Audoux Bar Cart
Vintage 1950s French Carts and Bar Carts
Iron
Vintage 1960s French Carts and Bar Carts
Rope, Plastic
Vintage 1970s French Mid-Century Modern Carts and Bar Carts
Rattan
Mid-20th Century Italian French Provincial Carts and Bar Carts
Brass
Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Dry Bars
Iron
Mid-20th Century Italian French Provincial Dry Bars
Bamboo, Wicker, Rattan
Mid-20th Century Italian French Provincial Dry Bars
Bamboo, Wicker, Rattan
People Also Browsed
2010s German Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Brass
2010s American Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Brass, Bronze, Enamel, Nickel
2010s British Scandinavian Modern Ottomans and Poufs
Sheepskin, Oak
2010s Brazilian Minimalist Dry Bars
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Scandinavian Modern Wall Lights an...
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Mexican Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Textile, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Brass
Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Stools
Wrought Iron
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Plaster
2010s British Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Sheepskin, Beech
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Plaster
21st Century and Contemporary Mexican Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
Textile, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Art Deco Chandeliers and Pendants
Metal
2010s Belgian Modern Sofas
Linen
2010s Belgian Modern Club Chairs
Linen
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Brass
Recent Sales
Mid-20th Century French Carts and Bar Carts
Oak, Rope
Late 20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Carts and Bar Carts
Rope
Vintage 1950s French Carts and Bar Carts
Rope
Vintage 1960s French Carts and Bar Carts
Rope
Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Carts and Bar Carts
Rope
Mid-20th Century Italian French Provincial Carts and Bar Carts
Brass
Mid-20th Century Italian French Provincial Dry Bars
Wicker, Rattan, Bamboo
Mid-20th Century Italian French Provincial Dry Bars
Brass
Vintage 1960s French Bohemian Carts and Bar Carts
Rattan
Finding the Right bar-carts for You
Forever a sleek and elegant furnishing that evokes luxury and sophistication, a vintage bar cart will prove both functional and fabulous in your living room.
Bar carts as we know them were originally conceived as tea trolleys — a modest-sized table on wheels, sometimes featuring both an upper and lower shelf — to help facilitate tea service during the Victorian era in England. Modern bar carts weren’t really a common fixture in American interiors until after the end of Prohibition in the 1930s, when they were rolled onto the sets of Hollywood films. There, they suggested wealth and status in the dining rooms of affluent characters.
As tough as the 1930s had been on the average working American, the postwar era yielded economic stability and growth in homeownership. Increasingly, bar carts designed by the likes of Edward Wormley and other furniture makers became an integral part of sunken living rooms across the United States in the 1950s.
Bar carts were a must-have addition to the sensuous and sleek low-profile furnishings that we now call mid-century modern, each outfitted with the finest spirits and savory snacks that people had to offer. And partially owing to critical darlings like Mad Men, vintage cocktail carts have since seen a resurgence and have even become a selling point in restaurants.
Bar carts not only boast tremendous utilitarian value but also introduce a fun, nostalgic dynamic to the layout of your space, be it in the bar area or elsewhere. In addition to showcasing your favorite bottles of rye and local small-batch gin — or juices and mocktail ingredients — there is an undeniable allure to stacking statement glassware, vintage martini cocktail shakers and Art Deco decanter sets atop your fully stocked mid-century modern bar cart. And one size or style doesn’t fit all — an evolution of cocktail cart design throughout history has yielded all manner of metal bar carts, rattan carts and more.
We invite you to add a few more dashes of class to cocktail hour — peruse the vast collection of antique and vintage carts and bar carts on 1stDibs today.
- How do you stock a bar cart?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertSeptember 25, 2019
A bar cart should be stocked with a jigger, shaker, strainer, bottle opener, corkscrew, ice bucket, tongs and various alcoholic beverages.
Read More
The Ultimate Guide to Types of Tables for the Home
Whether you’re just moving in or ready to give your home a makeover, our guide will give you pointers on tables that are fitting for every room, nook and hallway.
Riotous Shapes and Colors Have Made Uchronia’s Designs the Toast of Paris
Julien Sebban’s energetic design collective is radically reshaping the look of 21st-century European furniture and interiors.
Is Lionel Jadot the Willy Wonka of Upcycled Belgian Design?
From his massive collaborative workshop in a former paper factory, the designer concocts funky furniture from disused materials, as well as luxe hotel interiors like the new Mix Brussels.
Inspired by the Cosmos, Sandra Nunnerley’s Nova Table Has a Futuristic Feel
The designer’s innovative use of an unexpected material gives this console a lift.
This 19th-Century Gilded Desk Displays a Fanciful Kingdom in Marquetry
The stately piece brings both gravitas and whimsy to any work space.
In Guadalajara, These Luscious Side Tables Are Chiseled from Volcanic Rock
Use them as tables or stools, indoors or out.
How to Arrange Furniture + Layout Ideas
Here, we give design advice and show layout examples to help you create the perfect living room setup.
Why Hollywood A-Listers Can’t Get Enough of James De Wulf’s Concrete Furniture
Starting with a 900-pound Ping-Pong table, the Los Angeles designer has built a sturdy furniture-making career out of concrete.