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Tension Shelves

Tension Pole Free Standing Emerald Gold Aluminum Omni Wall Unit by George Nelson
By Omnibus Design, George Nelson
Located in Chattanooga, TN
elegant tension rather than permanent fixtures. Paired with rich teak shelves, the unit blends airy
Category

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Shelves

Materials

Aluminum, Metal

Tension Pole Free Standing Rose Gold Aluminum Omni Wall Unit by George Nelson
By Omnibus Design, George Nelson
Located in Chattanooga, TN
refined utility. Four spring-loaded tension poles, finished in rare rose-gold, extend from floor to
Category

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Shelves

Materials

Metal, Aluminum

Midcentury George Nelson Omni Herman Miller Modular Shelving System Walnut 1950s
By George Nelson, Herman Miller
Located in Sherborne, Dorset
comprises of three tension poles, five adjustable shelves, a lectern shelf for vinyl or magazines, and a 2
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Shelves

Materials

Metal, Aluminum

Danish Modern Modular Adjustable Wall Unit Shelving 1960s-- 22 pcs Complete Wall
By Poul Cadovius
Located in Madison, WI
the shelves Springs for tension pole mounting-- you will need the top and bottom brackets, from the
Category

Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Shelves

Materials

Metal

Recent Sales

Mid-Century Brass Tension Pole Shelf, 1960s
Located in Benalmadena, ES
Spectacular Mid-Century Brass Tension Pole Shelf from Floor to Ceiling, 1960s Design. This
Category

Mid-20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Shelves

Materials

Brass

Mid-Century Brass Tension Pole Shelf, 1960s
Mid-Century Brass Tension Pole Shelf, 1960s
H 98.43 in W 19.69 in D 13.39 in
Mid Century Modern Free Standing Tension Pole Shelving Unit
Located in Astoria, NY
This truly unique shelving unit was made in America in the 1960's. It has kidney-shaped shelves
Category

20th Century American Shelves

Materials

Brass

Mid-Century Modern George Nelson Herman Miller CSS Unit
By Herman Miller, George Nelson
Located in Lake Worth, FL
or placed anywhere in the room. Unit includes 3 black tension poles, ten 32" shelves and all hardware
Category

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Shelves

Materials

Aluminum

1960 Modular by Olof Pira String Shelving System Room Divider Wall Unit Library
By Olof Pira, String Design AB
Located in Sherborne, Dorset
side. Consisting of 5 uprights, 18 shelves and two Lectern shelves. The tension poles have holes from
Category

Vintage 1950s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Shelves

Materials

Steel

Rare 1980s ALU Manfrotto Modular Bookcase Shelf System Wall Unit or Display
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
tension cables and counterweights. These shelves are organized into three-piece sections, with each
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Modern Shelves

Materials

Aluminum

George Nelson CSS Shelving Unit with Chalkboard by Herman Miller
By George Nelson, Herman Miller
Located in Highland, IN
three tension-mounted uprights supporting six shelves, a desk with three drawers, and a rare chalkboard
Category

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Bookcases

Materials

Aluminum

George Nelson ‘Omni’ Shelving
By George Nelson
Located in Merced, CA
freestanding tension mounted uprights. 24 standard shelves. 1 cabinet box with sliding doors. 1 cabinet
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookcases

Materials

Aluminum

George Nelson ‘Omni’ Shelving
George Nelson ‘Omni’ Shelving
H 90 in W 161 in L 90 in

People Also Browsed

Mid-Century Modern Large Italian Bookcase in Cherry and Brass
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Wall unit, cherry, brass, Italy, 1960s Hailing from a skilled artisan of Italy, this exceptional library unit excels in form, material use, composition, and craftsmanship. The bookc...
Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Bookcases

Materials

Brass

Japanese Antique Wooden Block, 1950s–1960s - Japandi Wabi-Sabi
Located in Chiba, Chiba
A Japanese antique wooden block dating from the 1950s–1960s. Carved from a solid mass of wood, the piece has a quiet sculptural presence—its simple square form lending itself natural...
Category

