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Minimalist Bookcases

MINIMALIST STYLE

A revival in the popularity of authentic Minimalist furniture is rooted in history while reflecting the needs and tastes of the 21st century. Designer Ludwig Mies van der Rohe’s aphorism that “less is more” influenced the evolution of 20th-century interiors with an emphasis on function and order. This was a shift from the 19th century, with its lavish Victorian decorating, and was spread around the world through design styles including Bauhaus and brutalism.

Yet Minimalism was present in furniture design long before the clean lines of modernism, such as in the simple and elegant utility of Shaker furniture. Although the Minimalist art movement of the 1960s and ’70s had little crossover with furniture design, artist Donald Judd was inspired by the Shakers in creating his own spare daybeds and tables from sturdy wood. (Judd, whose advocacy of symmetry also informed his architectural projects, furnished his Manhattan loft with unassuming but poetic works by iconic modernist designers such as Gerrit Rietveld and Alvar Aalto.)

Understatement rather than ornamentation and open space instead of clutter are central themes for a Minimalist living room and bedroom. As opposed to Maximalism, the focus for Minimalist furniture and decor is on simplicity and considering the design and purpose of every object.

Furnishings are usually made in neutral or monochrome colors and pared down to their essentials — think nesting coffee tables, sectional sofas and accent pieces such as ottomans. And Minimalist ceramics can help achieve a decor that is both timeless and of the moment. The organic textures and personalization of handmade craftsmanship associated with these works have served as a sort of anti-Internet to screen-weary decorators. That said, while the thoughtful ergonomics of Scandinavian modern furniture, with its handcrafted teak frames, are at home in Minimalist spaces, so are the quietly striking pieces by Japanese designer Naoto Fukasawa that employ industrial materials like stainless steel, aluminum and plastic.

Minimalist furniture is not for making flashy statements; it boasts subdued appeal and excels at harmonizing with any room. And, as it encompasses many different movements and eras of design, it also never goes out of style, owing to its tasteful refinement.

Find a collection of Minimalist tables, seating, lighting and more furniture on 1stDibs.

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Style: Minimalist
Minimalist Brazilian Shelf System 'Carlos' by Samuel Lamas
Located in Brasilia, DF
This minimalist Brazilian shelf system in solid steel and wood is designed within an architectonic and geometric reasoning. Two free towers are made by three columns "tied" by three ...
Category

2010s Brazilian Minimalist Bookcases

Materials

Steel

Scandinavian Contemporary Haiku Shelf, Oakwood, Ashwood or Black
Located in Visby, SE
Haiku shelf in Scandinavian contemporary style is made in solid wood with modern cns-technique and traditional craftsmanship to manifest a product with est...
Category

2010s Swedish Minimalist Bookcases

Materials

Ash

Rise Bookstand by Sun at Six, Nude Minimalist Book Stand or Bookcase in Wood
Located in San Jose, CA
Sun at Six is a contemporary furniture design studio that works with traditional Chinese joinery masters to handcraft our pieces using traditional joinery. Handcrafted using traditio...
Category

2010s Chinese Minimalist Bookcases

Materials

Oak, Leather

Postmodern Chrome and Glass Etagere - 4 Shelves
Located in Delray Beach, FL
Elevate your space with this Postmodern Chrome Glass 4-Shelf Etagere. With its sleek chrome frame and transparent glass shelves, this unit is a perfect blend of form and function. Id...
Category

20th Century American Minimalist Bookcases

Materials

Chrome

Dune 50" White Oak Bookcase
Located in San Jose, CA
Finish Shown: Ebony The light, minimalist design of the Dune bookcase is a versatile storage unit that also works as a great display case or room divider. Available in two sizes, th...
Category

2010s Minimalist Bookcases

Materials

Oak

contemporary bookcase Frame built with precious canaletto walnut board.
Located in Torino, IT
'Frame' bookcase designed by the artist Raoul Gilioli is built by excellent Italian artisans. The large suspended frame of the precious Italian walnut wood 'Canaletto' gives the book...
Category

