Art Deco Storage
Art deco storage brings bold geometric presence to a room, offering practical utility through wardrobes, chests, and sideboards built to last.
Art Deco Storage
Art deco storage encompasses a varied selection of functional furniture designed to hold garments, books, and tableware within domestic spaces. Pieces span utilitarian oak bureaux and tallboys alongside decorative cocktail cabinets and compactum wardrobes.
The objects derive from the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s, with notable French, Swedish, and English origins represented across the selection. Chests of drawers and sideboards emerge as the most frequent forms encountered by buyers exploring this style.
Materials and Techniques
Cabinet makers utilised richly figured timbers such as burr walnut, satin birch, and palisander, frequently applying veneers over sturdy oak or pine carcases. Brass, nickel plating, and bakelite appear as functional hardware and decorative accents on doors and drawers.
Specialised techniques include parchment covering on drawers, tambour doors on oak sideboards, and contrasting inlays of rosewood or maple. Surfaces range from limed and bleached finishes to highly polished French polished walnut.
Materials span solid oak and metal alongside decorative veneers including burr walnut, satinwood, palisander, and maple.
Design and Execution
Quality separates standard production furniture from exceptional items through the selection of timber veneers and the harmony of proportion. Grain matching across drawer fronts and cabinet doors indicates superior craftsmanship.
The integrity of internal fittings, such as original shelving in cocktail cabinets or fitted compartments in wardrobes, dictates the standing of a piece within the range.
E Gomme·Charles Dudouyt·Hille·Harry and Lou Epstein
The Art Deco Storage Glossary
- Compactum
- A fitted wardrobe combining hanging space with internal drawers, shelves, and compartments in a single unit. This form maximises storage efficiency within compact footprint dimensions.
- Tallboy
- A tall chest of drawers standing higher than a standard dresser, often incorporating a cupboard section at the top. It provides generous vertical storage capacity for bedrooms.
- Commode
- A low cabinet or chest of drawers, typically French in origin and decorative character. These pieces often feature prominent veneer patterns and distinctive hardware.
- Demi-Lune
- A half-moon shape utilised for tables, umbrella stands, and small cabinets. This geometry allows the furniture to sit flush against a wall.
- Tambour
- A door constructed from narrow vertical strips of wood glued to a flexible fabric backing, allowing it to slide smoothly around curves. It appears on modernist sideboards.
- Satin Birch
- A pale hardwood with a lustrous, shimmering grain frequently deployed in Swedish design. It offers a bright contrast to darker walnut elements.
Art Deco Storage: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I use a cocktail cabinet?
A cocktail cabinet serves as a dedicated station for entertaining, featuring internal mirrored surfaces, glass holders, and drop-down preparation shelves. They fit well in living rooms and dining spaces.
Many retain original interior lighting or fitted glass trays designed for glassware and bottles.
Where does Swedish Grace furniture fit?
Swedish Grace represents a refined classicist movement bridging neoclassical elegance and early modernism during the 1920s and 1930s. These pieces often utilise pale birch and understated geometric inlays.
They offer a softer visual aesthetic compared to bolder British or French interpretations of the same decade.
How do I care for walnut veneer?
Walnut veneer requires protection from direct sunlight and excessive moisture to prevent fading and lifting of the timber surface. Regular dusting with a dry cloth maintains the polished finish.
Occasional application of appropriate furniture wax preserves the natural grain depth without building up residue.