Nordic Modern Carl-Gustaf Hiort af Ornäs Välipala Modular Shelf Unit, HMN 1950s

Hiort af Ornäs designed this type shelf in the 1950s. The shelf is called the Välipala hylly in Finnish which is a play on words, meaning snack and the pieces in between the shelves. It has become a classic a long time ago and has been taken again into production not so long ago.

A very simple, practical and elegant design. The shelves can be assembled any way you like and the modular pieces in between can be switched. It can also be built to different heights. Suits living rooms, reading rooms, bedrooms, offices, or working spaces.

The coloured pieces in this example are of a later date, as the shelves are usually in white. The shelf is in good vintage condition, with wear consistent with age and use. It is stamped by HMN.

Carl-Gustaf “Nalle” Hiort af Ornäs (1911–1996) was a Finnish interior architect and designer, known especially for his Siesta armchair, which appeared in 1952. In 1945, Hiort af Ornäs founded Puunveisto Oy, for which he developed versatile techniques for processing plywood. Hiort af Ornäs spent his retirement years in Spain, where he designed several buildings in the Los Pacos neighborhood in Fuengirola, popular with Finns.