2010s Italian Minimalist Bookcases

Materials

Wood, Walnut

Jumbo Line Bookcase by Luigi Massoni for Poltronova, Italy 1970s (First Edition)
Located in Argelato, BO
Luigi Massoni (Milan 1930), Jumbo Line Bookcase for Poltrona Frau, Italy, 1971 One of the most refined and original bookcases in the history of design, it ...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Minimalist Bookcases

Materials

Metal

AMI-VERRE Dark Grey Glass Bookshelf by Jean Nouvel for Glas Italia
Located in Macherio, IT
Bookcase of great formal cleanliness, made from thermo-welded 10 mm. thick smoked or extralight glass, without any joint or extraneous structural element. A single modular element c...
Category

2010s Italian Minimalist Bookcases

Materials

Glass

Customized Bookshelf in Handcrafted Wood with Sliding and Adjustable Shelves
Located in Berlin, DE
Customized bookshelf in handcrafted wood with sliding and adjustable shelves. The Minimalist contemporary look make it versatile for different kind of...
Category

2010s German Minimalist Bookcases

Materials

Wood

Lot
Located in Belo Horizonte, MT
The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner... LOT A modular line based on the lightness of the shapes in opposition to the strength of the materials, allows unique configurations ...
Category

2010s Brazilian Minimalist Bookcases

Materials

Steel

Vintage Varnished Iron Étagère with Wooden Shelves Covered in Formica, Italy
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1960s. This shelving unit is made from varnished iron with brass feet caps and wooden shelves that are covered in Formica. It may show slight traces of use since it's ...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Minimalist Bookcases

Materials

Iron, Brass

Mora Bookcase by Sun at Six, Nude, Minimalist Bookcase in Wood
Located in San Jose, CA
Sun at Six is a contemporary furniture design studio that works with traditional Chinese joinery masters to handcraft our pieces using traditional joinery. The Mora bookcase comes fu...
Category

2010s Chinese Minimalist Bookcases

Materials

Oak

Singolo Walnut Bookshelf
Located in Milan, IT
Minimalist and sophisticated, this bookshelf can be directly put on a wall or in the middle of a room as a divider. Its light Silhouette and exquisite craftsmanship make it a strikin...
Category

2010s Italian Minimalist Bookcases

Materials

Walnut

Wired Shelf, Solid Freestanding Display and Storage, in Stainless Steel, Walnut
Located in beirut, LB
The Wired shelf is a raw free-standing piece with industrial strength. The piece proudly displays its building material featuring exposed fish mouth welded ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Lebanese Minimalist Bookcases

Materials

Stainless Steel

Wired Shelf, Solid Freestanding Display and Storage, in Stainless Steel, Walnut
Located in beirut, LB
The Wired shelf is a raw free-standing piece with industrial strength. The piece proudly displays its building material featuring exposed fish mouth welded ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Lebanese Minimalist Bookcases

Materials

Stainless Steel

Singolo Durmast Bookshelf
Located in Milan, IT
Part of the Singolo collection, this bookshelf was entirely made of durmast with a natural finish. Its versatile shape can be made in different heights to fit any interior. The light...
Category

2010s Italian Minimalist Bookcases

Materials

Wood

1980s Bookshelf, Walnut and Black Satin Lacquer, Sormani, Italy
Located in Arosio, IT
In the early 1980s, Luigi Sormani envisaged what would become a hit of the 1990s, later adopted by Antonio Citterio with B&B Italia: a modular shelving that tipped the modularity fro...
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Minimalist Bookcases

Materials

Wood, Walnut

Contemporary Walnut and Lacquer Étagère / Book Shelf By Alex P White
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The bleached walnut and lacquer étagère is substantial enough to be a freestanding room divider for your favorite collection or try it on a f...
Category

