Skip to main content

Modern Bookcases

MODERN STYLE

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

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

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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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

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

678
86
16
to
53
489
243
780
171
251
1,147
353
232
232
195
158
151
84
59
56
50
46
44
37
26
10
7
86
694
2
20
59
3
4
4
23
14
6
Height
to
Width
to
Depth
to
529
421
141
111
110
565
288
155
155
143
41
20
19
16
13
Style: Modern
Italian modern modular bookcase Samara by Derk Jan de Vries for Maisa, 1970s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern modular bookcase Samara by Derk Jan de Vries for Maisa, 1970s Wooden modular bookcase mod. Samara. The modules present are various: a rectangular chest of drawers in l...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Modern Bookcases

Materials

Metal

Bespoke Tubular Steel Low Bookcase, Chrome, Lacquered Wood, Sliding Glass Panels
Located in Berlin, DE
Bauhaus tubular steel low bookcase with case in chrome plated metal, lacquered blockboard and sliding glass panels.
Category

2010s German Modern Bookcases

Materials

Steel

Cosettina Gold, repositionable glass shelves made in Italy by Enrico Girotti
Located in Verona, IT
The geometric pattern becomes substance in space through the metal wire; an off-scale plot that is revealed in the relationship between Cosettina and the observer according to his po...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Bookcases

Materials

Steel

Giraffe Bookstore, Paul Tilche, 1960
Located in Milano, Lombardia
Paolo Tilche's Giraffe Bookcase, designed in the 1960s, is a masterpiece of Italian modernist design. Made of teak wood, this bookcase is renowned for its sturdiness and quality mate...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Modern Bookcases

Materials

Metal

Solid Rustic Oak Dovetail Record Crate for 7"/45 Rpm Records, in Stock
Located in Nyack, NY
As avid record collectors we all have albums we want close at hand. Whether storing new finds or favorite titles that are in heavy rotation, our Dovetail Record Crate...
Category

2010s American Modern Bookcases

Materials

Brass

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

2010s North American Modern Bookcases

Materials

Wood

Casey Lurie Studio Modern High "Primo" Shelving System in Walnut with Brass
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 system is composed of notched solid wood planks...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Bookcases

Materials

Metal, Stainless Steel, Brass

Solid Walnut Dovetail Record Crate
Located in Nyack, NY
As avid record collectors we all have albums we want close at hand. Whether storing new finds or favorite titles that are in heavy rotation, our dovetail record crate...
Category

2010s American Modern Bookcases

Materials

Brass

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

1970s Italian Vintage Modern Bookcases

Materials

Plastic

Kartell Sound Rack Modular Bookcase in Marine by Ludovica and Roberto Palomba
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Multi-shaped and multi-purpose shelving system, stackable and modular, offering the possibility of creating a variety of geometric and chromatic compositions. This accessory can play the dual role as both container and room divider. IT IS a go...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Bookcases

Materials

Resin

White Turtle Bookcase, by Marcantonio, Made in Italy
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Scroll down and click "view all from Seller" to see more than 500 other unique products. (2.2) A multipurpose turtle: its carapace acts as a support for a series of accessories. Onc...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Bookcases

Materials

Metal

Opinion Ciatti Ptolomeo Wall Small Bookcase
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Ptolomeo Wall is the wall version of the Original Ptolomeo and could be defined as the "column of knowledge”. A stack of levitating books or a ground-air column (floor-ceiling) for e...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Bookcases

Materials

Steel

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

2010s North American Modern Bookcases

Materials

Walnut, Wood

Sky-Land Bookcase, 'Puntello Modulare' Modular and Adaptable Bookcase
Located in Milan, IT
Sky-floor bookcase 'PUNTELLO MODULARE' PUNTELLO MODULARE is a modular and adaptable sky-floor bookcase. Starting from our Prop, we have designed a modular system that allows you to ...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Bookcases

Materials

Brass, Iron

Contemporary Crafted Bookcase, shelves, shelf sideboard wood Medulum Cabinet
Located in Meolo, Venezia
Bookcase made of a series of solid wood poles with circular section, veneered shelves with solid wood edging, all made of Canaletto walnut finished with transparent paint. The head of the poles is coated with a blue protective paint. The system is completed by two storage compartments that feature sliding doors with integrated handle. The library is shipped semi assembled. Design by Accardi Buccheri for Medulum Libreria costituita da pali continui a sezione circolare in legno massello. Ripiani impiallacciati con bordatura in massello. Il tutto realizzato in noce Canaletto finito con vernice trasparente. La testa...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Bookcases

