Pop Up Bar Cart
Vintage 1930s English Art Deco Carts and Bar Carts
Glass, Hardwood
Vintage 1920s English Edwardian Carts and Bar Carts
Brass
Early 20th Century British Mid-Century Modern Dry Bars
Crystal
Mid-20th Century British Mid-Century Modern Dry Bars
Crystal
Recent Sales
Antique 19th Century American Other Carts and Bar Carts
Crystal
Mid-20th Century English Art Deco Carts and Bar Carts
Oak
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Carts and Bar Carts
Metal
Vintage 1920s English Edwardian Carts and Bar Carts
Brass
Vintage 1920s English Edwardian Carts and Bar Carts
Brass
Vintage 1920s English Edwardian Carts and Bar Carts
Brass
Vintage 1960s French Modern Carts and Bar Carts
Brass
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Carts and Bar Carts
Laminate, Rosewood
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2010s American Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Brass, Bronze, Enamel, Nickel
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Carts and Bar Carts
Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Asian William IV Dry Bars
Wood
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Carts and Bar Carts
Brass
Antique Mid-19th Century English High Victorian Taxidermy
Other
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and...
Metal, Aluminum, Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Modern End Tables
Wood
Antique 19th Century English Chinese Chippendale Vitrines
Glass, Mahogany
Vintage 1930s European Art Deco Vitrines
Mahogany, Burl
Vintage 1940s French Art Deco Dry Bars
Walnut, Burl
Vintage 1920s English Edwardian Carts and Bar Carts
Brass
20th Century English Georgian Tableware
Silver, Sterling Silver
Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Dining Room Tables
Macassar
Vintage 1970s Italian Carts and Bar Carts
Glass, Wood
Vintage 1950s Italian Dry Bars
Wood
Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Dry Bars
Metal
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 I create a pop-up bar?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022To create a pop-up bar, you will need to consider the location and theme of your party. Drink menus, decor, layout, glassware and bar equipment are aspects you should consider. You’ll find a variety of bar and bar accessories on 1stDibs.
- 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.
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