materials
Wood
Fläpps Shelf, Watercolor Dots by Kind of Style
Located in Berlin, BE
The Midsized
The midsized Fla¨pps Wall shelf adheres to standards. Kept in 3:2 format it gets on well with photographers critical eyes. With its narrow 60cm it harmonizes perfectl...
Category
2010s German Modern Shelves
Materials
Plywood
Fläpps Shelf, Bubbles Indigo by Pattern Studio
Located in Berlin, BE
The Midsized
The midsized Fla¨pps Wall shelf adheres to standards. Kept in 3:2 format it gets on well with photographers critical eyes. With its narrow 60cm it harmonizes perfectl...
Category
2010s German Modern Shelves
Materials
Plywood
Fläpps Shelf1 - Fading Grey by Monika Strigel
Located in Berlin, BE
The Midsized
The midsized Fla¨pps Wall shelf adheres to standards. Kept in 3:2 format it gets on well with photographers critical eyes. With its narrow 60cm it harmonizes perfectl...
Category
2010s German Modern Shelves
Materials
Plywood
Fläpps Shelf, Watercolor Dots by Kind of Style
Located in Berlin, BE
The small one
Perfectly Square. Fits anywhere - even in the smallest shelf system. This is the perfect hallway shelf, night table, vase holder or cookbook shelf. There when you ne...
Category
2010s German Modern Shelves
Materials
Plywood
Fläpps Shelf 40x40-1 - Fading Grey by Monika Strigel
Located in Berlin, BE
The Small One
Perfectly Square. Fits anywhere - even in the smallest shelf system. This is the perfect hallway shelf, night table, vase holder or cookb...
Category
2010s German Modern Shelves
Materials
Plywood
Fläpps Shelf-1 - Wild and Free by Ingrid Beddoes
Located in Berlin, BE
The Midsized
The midsized Fla¨pps Wall shelf adheres to standards. Kept in 3:2 format it gets on well with photographers critical eyes. With its narrow 60cm it harmonizes perfectl...
Category
2010s German Modern Shelves
Materials
Plywood
Fläpps Shelf 40x40-1 - Snowdreamer by Monika Strigel
Located in Berlin, BE
The Small One
Perfectly Square. Fits anywhere - even in the smallest shelf system. This is the perfect hallway shelf, night table, vase holder or cookb...
Category
2010s German Modern Shelves
Materials
Plywood
Fläpps Shelf Puerto Natales by Joe Mania
Located in Berlin, BE
The Small One
Perfectly Square. Fits anywhere - even in the smallest shelf system. This is the perfect hallway shelf, night table, vase holder or cook...
Category
2010s German Modern Shelves
Materials
Plywood
Fläpps Shelf-2 - Black
Located in Berlin, BE
The Double Slima
Take away the frame and give your favourite books plenty of space. For docking to its fellow shelving units.
Dimensions:
closed: 80 x 40 x 2 cm + 1 cm wall mo...
Category
2010s German Modern Shelves
Materials
Plywood
Fläpps Shelf Snowdreamer by Monika Strigel
Located in Berlin, BE
The Midsized
The midsized Fla¨pps Wall shelf adheres to standards. Kept in 3:2 format it gets on well with photographers critical eyes. With its narrow 60cm it harmonizes perfectl...
Category
2010s German Modern Shelves
Materials
Plywood
Fläpps Shelf, Puerto Natales by Joe Mania
Located in Berlin, BE
The Midsized
The midsized Fla¨pps Wall shelf adheres to standards. Kept in 3:2 format it gets on well with photographers critical eyes. With its narrow 60cm it harmonizes perfectl...
Category
2010s German Modern Shelves
Materials
Plywood
Fläpps Shelf, Fading Grey by Monika Strigel
Located in Berlin, BE
The Slim One
Embrace compact living with the smallest solution in the Fläpps range. Just 27 cm high, it fits under the lowest of ceilings and the narrowest of hallways. For booklo...
Category
2010s German Modern Shelves
Materials
Plywood
Fläpps Shelf, Vallunaraju by Joe Mania
Located in Berlin, BE
The Slim One
Embrace compact living with the smallest solution in the Fläpps range. Just 27 cm high, it fits under the lowest of ceilings and the narrowest of hallways. For booklo...
Category
2010s German Modern Shelves
Materials
Plywood
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.
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