Aldo Tura Green Lacquered Goatskin Bar Cart, Brass Two-Tier Folding Drinks Trolley, Italy 1960s

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Aldo Tura Green Lacquered Goatskin Bar Cart, Brass Two-Tier Folding Drinks Trolley, Italy 1960s

A refined and highly collectible Mid-Century … Read more Aldo Tura Green Lacquered Goatskin Bar Cart, Brass Two-Tier Folding Drinks Trolley, Italy 1960s

A refined and highly collectible Mid-Century Modern bar cart by Aldo Tura, Italy, circa 1960s, executed in the designer’s signature lacquered goatskin in a richly variegated forest green palette.

This example stands out for its exceptional surface clarity and preservation, with the lacquered goatskin retaining a deep, lustrous finish and only very minor, age-appropriate surface marks visible upon close inspection. The natural tonal variation—ranging from deep emerald to olive and smoky hues—creates a dramatic, marble-like effect, further enhanced by its high-gloss polish.

The elegant two-tier structure features a folding top that expands into a generous serving surface, a highly desirable and functional design element in Tura’s work. The piece is supported by finely turned brass uprights and large spoked wheels, all of which present remarkably clean and bright, with a near-new appearance following professional polishing—a notable advantage compared to many examples on the market.

Both sculptural and practical, this cart exemplifies Aldo Tura’s distinctive use of luxurious materials and craftsmanship, making it a standout piece for both collectors and interior designers.

Examples with well-preserved lacquered goatskin surfaces and clean, bright brass elements are increasingly scarce, particularly in this desirable folding-top configuration.

Dimensions:
Open: 30" L x 29.5" W x 30" H
Closed: 30" L x 17" W x 30" H

Condition:
Very good vintage condition. Lacquered goatskin retains a rich, glossy finish with only minimal, light surface wear. Brass elements have been professionally polished and present exceptionally well.

About the Designer:

Aldo Tura (1909-1963) was one of the most enigmatic and polarizing figures to emerge in Italian design, Aldo Tura is an outlier in the world of mid-century furniture. The designer’s glamorous bar carts, coffee tables, cabinets and more resist categorization and draw inspiration from Art Deco, Art Nouveau, Baroque, Surrealist and modernist styles.

Tura moved through distinct phases in his career in terms of aesthetics, influences and finishes, rendering his life’s work exciting and diverse. Despite these phases, he held a singular devotion to one material: lacquered goatskin. Tura established a furniture production house in 1939 in Lombardy, and some of his early work focused on tables, decorative lamps and more. He later expanded to bar furnishings like rolling carts, cabinets and complementary barware accessories like ice buckets and cocktail shakers. The eccentric, gleaming and luxe surface of lacquered goatskin was a constant, along with eggshell, parchment and leather.

By the 1950s, Tura had begun to use hand-painted figural panels on the surface of cabinets, serveware (such as carafes) and other pieces. He even replicated famous works by artists like Monet and Bruegel the Elder and art from the Middle Ages, sometimes playfully embedding the paintings on cabinets shaped like oversize books. Even though he had a favored color palette of rich chocolate browns and deep emeralds, his style remained consistently hard to define.

Tura was unlike most of his Italian contemporaries but held a similar reverence for the nation’s traditional craftsmanship and artisanal techniques. He never followed the growing trend of mass-produced, industrial furniture and stuck to creating small, meticulously handcrafted collections. This principled choice means that today, a Tura piece is a rare and highly coveted collectible. The Tura firm continues to operate in Brianza, promoting Italian craftsmanship and the eclectic materials embraced by their namesake designer.

This Aldo Tura bar cart would enhance any setting, acting as a sophisticated focal point that blends functionality with sculptural design—ideal for creating a refined, layered interior with a touch of iconic Italian mid-century elegance. See less