Skip to main content

SEM Bookcases

Italian, 1863-1934

Furniture brand SEM started as a spin-off from Milanese brand Spotti and now has an exceptional reputation of its own. Working with acclaimed furniture designers, including Valentina Cameranesi Sgroi, Vormen and Elisa Ossino, SEM creates personalized and finely crafted solutions for modern living.

During the 1950s, large furniture manufacturers often had difficulty providing customized, high-quality furniture while producing other products on a mass scale. SEM originated from that demand and has evolved to complement Spotti and offer simple, functional and highly ergonomic furniture for both work and home environments. 

SEM, which stands for Spotti Edizioni Milano, has attracted a wide range of talent to design its furniture collections. Pivot, named for a hingeless door mechanism in its cupboards, is a design by Giacomo Moor, named as Elle Decor Italia’s Best Young Designer of 2016. Futuraforma, designed by architecture and interior design team Marcante-Testa, is a sophisticated collection featuring the Duale table, the Genio chandelier and the Magico carpet.

Italian architect Hannes Peer lent his expertise to the Paesaggio collection, which features notable designs like the Nuvola armchair, the Alea dining chair, the Petali table lamp and the Butterfly table. Peer’s Butterfly console tables and other tables are a meeting between architecture, design and engineering to produce a complex and organic form that catches the eye.

SEM displayed collections at Milan Design Week in 2018 and 2019 and with AD France’s AD Intérieurs in 2019. SEM also expanded the Paesaggio collection during the 2021 FuoriSalone, Alcova, in Milan.

On 1stDibs, find a collection of SEM tables, seating, lighting and more.

to
Height
to
Width
to
Depth
to
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
4
4
58
80
76
40
32
Creator: SEM
Contemporary Bookcase C, Etched Brass, Pivoting Doors and Stone Elm Shelves
By Giacomo Moor, SEM
Located in Brooklyn, NY
SEM Pivot collection, bookcase C, simple and sculptural. The supporting structure is a rigid system of metal tubes to which are added shelves in beautiful stone elm wood combined with various lacquered...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern SEM Bookcases

Materials

Metal, Brass

Contemporary Bookcase B, Etched Brass, Pivoting Doors and Stone Elm Shelves
By SEM, Giacomo Moor
Located in Brooklyn, NY
SEM Pivot Contemporary collection, bookcase B, simple and sculptural. The supporting structure is a rigid system of metal tubes to which are added shelves in beautiful stone elm wood combined with various lacquered containers...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern SEM Bookcases

Materials

Metal, Brass

Contemporary Bookcase A, Etched Brass, Pivoting Doors and Stone Elm Shelves
By Giacomo Moor, SEM
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Sem Pivot collection, Bookcase A, simple and sculptural. The supporting structure is a rigid system of metal tubes to which are added shelves in beautiful stone elm wood combined with various lacquered...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern SEM Bookcases

Materials

Metal, Brass

Gold Contemporary Modular Bookshelf of, 24-Karat Gold-Plated
By SEM, Paolo Rizzo
Located in Brooklyn, NY
SEM Gold collection, modular bookshelf of interlocking steel elements plated in 24-karat polished yellow gold. Elements measurement: (35/30/25/18 cm)...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern SEM Bookcases

Materials

Steel, Gold

Related Items
Angelo Mangiarotti Italian Wood Bookcases Shelves Cavalletto Model for Agapecasa
By AgapeCasa, Angelo Mangiarotti
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
A furnishing system made entirely of wood, designed by Angelo Mangiarotti in 1953. Its distinctive feature is a trestle in the shape of an upturned “V”, which means it is superimposable by means of a siply gravity joint, and whose special perimeter section can accomodate bookshelves on which closed containers...
Category

2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern SEM Bookcases

Materials

Wood

Angelo Mangiarotti Italian Wood Bookcases Shelves Cavalletto Model for Agapecasa
Angelo Mangiarotti Italian Wood Bookcases Shelves Cavalletto Model for Agapecasa
$2,780 Sale Price
20% Off
H 46.46 in W 41.74 in D 15.75 in
Mogens Koch Bookcases in Elm for Rud, Rasmussen
By Rud Rasmussen, Mogens Koch
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Mogens Koch set of three bookcases in elm with plinths. Executed by Rud Rasmussen. Reverse with paper labels ‘RUD. RASMUSSENS/SNEDKERIER/KØBENHAVN/DENMARK.
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern SEM Bookcases

Materials

Elm

Mogens Koch Bookcases in Elm for Rud, Rasmussen
Mogens Koch Bookcases in Elm for Rud, Rasmussen
$6,795 / set
H 21.86 in W 89.77 in D 10.83 in
Antique Italian Carved Walnut Wood Three Shelves Open Bookcase Library Etagere
Located in Carimate, Como
A beautiful Italian antique walnut three shelves, open bookcase or etagere standing on four great shaped carved turned wooden legs with top finials. This very elegant one-of-a-kind o...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern SEM Bookcases