Mid-20th Century Japanese Antiquities

Materials

Wood

Mid-Century Rosewood Frame and Headboard by Luigi Bartolini
By Luigi Bartolini
Located in Split, Splitsko-dalmatinska županija
Luigi Bartolini, an influential Italian furniture designer, created a timeless masterpiece in the 1960s with a stunning rosewood bed frame and headboard. The bed features a distincti...
Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Cocobolo

Isamu Noguchi Akari Light Sculpture, Model 31N Ceiling Lamp
By Isamu Noguchi
Located in Centreville, VA
Akari Light Sculptures by Isamu Noguchi are considered icons of 1950s modern design. Designed by Noguchi beginning in 1951 and handmade for a half century by the original manufacture...
Category

Vintage 1950s Japanese Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps

Materials

Bamboo, Paper

Isamu Noguchi Akari Light Sculpture, Model 31N Ceiling Lamp
Isamu Noguchi Akari Light Sculpture, Model 31N Ceiling Lamp
$1,280 Sale Price
32% Off
H 63 in Dm 13 in
Pivot Double Wall Sconce with Articulating Arms Made in Brass
By Christopher Gentner
Located in Chicago, IL
The pivot LED series with its articulated arm and adjustable head this brass lamp, is not only multidimensional, but it is an ever changing line drawing that nestles into a room. Rem...
Category

2010s American Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Brass

Danish 2-Bay Rosewood Wall Unit with Desk in by Kai Kristiansen for FM, 1960s
By Feldballes Møbelfabrik, Kai Kristiansen
Located in Asaa, DK
Danish 2-Bay Rosewood Wall Unit with Desk in by Kai Kristiansen for FM, 1960s. Vintage Danish modular rosewood/palisander wall unit by Danish architect Kai Kristiansen for Feldballe...
Category

Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Bookcases

Materials

Rosewood

Pair of Four-Panel Reversible French Chinoiserie Coromandel Screens Paris, 1920s
Located in Miami, FL
Eight-Panel Reversible Chinese Coromandel Screen Pair of French chinoiserie screens, Paris, 1920s This French chinoiserie screens from the 1920s are composed of four panels richly ...
Category

Early 20th Century French Chinoiserie Screens and Room Dividers

Materials

Wood, Mother-of-Pearl

Mid-Century Italian Corner Shelving Unit Cabinet in Gio Ponti Style
By Gio Ponti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An architecturally compelling Italian Mid-Century Modern corner room divider shelving unit, attributed to the elegant design sensibility of the Gio Ponti style. This piece offers a s...
Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Shelves

Materials

Metal

Japanese Antique Drawer 1860s-1920s / Sideboard Wabi Sabi
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
This is a very old drawer storage chest made in Japan. It dates back to the Meiji era (1860s–1920s) and is crafted from Japanese cedar wood. The metal fittings are made of iron. In ...
Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Iron

Japanese Antique Drawer 1860s-1920s / Sideboard Wabi Sabi
Japanese Antique Drawer 1860s-1920s / Sideboard Wabi Sabi
$2,800
H 34.65 in W 34.06 in D 17.33 in
Gardenia Italian bed, Designer Luciano De Gennaro for Brivio, 1977
Located in Milano, IT
A masterpiece of Italian design from the 1970s, this "Gardenia" double bed was designed in 1977 by Luciano De Gennaro for Brivio Industria Mobili of Novedrate (Como), one of the most...
Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Wood

Coffee Corner Table in Teak and Cane by Peter Hvidt, Denmark, 1955
By France Daverkosen, Peter Hvidt
Located in Antwerp, BE
Midcentury solid teak corner table with woven rattan shelf. Excellent for use as a side table or sofa table manufactured by France and Sons designer Peter Hvidt.
Category

Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern End Tables

Materials

Teak

Coffee Corner Table in Teak and Cane by Peter Hvidt, Denmark, 1955
Coffee Corner Table in Teak and Cane by Peter Hvidt, Denmark, 1955
$1,423 / item
H 25.2 in W 29.93 in D 29.93 in
Móveis Cimo, Brazil, 1960 Walnut Shelving, Sliding Doors, Four Shelves
By Moveis Cimo
Located in Curitiba, PR
Walnut bookcase, sliding doors, four shelves, manufactured by móveis Cimo, Brazil 1960. The restoration process only needed refinishing, which was done by our team at the finest d...
Category

