How are you dating it to the MCM era? I ask because it seems more like an '80s vintage piece with the industrial vibe. But there may be someone with better information happen by any minute.

When I bought the first piece, the people running the sale told me, "Good luck disassembling it. It's been in place for the last thirty years!" also, I saw it in the background of a 90s magazine piece on mcm decorating (no attribution, though). The piece above is a later piece in the same style by the same company.

30 years ago would not have been MCM. That would have been the early 80's.

I have to agree with jakabedy that they don't seem to have any MCM vibe, more late 60's, early 70's to me. Nice lines, though.

I also have to say that it really doesn't look that old (MCM = 1950's/1960's). It looks more like early 1980's Italian vintage.

Wire shelving of the MCM era looked more like this:

You could do some research into companies like Harvey Probber and Herman Miller, but I've never seen a nouveau-mission wire design like the one you own. Occasionally, modular teak wall shelving would incorporate a metal piece, but not really like yours.

Regardless, it looks good and sturdy and fun, and I wouldn't hesitate to use it in an MCM decor.

Thanks, guys! Keep the ideas coming. The picture above is of the shelving unit I found on the street. That one IS possibly from the '80s.

I will try to get a picture up of the other shelving unit. I bought it in the '90s, which would have had the original owner buying it sometime in the '60s. The unit above has plastic feet, and the one I bought at the estate sale has black-painted wood cubes for feet. Very MCM.

Circuspeanut, we're on the same wavelength. I suspect the manufacturer may be European. You're right, these units are not the usual MCM wire shelving.

As a side note, that was a fantastic estate sale. I got there in the last 30 minutes and scored the first shelving unit, some Stangl "Colonial" pottery, and some beautiful teatowels. I only wish that a) I'd gotten there earlier in the day and that b) I had known the owner in the first place. He had beautiful taste!

Here is a link that might be useful: Stangl Colonial teacup set like mine

Ooh, love the Stangl blue. I used to collect LuRay dishware which had a similar blue.

I hear you on the estate sales -- often the people seem to have been even more interesting than their furnishings.

I forgot! The other reason I'm convinced the bookcase is MCM is that when I read a decorating magazine article on MCM collecting in the mid-'90s, there was my bookcase in the background of a spread on a beautiful MCM apartment. No attribution. Can't remember the magazine, either.

Atomic Ranch Magazine has a section called "Ranch Dressing" where folks send in photos of their MCM pieces to learn about their background and possible worth. My Winter 2011 issue has the following blurb at the end of the Ranch Dressing section:

"Need a renovation resource, or wondering if that flea market find is anything? Send your questions to editor@atomic-ranch.com and we'll run them past our experts."

Sounds like you could email them a photo?

I've emailed Atomic Ranch--hopefully they can help. I will update you all with the results. Any other ideas? Keep them coming!