Art Deco Sideboard with Mirrored Top, 1930

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Description

This elm sideboard with a marble top and mirrored upper section was created in the Art Deco style around 1925–1935, … Read more This elm sideboard with a marble top and mirrored upper section was created in the Art Deco style around 1925–1935, presumably in France. The clear division into drawers, an open niche, and a two-doored base cabinet appears well-proportioned, while the carved triangular panels and the burl wood inlays on the doors subtly enliven the otherwise austere form. Historical Context: Sideboards with mirrored upper sections were a common feature in middle-class dining rooms during the 1920s and 1930s and were often part of a coordinated ensemble of table, chairs, and cabinetry. They served to store dishes, cutlery, and linens, as well as providing a surface for serving food. The marble top protected the surface from heat and moisture. Following the 1925 Paris Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs de l'Art Deco, the design language of Art Deco spread to high-end mass-produced furniture. Workshops combined handcrafted carving with streamlined cabinet manufacturing.

Features: The carved floral and fruit motifs are set in three triangular panels on the drawer fronts and are repeated on the side panels of the mirrored upper section. The door panels combine elm burl with smooth elm in curved transitions, creating a calm, symmetrical appearance towards the center. Design: The sideboard follows the Art Deco style of the late 1920s, with a geometric basic form, stepped profiles, and stylized, flat ornamentation. The multi-profiled corner posts extend to the feet, emphasizing the vertical structure. The beveled mirror with its fan-like stepped side panels echoes this stepped motif. The rectangular metal handles and lock fittings are in keeping with the design language of the period. Function: Formerly: Sideboard in the dining room for storing dishes and linens, as well as for serving food. Today: Sideboard in the dining or living area, console table in the entryway, or bar furniture with counter space in an open niche.

Dimensions: Height 42 cm × Width 130 cm × Depth 45 cm.

Material and condition: Body made of elm, door panels in elm burl. Back panel and drawer interiors are oak, top made of marble. The metal handles and fittings are presumably brass. The piece is well preserved, with age-related wear and visible patina. The mirror shows age-related losses in the silver plating. Inspected and cleaned by a cabinetmaker. See less