The Sten shelf designed by Simon Legald for Normann Copenhagen turns the humble storage solution into a piece of sculptural wall art. 

Composed of nothing but stone – the material that influenced its name, with Sten meaning “stone” in Danish – the decorative shelving is unique in its simplicity. 

Instead of mixing materials for the shelf and the brackets – for instance, wood and metal – Legald rendered both portions in natural stone to realize a single entity where “the brackets become part of the aesthetic experience rather than a purely practical, structural element.” 

With the Sten shelf, a single plane of marble (Nero Marquina or Carrara) or travertine rests on two matching cylindrical supports, creating a compellingly uniform effect that highlights the natural beauty of the material.

Just as no two stones are alike, no two Sten shelf is the same – each one will have its own singular patterning: Where the black marble features whisps of soft greyish white veining, the white marble is distinguished by feathery streaks of grey and the earthy tones of the travertine option range from warm beige to soft brown. No matter the choice, each Sten shelf will add a sophisticated accent to a room. 

An artistic element for the wall, the Sten shelf by Simon Legald provides horizontal storage and display for books, vases or other still-life arrangements. Installed as a single shelf or in staggered arrangements, the shelves can tie a room together with ease and interest. 

The practical yet beautiful shelf is available in two sizes: 80 and 120 centimetres long.