Art Deco Cabinet
These art deco cabinet examples bring 1930s geometry and rich timber into a room.
Understanding the Art Deco Cabinet
An art deco cabinet is a storage piece defined by the distinct lines of the 1930 period, appearing in forms such as cocktail bars, bedside units, sideboards, and display cases.
The pieces on this page draw from a design vocabulary that includes both streamlined English modernist work and figured timber surfaces.
Buyers look for these items to anchor a room with period utility while providing enclosed storage for books, drinks, or clothing.
Materials and Construction
Cabinet makers of the period utilised structural timber carcasses overlaid with decorative wood veneer, notably burr walnut, satinwood, oak, and birch.
Metal hardware, bakelite handles, and occasional marble tops complete the construction, bringing textural contrast to the timber surfaces.
Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical UK retail prices for art deco cabinet, calculated from the Sellingantiques database of over a million retail prices indexed since 2003. This retail price guide relies exclusively on Sellingantiques data; no external sources or auction records are used, so the figures do not describe the wider market.
The listings span walnut, oak, satinwood, and birch veneer across the nineteen thirty period.
Judging Quality
Quality rests in the selection of wood veneer figures, where symmetrical grain matching across doors and drawers elevates a piece.
The integration of specialised forms, such as fitted cocktail interiors or marquetry inlay, distinguishes standard utility pieces from high-workshop production.
Bowman Brothers·Hille·Gomme·Harry and Lou Epstein
The Art Deco Cabinet Glossary
- Marquetry
- The art of applying pieces of veneer to a structure to form decorative patterns. Craftsmen use various woods to create intricate pictorial designs.
- Bakelite
- An early form of plastic used for cabinet handles and decorative elements. Its durable composition defines many mid-century fittings.
- Sideboard
- A long storage unit traditionally used for dining rooms. These pieces often feature central cupboards flanked by drawers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What fits inside an art deco cabinet?
These cabinets serve multiple domestic purposes, acting as cocktail bars with glass holders, bedside storage for books, or display cases for china.
Interior configurations vary widely by maker, with dedicated compartments built specifically for entertaining or linen storage.
How do I care for walnut veneer?
Keep wooden surfaces away from direct sunlight and excessive heat sources to prevent the veneer from drying or cracking.
Regular dusting with a soft cloth maintains the finish without needing harsh chemical polishes.
Are all these cabinets from the nineteen thirties?
The core of the selection originates from the nineteen thirties, capturing the height of the design movement.
Some related pieces date slightly earlier or extend into adjacent modernist phases of production.
Where were these pieces made?
Workshop origins span English workshops as well as continental makers, including Swedish and French ateliers.
Regional differences appear in the choice of inlay, marble, and bright timber veneers.