2010s American Minimalist Bookcases

Materials

Lacquer, Walnut

Monumental Fifty/50 Floor Shelf by Jonathan Nesci, Final Work of Edition 3/3
Located in Columbus, IN
Fifty/50 floor shelf initially produced and named for the collector and legendary Mid-Century Modern dealer Mark McDonald. Designed within the form langu...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Minimalist Bookcases

Materials

Aluminum

Monumental Fifty/50 Floor Shelf by Jonathan Nesci, Final Work of Edition 3/3
Located in Columbus, IN
Fifty/50 floor shelf initially produced and named for the collector and legendary Mid-Century Modern dealer Mark McDonald. Designed within the form langu...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Minimalist Bookcases

Materials

Aluminum

Rare Minimalist 'Isocele' Étagère by Artist, Sculptor Max Sauze, France 1970
Located in bergen op zoom, NL
Beautiful and super 'Isocele' étagère by French sculptor and artist Max Sauze. This 'Isocele' étagère designed in 1970 is certainly one of the rarest forms created by Sauze and is...
Category

1970s French Vintage Minimalist Bookcases

Materials

Steel, Chrome

Vintage Minimal Walnut Bookshelf with Brass and Varnished Metal Details, Italy
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1970s. This bookshelf is made in walnut and features a varnished metal frame with brass feet caps and details. It may show slight traces of use since it's vintage, but...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Minimalist Bookcases

Materials

Brass, Metal

Modular bookcase. created by Raoul Gilioli
Located in Torino, IT
Modular is a bookcase composed of aluminum modules covered with recycled wood and inside with mirror. Raouò Gilioli crewed Modular using very light and technical materials to create ...
Category

2010s Italian Minimalist Bookcases

Materials

Aluminum

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Contemporary Crafted Bookcase, shelves, shelf sideboard wood Medulum Cabinet
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Rare Mathieu Matégot Metal Black and White Bookstand for Artimeta, 1956
Located in Den Haag, NL
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String Shelf System, Bookcase with Bar Cabinet Teak by WHB Germany, 1950s
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Midcentury Brass, Lucite and Glass Étagère with Five Shelves
Located in Miami, FL
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Antique Sheraton Revival Hardwood & Satinwood Revolving Bookcase Side End Table
Located in GB
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Hardwood, Satinwood

Pair of Milo Baughman Chrome and Glass Six Shelf Étagères
Located in Toledo, OH
Pair of Milo Baughman chrome and glass six shelf étagères. Glass is 1/4" thick.
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Mid-20th Century North American Minimalist Bookcases

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Chrome

Custom Built Bookcase
Located in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
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21st Century and Contemporary English Minimalist Bookcases

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Pine

Custom Built Bookcase
Custom Built Bookcase
H 98.5 in W 110 in D 19 in
Solid Ashwood Bookcase with Glass Shelves, Morelato
Located in Salizzole, IT
Contemporary style bookcase made of ashwood with glass shelves, characterized by angled bevels, which make the structure thinner and lighter, though resistant. Available in differen...
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21st Century and Contemporary Italian Minimalist Bookcases

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Glass, Ash

Mid-Century Modern Italian Gilt Aluminum and Smoked Glass Shelves Étagère, 1970s
Located in Prato, IT
Mid-Century Modern Italian gilt aluminum étagère or bookcase with smoked glass shelves. The central part of the bookcase is equipped with a compartment accessible by a smoked glass ...
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1970s Italian Vintage Minimalist Bookcases

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Aluminum

Previously Available Items
Vintage Minimal Walnut Bookshelf with Brass and Varnished Metal Details, Italy
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1970s. This bookshelf is made in walnut and features a varnished metal frame with brass feet caps and details. It may show slight traces of use since it's vintage, but...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Minimalist Bookcases

Materials

Brass, Metal

1990s Piccolo Albero Bookcase by Andrea Branzi for Design Gallery
Located in Paris, FR
Andrea Branzi "Piccolo Albero" bookcase, c. 1991 Painted metal and alder wood H. 205 x 90 x 30 cm Number 15 on a limited edition of 20
Category