Materials

Wood, Walnut

Opinion Ciatti Portariviste Magazine Rack
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Portariviste, an object that identifies exactly its function and there is no need for a different name to define it. Portariviste is so similar in the concept but so distant in the e...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Bookcases

Materials

Steel

Opinion Ciatti Ptolomeo Wall Medium Bookcase
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Ptolomeo wall is the wall version of the Original Ptolomeo and could be defined as the "column of knowledge”. A stack of levitating books or a ground-air column (floor-ceiling) for e...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Bookcases

Materials

Steel

Opinion Ciatti Ptolomeo Art Large Bookcase
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Ptolomeo Art is the last born in the Ptolomeo family and the extra large version of the famous bookcase, indeed thanks to its generous size can contain magazines, large format books,...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Bookcases

Materials

Steel

Opinion Ciatti Ptolomeo Art Small Bookcase
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Ptolomeo Art is the last born in the Ptolomeo family and the extra large version of the famous bookcase, indeed thanks to its generous size can contain magazines, large format books,...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Bookcases

Materials

Steel

Opinion Ciatti Original Ptolomeo Medium Bookcase
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Original Ptolomeo is the free-standing bookcase that doesn’t require any further presentation: it is simple, revolutionary, innovative, as sudden as ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Bookcases

Materials

Steel

Opinion Ciatti Original Ptolomeo Small Bookcase
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Original Ptolomeo is the freestanding bookcase that doesn’t require any further presentation: it is simple, revolutionary, innovative, as sudden as a...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Bookcases

Materials

Steel

Opinion Ciatti Original Ptolomeo Large Bookcase
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Original Ptolomeo is the free-standing bookcase that doesn’t require any further presentation: it is simple, revolutionary, innovative, as sudden as ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Bookcases

Materials

Steel

Baleri Italia Mac Gee Bookshelf in Black Steel by Philippe Starck
Located in Milano, Lombardia
Mac Gee is the essence of a bookshelf. Philippe Starck cleaned and cleaned the structure to only keep the square root, the skeleton of a bookshelf. Therefore avoiding styles, the tim...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Bookcases

Materials

Steel

Fabio Novembre Driade "Venus" Bookcase in Natural Oak, Designed 2017
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The "Venus" bookcase designed by Fabio Novembre and manufactured by Driade. The structure is made of oak veneer while the statue consists of marble powder mixed with resin. Novembre draws his inspiration from the wooden crates used...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Bookcases

Materials

Marble

Kartell Sound Rack Modular Bookcase in Tangerine by Ludovica and Roberto Palomba
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Multi-shaped and multi-purpose shelving system, stackable and modular, offering the possibility of creating a variety of geometric and chromatic compositions. This accessory can play the Dual role as both container and room divider. IT IS a go...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Bookcases

Materials

Resin

Kartell Sound Rack Modular Bookcase in Nude by Ludovica and Roberto Palomba
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Multi-shaped and multi-purpose shelving system, stackable and modular, offering the possibility of creating a variety of geometric and chromatic compositions. This accessory can play the dual role as both container and room divider. IT IS a go...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Bookcases

Materials

Resin

Baleri Italia Mac Gee Bookshelf in Metallic Silver Steel by Philippe Starck
Located in Milano, Lombardia
Mac Gee is the essence of a bookshelf. Philippe Starck cleaned and cleaned the structure to only keep the square root, the skeleton of a bookshelf. Therefore avoiding styles, the tim...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Bookcases

Materials

Steel

"ZigZag" Bronze Painted Steel and Oak Veneered High Bookcase by K. Grcic, Driade
Located in Brooklyn, NY
"ZigZag" is a high bookcase, designed by Konstantin Grcic and manufactured by Driade, featuring structure in bronze painted steel and oak veneered shelves. Bookends in sheet metal st...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Bookcases

Materials

Steel

Amuneal's Collector's 1 Bay Shelving Unit
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 Bookcases

Materials

Brass

Sky-Land Bookcase, 'Puntello Modulare' a Modular and Adaptable Bookcase
Located in Milan, IT
Sky-floor bookcase 'Puntello Modulare' Puntello Modulare is a modular and adaptable sky-floor bookcase. Starting from our Prop, we have designed a modular system that allows you to ...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Bookcases