Materials

Wood

Vintage 4 Tier Freestanding Corner Whatnot Shelves Bookcase Display Stand
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Here we have for sale this vintage 4 tier freestanding corner Whatnot bookcase, shelves, display stand. Perfect for the corner of any room to stand book...
Category

20th Century English Mid-Century Modern SEM Bookcases

Materials

Bamboo, Pine

Midcentury Brass, Lucite and Glass Étagère with Five Shelves
Located in Miami, FL
Midcentury brass, Lucite and glass corner étagère. Five shelves We have four corner étagères available (Three with measurements 31.61in x 31.61in and one 39.37 x 39.37). One of the...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern SEM Bookcases

Materials

Brass

Midcentury Brass, Lucite and Glass Étagère with Five Shelves
Midcentury Brass, Lucite and Glass Étagère with Five Shelves
$3,080 Sale Price / item
20% Off
H 77.72 in W 31.62 in D 31.62 in
Sheraton Revival Burr Elm Walnut Inlay Dwarf Library Open Bookcase Bookshelf
By Sheraton Revival
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for this lovely Burr Elm, Walnut inlaid, Sheraton Revival style dwarf open library bookcase A very good looking well made and decorative piece, the shelf is height adjustable and or removable so it can be adjusted to take any size books/ Each piece is in light mahogany with lovely walnut Sheraton inlay...
Category

20th Century English Sheraton SEM Bookcases

Materials

Elm, Walnut

Ilmari Tapiovaara Modular Bookshelf "Pala" In Teak, Asko 1950s
By Asko, Ilmari Tapiovaara
Located in Helsinki, FI
This monumental bookshelf "Pala" is by Finnish designer Ilmari Tapiovaara (1914-1999) for Asko. A perfect example of a mid 20-th century bookshelf design from the 1950-1960s. It is ...
Category

1950s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Vintage SEM Bookcases

Materials

Teak

Lyby Mobler Danish Modern Modular Teak Cabinet and Bookshelf
By Kai Kristiansen, Lyby Mobler, Laurits M. Larsen, Arne Vodder
Located in Chattanooga, TN
This Lyby Mobler Danish-Modern modular teak cabinet / bookshelf is a superb example of Scandinavian design that combines form, craftsmanship, and flexibility in one elegant unit. Me...
Category

1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage SEM Bookcases

Materials

Teak

Lyby Mobler Danish Modern Modular Teak Cabinet and Bookshelf
Lyby Mobler Danish Modern Modular Teak Cabinet and Bookshelf
$2,795 / set
H 30 in W 35.375 in D 12.675 in
Pair of Rattan Bookshelf – 1980s
Located in Roma, RM
Pair of Rattan Bookshelf – 1980s Product details Rattan bindings With shelf, drawers, and doors Dimensions: 89,5 L x 200 H x 32 P cm
Category

1980s Italian Vintage SEM Bookcases

Materials

Brass

Pair of Rattan Bookshelf – 1980s
Pair of Rattan Bookshelf – 1980s
$4,698 / set
H 78.75 in W 35.24 in D 12.6 in
Asteroid Bookshelf
By Durame
Located in Milan, IT
The shelves of this elegant bookshelf available in oak or "Canaletto" walnut wood are pierced on one side as if an asteroid fell on them and left a h...
Category

2010s Italian SEM Bookcases

Materials

Marble

Asteroid Bookshelf
Asteroid Bookshelf
$9,990 / item
H 74.81 in W 39.38 in D 15.75 in
Postmodern Bamboo Bookcase with Smoked Glass Shelves by Vivai del Sud, Italy
By Vivai del Sud
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy by Vivai del Sud, 1970s. The bookcase features a bamboo frame and smoked glass shelves. This set includes 4 bamboo and wicker stools. They might show slight traces of...
Category

1970s Italian Post-Modern Vintage SEM Bookcases

Materials

Bamboo, Glass

“Sistema Reale” Modular Bookshelf by Poul Cadovius for Cado
By Cado, Poul Cadovius
Located in Roma, RM
“Sistema Reale” Modular Bookshelf by Poul Cadovius for Cado Product details Scandinavian shelving system with five wall panels supporting various shelves, drawers, and display cabine...
Category

1960s Danish Vintage SEM Bookcases

Materials

Metal

Sem bookcases for sale on 1stDibs.

SEM bookcases are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of metal and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of SEM bookcases, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original bookcases by SEM were created in the modern style in italy during the 21st century and contemporary. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider bookcases by Michele de Lucchi, Paolo Rizzatto, and Mauro Accardi Silvia Buccheri. Prices for SEM bookcases can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $16,456 and can go as high as $25,160, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $22,874.