Art Deco Drinks Cabinets: Elegant Drinks Cabinets With Classic Design
Art Deco drinks cabinets combine function with a strong design identity. With their geometric forms, exclusive materials and clear proportions, Art Deco furniture became a symbol of elegance and modernity in the early 20th century.
Today, Art Deco drinks cabinets are valued for their timeless aesthetic. They serve as practical furniture for storing glasses and bottles just as much as striking design objects in the home.
What Defines an Art Deco Drinks Cabinet?
Art Deco design is often characterised by symmetry, contrasts and decorative details. In furniture, this shows in clean lines and an exclusive choice of materials.
- Geometric patterns and symmetrical forms
- Contrasts between dark surfaces and metal
- Details in brass or gold leaf
- Elegant proportions and clean lines
This design often makes an Art Deco drinks cabinet the natural focal point of the room.
The Drinks Cabinet as a Design Piece
In many homes the drinks cabinet is not just storage but a central piece of the interior. Art Deco furniture in particular has a strong visual identity that lets it become the focus of a room.
If you would like to read more about how furniture acts as striking design objects, see also our guide: Statement furniture in the interior.
Old Drinks Cabinets in Modern Design
Much Art Deco furniture has a very high basic quality. Through restoration and redesign, these pieces are given a new look without losing their original character.
That is why redesigned furniture has become so popular. It combines classic craftsmanship with modern colours and materials.
Art Deco Drinks Cabinets in Today’s Home
An Art Deco drinks cabinet works as well in modern living spaces as in more classic settings. The combination of elegant proportions and decorative details makes the piece look both exclusive and timeless.
You will find examples of drinks cabinets in various styles in our current range: Drinks cabinets and display cabinets.
Swedish Art Deco Drinks Cabinets: The Originals of the 1920s and 1930s
The Swedish drinks cabinets of the interwar years are more restrained than the French ones. The fronts are curved, but in birch, elm or mahogany rather than macassar, the ornaments are marquetry rather than chrome, and the proportions are slimmer. They were built by joineries such as Nordiska Kompaniet, Bodafors and Mobilia, often as part of a dining room suite. That makes them a hybrid of Art Deco and Swedish Grace, and it is exactly this hybrid that works best in today’s homes: dramatic form, calm material. How the two styles differ is shown in the article Swedish Grace vs. Art Deco.
How We Restore an Art Deco Drinks Cabinet
Art Deco drinks cabinets almost always have the same three problems: cracked polish, faded or loose veneer on the curved fronts, and a tired mirrored interior. We sand off the polish, patch the veneer with the same wood, renew the mirror and glass shelves and replace the wiring. Then we choose the finish: high-gloss black that emphasises the curves, often with gold leaf on the mouldings or plinth, or a hand-painted pattern that turns the front into a picture. How a redesign proceeds can be read in the article The process behind a redesigned piece of furniture, and what sets Art Deco apart from other styles in Art Deco furniture.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are all curved drinks cabinets Art Deco?
No. Rococo also has curved fronts, but with curved legs and carved ornaments. Art Deco stands on a plinth or straight legs and carries geometric, not organic, decoration.
What is an Art Deco drinks cabinet worth?
Unrestored Swedish originals: €300 to €1,200. Restored and redesigned by us: €2,300 to €3,850. Signed French pieces play in a different league.
Does the Art Deco drinks cabinet go with Swedish Modern furniture?
Yes, if both have the same finish. Black lacquer on both lets the eras merge. In natural veneer, you can see the ten years of difference.