Materials

Brass, Iron

Modules Office & Residential Mail Box Stainless Steel Polished
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
4 Modules Office & Residential Mail Box Stainless Steel Polished Materials: Satinless steel Dimensions: D 32 cm x W 32 cm x H 40 cm The letterbox 3-4-5 has been in BD’s ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Bookcases

Materials

Stainless Steel

Partner 2506 Shelf, Design by Alberto Meda and Paolo Rizzatto for Kartell, 1998
Located in FERROL, ES
Partner 2506 shelf, design by Alberto Meda and Paolo Rizzatto for Kartell, 1998. 5 shelves made of 2 sheets of extruded aluminum one on each side of the shelf connected with injec...
Category

Early 2000s Italian Modern Bookcases

Materials

Aluminum

Pair of Modern Stainless Steel and Brass Bookshelf Stands Italy, 1970's
Located in North York, ON
Pair of Modern stainless steel and brass bookshelf stands Italy 1970's. In the style of Romeo Rega. All original in good condition, wear consistent wit...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Modern Bookcases

Materials

Brass, Stainless Steel

Bespoke Bauhaus Tubular Steel Low Bookcase, Stained Wood, Sliding Glass Panels
Located in Berlin, DE
Bauhaus tubular steel low bookcase with case in veneered blockboard and sliding glass panels. Reedition with original components.
Category

2010s German Modern Bookcases

Materials

Steel

One of a Kind Custom Emmett Moore Limed Oak Bookcase, USA, 2014
Located in Miami, FL
One of a kind bookcase rendered in limed oak with undulating oak shelves and six adjustable glass shelves, numerous uniquely shaped compartments make this piece multifunctional for c...
Category

2010s American Modern Bookcases

Materials

Glass, Oak

Spanish Bookshop 20th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Spanish bookshop 20th century perfect condition 158cm x 84cm x 34cm wood and iron.
Category

20th Century Spanish Modern Bookcases

Materials

Iron

Italian Modern Black Metal and Tempered Glass Bookcase, 1990s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern black metal and tempered glass bookcase, 1990s Floor bookcase composed of 4 rectangular shelves in tempered glass. The accordion structure, on which the glass rests, ...
Category

1990s Italian Modern Bookcases

Materials

Metal

Kartell Sound Rack Modular Bookcase in Amber by Ludovica and Roberto Palomba
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Multi-shaped and multi-purpose shelving system, stackable and modular, offering the possibility of creating a variety of geometric and chromatic compositions. This accessory can play the dual role as both container and room divider. IT IS a go...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Bookcases

Materials

Resin

Danese Milano Livorno Red Bookcase in Metal by Marco Ferreri
Located in Hicksville, NY
Red Livorno is a small bookcase with two shelves made in powder-coated metal. The design of the piece is minimal and is characterized by the...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Bookcases

Materials

Metal

Orizaba Two Sided Bookcase Module B, 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

Streamline Moderne Chrome Wall Mounted Etagere
Located in New York, NY
Streamline Moderne Art Deco chrome wall mounted etagere with five glass shelves. Dealer: S138XX
Category

Early 20th Century Unknown Modern Bookcases

Materials

Chrome

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

2010s North American Modern Bookcases

Materials

Wood

Suvretta Plastic Bookcase, by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano Collection
Located in La Morra, Cuneo
The Suvretta bookcase in plastic laminate was originally designed in 1981, by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano. Ettore Sottsass was born in Innsbruck in 1917. In 1939 he graduated...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Bookcases

Materials

Plastic

Carlton Wood Miniature Bookcase by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano Collection
Located in La Morra, Cuneo
Here you are shown an authentic and perfect reproduction of the Carlton bookcase, originally designed in 1981 by Ettore Sottsass. The vivid colors and...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Bookcases

Materials

Wood, Plastic

Bookcase, partially closed cabinet, separator cabinet for environments, storage
Located in Meolo, Venezia
Bookcase made of a series of solid wood poles with circular section, veneered shelves with solid wood edging, all made of Canaletto walnut finished with transparent paint. The head of the poles is coated with a blue protective paint. The system is completed by two storage compartments that feature sliding doors with integrated handle. The library is shipped semi assembled. Libreria costituita da pali continui a sezione circolare in legno massello. Ripiani impiallacciati con bordatura in massello. Il tutto realizzato in noce canaletto finito con vernice trasparente. La testa...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Bookcases