1990s Italian Minimalist Bookcases

Materials

Aluminum

Charles Webb Double Bay Shelf System in Blonde Oak
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A Charles Webb double bay shelf system in blonde oak. Two lower cabinets each with a shelf inside. Four adjustable upper shelves. The unit can be disassembled for easier transport. O...
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Late 20th Century North American Minimalist Bookcases

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Oak

Willy Guhl 20 Piece Modular Concrete Bookcase, 1960s
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Stunning sculptural set of painted concrete cubes by Swiss architect Willy Guhl. Handmade in the early 1960s in Switzerland and all painted in a soft cream color. Produced by Eternit...
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1960s Swiss Vintage Minimalist Bookcases

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Concrete

Display Cabinet / Bookcase Sleek Design, 1960's
Located in Boven Leeuwen, NL
Sleek minimalist design display cabinet or bookcase with glass doors from the 1950s. The glass is the beautiful old drawn glass and the closing buttons have a nice patina. The cabi...
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1960s Vintage Minimalist Bookcases

Materials

Fruitwood

Large Library by Giulio Polvara for Kartell, 1970's
By Giulio Polvara, Kartell
Located in Lisboa, PT
This large library was designed by Giulio Polvara and produced by Kartell, during the 1970's. Structure in plastic elements that can be joined together. In good and original conditio...
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1970s Italian Vintage Minimalist Bookcases

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Plastic

Mora Bookcase by Sun at Six, Sienna, Minimalist Bookcase in Wood
Located in San Jose, CA
Sun at Six is a contemporary furniture design studio that works with traditional Chinese joinery masters to handcraft our pieces using traditional joinery. The Mora bookcase comes fu...
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2010s Chinese Minimalist Bookcases

Materials

Oak

Chinese Two-Drawer Studio Shelf
Located in Chicago, IL
This contemporary bookcase is modeled after the tall freestanding shelves used in traditional scholars' studios during the Qing dynasty. Such shelves were used to display a collection of books...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Minimalist Bookcases

Materials

Walnut

Chinese Two-Drawer Studio Shelf
Chinese Two-Drawer Studio Shelf
H 71 in W 31 in D 16 in
Open Etagere in Reclaimed Elm
Located in Dallas, TX
Open etagere in reclaimed elm. Open shelf bookcase. One of a kind piece from our Le Monde collection. Exclusive to Brendan Bass.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Belgian Minimalist Bookcases

Materials

Wood, Reclaimed Wood

Open Etagere in Reclaimed Elm
Open Etagere in Reclaimed Elm
H 94 in W 44 in L 94 in
Patina Steel and Wood Shelf Etagere
Located in Dallas, TX
Patina steel and wood shelf etagere. Open shelf bookcase. One of a kind piece from our Le Monde collection. Exclusive to Brendan Bass.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Belgian Minimalist Bookcases

Materials

Steel

Patina Steel and Wood Shelf Etagere
Patina Steel and Wood Shelf Etagere
H 100 in W 39 in L 100 in
Minimalist Steel and Tole Etagere
Located in Dallas, TX
Minimalist steel and tole etagere Open shelf bookcase. One of a kind piece from our Le Monde collection. Exclusive to Brendan Bass.
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21st Century and Contemporary Belgian Minimalist Bookcases

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Steel

Minimalist Steel and Tole Etagere
Minimalist Steel and Tole Etagere
H 14 in W 17.5 in L 14 in
Vintage Minimal Wooden Bookshelf with Brass and Varnished Metal Details, Italy
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
1970s. This bookshelf is made in wood and features a varnished metal frame with brass feet caps and details. It may show slight traces of use since it's vintage, but it can be cons...
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1970s Italian Vintage Minimalist Bookcases

Materials

Brass, Metal

Minimalist bookcases for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Minimalist 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, tables and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Minimalist bookcases made in a specific country, there are Europe, Italy, and Asia pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original bookcases, popular names associated with this style include Durame, Glas Italia, Jonathan Nesci, and Rached Sultan. 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 $300 and tops out at $66,406 while the average work can sell for $5,323.

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