Art Deco Side Cupboards
Art deco side cupboards bring geometric lines and figured veneers into a room, serving as practical bedside storage or cocktail cabinets.
Art Deco Side Cupboards
Art deco side cupboards encompass bedside cabinets, cocktail cabinets, and small storage pieces originating mainly from the 1920s and 1930s. These items often appear in matched pairs, designed to flank a bed or sit against a wall in a living space.
The form is defined by clean architectural lines, rounded corners, and stepped profiles. Common variants on this page include bedside tables with single doors or drawers, alongside taller cocktail units and sheet music cabinets.
Makers and designers from England, France, and Italy produced these pieces using native and exotic timbers. French examples frequently incorporate marble tops, while English workshops favoured figured grain patterns.
What varies in quality
The choice of veneer sets the visual standard, with matched burr walnut or bird's eye maple demanding greater skill in selection and placement than plain timbers. Grain continuity across multiple drawers or cabinet doors indicates careful planning by the maker.
Construction methods distinguish standard production from superior workshops. Solid wood drawer linings, tight joints, and original metal hardware elevate a piece, whereas simplified joinery and replaced fittings place an item lower in the range.
Several cabinets were built specifically to hold sheet music, neatly hiding away the pianist's repertoire behind geometric doors.
Walter Carter Harrods·Gomme·Maurice Adams·Harry and Lou Epstein·Maples
The Art Deco Side Cupboards Glossary
- Burr walnut
- A wood harvested from walnut tree growths, yielding intricate swirling grain patterns highly prized for decorative veneer work on cabinet doors.
- Pot cupboard
- A small bedside cabinet originally designed to house a chamber pot, now utilised simply for general bedside storage.
- Compactum wardrobe
- A large fitted wardrobe combining hanging space, shelves, and internal drawers within a single compartment structure.
- Veneer
- A thin slice of figured timber applied over a secondary wood base to create a decorative exterior finish without excessive weight or cost.
Art Deco Side Cupboards: Frequently Asked Questions
What is an art deco side cupboard used for?
These cabinets function primarily as bedside storage units for books, lamps, and personal items. Taller versions serve as cocktail cabinets or sheet music storage.
Their compact footprints allow them to fit easily into smaller alcoves or flanking spaces in modern bedrooms and living rooms.
Are pairs harder to find than singles?
Many bedside cabinets were originally manufactured as matching pairs to sit on either side of a bed. Single cupboards do appear frequently, often having been separated from their original bedroom suites over time.
Matched pairs demand closer inspection to ensure grain patterns and handle hardware correspond correctly.
What woods were commonly used?
Walnut is the predominant timber seen across these listings, often utilised in its figured burr form to create dramatic patterns. Oak and mahogany appear frequently in English and French designs.
Exotic accents include bird's eye maple and satinbirch, paired with metal fittings in brass and chrome.