Vintage 1960s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Bookcases

Materials

Walnut

Michel Ducaroy Modular Wall Unit in Black Lacquered Wood and Steel
By Michel Ducaroy
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Michael Ducaroy, free-standing wall unit, chrome-plated steel, lacquered wood, France, 1970s Sleek and stunning free-standing wall unit designed by Michael Ducaroy in the 1970s. In ...
Category

Vintage 1970s French Mid-Century Modern Shelves

Materials

Steel

English Oak Library Bookcase
Located in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
Good quality 19th century English oak library bookcase. 1870. Adjustable shelving on top and bottom. Upper shelf depth: 6.5-inches Base shelf depth: 13-inches Internal refere...
Category

Antique 19th Century English Victorian Bookcases

Materials

Oak

English Oak Library Bookcase
English Oak Library Bookcase
$7,591
H 91.5 in W 84 in D 17 in
Freestanding Wall unit, Bookshelves, Roomdivider, Midcentury Modern, 1950s
By Jos De Mey, Van den Berghe-Pauvers 1
Located in Antwerp, BE
Modular wall unit or room divider designed by Jos De Mey for Van den Berghe-Pauvers, Ghent Belgium. 1958. Four black metal mounted on oblique, four tapering legs, brass stretchers ad...
Category

Vintage 1950s Belgian Mid-Century Modern Shelves

Materials

Metal

Freestanding Wall unit, Bookshelves, Roomdivider, Midcentury Modern, 1950s
Freestanding Wall unit, Bookshelves, Roomdivider, Midcentury Modern, 1950s
$5,040 Sale Price
20% Off
H 98.43 in W 31.5 in D 11.82 in
Royal Cado Shelving System
By Cado, Poul Cadovius
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Cado Royal System 3 bay Unit. Includes 3 cabinets and 8 shelves. Unit comes with Four 78" tall brackets that mount to the wall. Endless possibilities in the way you hang this very...
Category

Mid-20th Century Scandinavian Modern Shelves

Materials

Brass

Royal Cado Shelving System
Royal Cado Shelving System
$4,500 / set
H 78 in W 94.75 in D 15 in
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Tension Shelves For Sale on 1stDibs

An assortment of tension shelves is available at 1stDibs. The range of distinct tension shelves — often made from wood, metal and walnut — can elevate any home. There are 4 antique and vintage tension shelves for sale at 1stDibs, while we also have 29 modern editions to choose from as well. Tension shelves have long been popular, with older editions for sale from the 19th Century and newer versions made as recently as the 21st Century. Tension shelves are generally popular furniture pieces, but modern and mid-century modern styles are often sought at 1stDibs. Many tension shelves are appealing in their simplicity, but Cassina, La Chance and Franco Albini produced popular tension shelves that are worth a look.

How Much are Tension Shelves?

Prices for tension shelves start at $820 and top out at $28,134 with the average selling for $6,900.

Finding the Right Shelves for You

From valuable historical memorabilia to rare architectural models to priceless family photos, there’s no shortage of collectibles and curiosities worthy of adorning your home. Why not take the time to find the ideal antique, new or vintage shelves for your treasured trinkets?

For every space and object, there’s sure to be a wall-mounted or sturdy floor solution that matches your shelving needs on 1stDibs. And while shelves should technically stick out from your wall, they shouldn’t from the rest of your decor.

Because you can find shelves made with a wide variety of materials today, everything from teak to brass, your shelving can seamlessly support your existing color scheme and design style. An arrangement of shelves from floor to ceiling can turn your wall into a proud storage space for displaying artwork, decorative objects and books. Options abound with regard to shelving for the latter, as furniture designers know that literature creates an inviting atmosphere in any room, and one of the simplest ways to integrate books into an interior design is with the right shelves or bookcase.

Elegant shelving is a must for a happy home office or library, but a sharp shelving system can freshen up virtually any room in your home. Proudly display your vintage dinner plates and other tableware with open shelving in the kitchen or tuck away linens in big baskets on shelves in your bathroom if you’re navigating life without a proper linen closet.

On 1stDibs, find a wide range of shelves that includes everything from mid-century modern floating shelves to decorative Chinese shelves dating from the 18th century to contemporary statement-making structures that are as provocative as they are convenient.