String Shelving System

The String Shelving System was designed by Swedish architect Nisse Strinning and his wife Kajsa Strinning in 1949. They created it specifically for a bookshelf design competition held by a major Swedish publishing house. The design won the contest and quickly became a global icon of Swedish modernism.

The system relies on thin, ladder-like side panels made of coated steel wire that mount directly to the wall using only a few screws. The actual shelves and cabinets are engineered with small hidden hooks that perfectly clip onto these wire panels. This brilliant design spreads the weight efficiently and requires very minimal wall damage.

Despite their minimalist, wire-thin appearance, String shelves are incredibly strong and can hold up to 25 pounds per shelf when properly mounted to a solid wall. The side wire panels anchor directly into wall studs or high-quality drywall anchors. This makes the system robust enough to hold heavy art books, ceramics, and record collections.

Yes, the String Shelving System is still actively manufactured today by String Furniture, a Swedish company. They have expanded the system to include new components like plexiglass display boxes, magazine racks, and modern metal cabinets. You can easily mix and match vintage 1950s parts with modern components.