Materials

Wood, Walnut

Hatt Shelving System 4 Shelves + Storage Unit Ash Wood
Located in Monte-Serzedo, 13
Imagine that you could have a system to organize your books in the order that suits you better. You might even have the option of having some storage for your office. Imagine that yo...
Category

2010s Portuguese Modern Bookcases

Materials

Metal

Pair of Corner Polished Stainless Steel Etegeres
Located in North York, ON
These modern shelving units are simple in design but luxuriously detailed, the contrast of the chrome and glass is a testament to 1960’s style and fun. Beautiful and functional, the...
Category

1960s American Vintage Modern Bookcases

Materials

Stainless Steel

3 Modules Office & Residential Mail Box Stainless Steel Polished
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
3 Modules Office & Residential Mail Box stainless steel polished Materials: Satinless steel Dimensions: D 32 cm x W 24 cm x H 40 cm The letterbox 3-4-5 has been in BD’s ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Bookcases

Materials

Stainless Steel

Kartell Sound Rack Modular Bookcase in Blue by Ludovica and Roberto Palomba
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Multi-shaped and multi-purpose shelving system, stackable and modular, offering the possibility of creating a variety of geometric and chromatic compositions. This accessory can play the dual role as both container and room divider. It is a go...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Bookcases

Materials

Resin

Kartell Sound Rack Modular Bookcase in Smoke by Ludovica and Roberto Palomba
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Multi-shaped and multi-purpose shelving system, stackable and modular, offering the possibility of creating a variety of geometric and chromatic compositions. This accessory can play the dual role as both container and room divider. It is a go...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Bookcases

Materials

Resin

Pair of Modern Black Bookcases in Solid Wood
Located in North York, ON
Pair of modern black bookcases in solid wood. Finished in a satin black finish with sleek modern styling. Sold in a pair, 4 total available. P...
Category

2010s American Modern Bookcases

Materials

Wood

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

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Bookcases

Materials

Metal, Brass

Casey Lurie Studio Modern Low "Primo" Shelving System in Walnut with Brass
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 system is composed of notched solid wood planks...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Bookcases

Materials

Metal, Brass, Stainless Steel

Blue and Green Translucent Hand Dyed Acrylic Tone Shelf by Sohyun Yun
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The tone shelf is inspired by the traditional colors of Korea, especially "Hanbok," which is a traditional Korean dress for formal occasions. Here, those traditional colors are made into art furniture with a modern sensibility, in Korean jade and sky blue. The tone of the blue gives an elegant and dreamy vibe. As artisans dye each piece of acrylic by hand, the tone in this piece is completely different from that of a mass-produced product, and as such, has its own value as a limited artwork. Wide spaces between the shelves can fit large...
Category

2010s Korean Modern Bookcases

Materials

Acrylic

Hatt Shelving System, 6 Shelves Ash Wood
Located in Monte-Serzedo, 13
Imagine that you could have a system to organize your books in the order that suits you better. You might even have the option of having some storage for your office. Imagine that yo...
Category

2010s Portuguese Modern Bookcases

Materials

Metal

Constantin Bookends, C by Colé Italia
Located in Geneve, CH
Constantin Bookends by Colé Italia, C with Agustina Bottoni Dimensions: H.20 D.7 W.7 cm Materials: The body is a cube in Marquina black marble with white veins. The top is in solid...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Bookcases

Materials

Oak, Walnut

Contemporary Handcrafted Bookcase, Shelf Sideboard, Cabinet Oak Wood Frommedulum
Located in Meolo, Venezia
Bookcase made of a series of solid wood poles with circular section, veneered shelves with solid wood edging, all made of Oak wood finished with transparent paint. The head of the poles is coated with a brick red protective paint. The system is completed by two storage compartments that feature sliding doors with integrated handle. The library is shipped semi assembled. Cod. e DIM: — PON bookcase W200 x H200 x D40 cm MATERIALS: oak wood COLORS: colors head poles Design by Accardi Buccheri for Medulum Libreria costituita da pali continui a sezione circolare in legno massello. Ripiani impiallacciati con bordatura in massello. Il tutto realizzato in legno di rovere finito con vernice trasparente. La testa...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Bookcases

Materials

Oak, Wood

Jacques Lucite and Brass Étagère
Located in New York, NY
Clearly cool. Our Jacques collection is the perfect blend of simplicity and glamour, modern and traditional. Shown in crystal clear Lucite with brushed brass. Also available in moody...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Bookcases

Materials

Brass

Modern bookcases for sale on 1stDibs.

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

Recently Viewed

View All