Heywood Wakefield Bar Cart
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Carts and Bar Carts
Maple
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Carts and Bar Carts
Birch
Vintage 1910s American Arts and Crafts Carts and Bar Carts
Wicker
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Carts and Bar Carts
Wood
Early 20th Century American Other Carts and Bar Carts
Wicker, Reed, Glass, Wood
Early 20th Century American Other Carts and Bar Carts
Fabric, Wicker, Reed, Wood
Recent Sales
Early 20th Century American Carts and Bar Carts
Metal
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Carts and Bar Carts
Birch
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Carts and Bar Carts
Wood
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Serving Tables
Wicker, Wood
Early 20th Century American Card Tables and Tea Tables
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Carts and Bar Carts
Maple
Vintage 1910s American Late Victorian Carts and Bar Carts
Metal
Antique Late 19th Century American Victorian Carts and Bar Carts
Metal
Vintage 1930s American Aesthetic Movement Carts and Bar Carts
Wicker, Cane
Early 20th Century American Other Carts and Bar Carts
Wood, Reed, Wicker
Vintage 1950s American Carts and Bar Carts
Maple
20th Century American Carts and Bar Carts
Reed
People Also Browsed
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Beds and Bed Frames
Maple
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.
Read More
20 Inviting Dining Rooms Perfectly Arranged for Entertaining
Top interior designers show — and tell — us how to create delectable spaces for hosting dinner parties.
This Alain Delon–Designed Table Is Almost as Handsome as He Was
Fans of the French film star may be surprised to learn that he had a flair for furniture with sleek lines and disco-era flash.
Uchronia’s Plant Stand Gives Pots a Pretty Perch with All the Trimmings
Like other pieces in the firm’s Candy Box collection, the cheerful limited-edition design showcases French craft.
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.
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.