Architect and designer Cesare Lacca is renowned for the modernist furniture he created during the 1950s. Made with materials like teak, glass and brass, his work continues to command great interest from mid-century modern collectors. His pieces have recently found their way onto some of the 21st century’s most trendy television and movie sets.
Lacca was born in Naples, Italy, in 1929. Like many Italian designers in the 20th century, he moved to Milan after World War II to launch his career. At the age of 20, he was selected by a group of American curators for inclusion in the 1951 landmark exhibition “Italy at Work: Her Renaissance in Design Today” at the Art Institute of Chicago. It showcased Italian designers who had embraced modernist principles and rejuvenated traditional Italian crafts, like Carlo Mollino, Franco Albini and Gio Ponti.
Lacca designed a dizzying array of tea carts and serving trolleys across his career, including magazine racks and coffee tables. Lacca’s most well-known piece is a tea cart — most commonly used as a bar cart — that Cassina manufactured. It features beautifully sculpted beech, cedar, teak and walnut with brass details, a glass tabletop and a removable glass tray.
This Lacca cart was featured as Don Draper’s office bar in his Manhattan advertising agency on several episodes of the wildly popular television show Mad Men, reinvigorating the interest of collectors. Several other Lacca pieces have been part of the set decorations in the television series The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and the movie Being the Ricardos.
On 1stDibs, find Cesare Lacca tables, racks and stands, seating and more.
Caesar Lacquer Bar Trolley, Year 1950
By Cesare Lacca
Located in Bastia Umbra, IT
Cesare Lacca bar cart, 1950s, Made in Italy. Cart designed by Cesare Lacca in the 1950s, with glass tops and lacquered mahogany wood frame finished with brass edging. Condition is ...
Brass
$2,248Sale Price|20% Off
Cesare Lacca Italian Midcentury Bar Display Cabinet
By Cesare Lacca
Located in bari, IT
Bar display cabinet made in Italy from the 1950s, designer Cesare Lacca.
Brass
Liquor trolley by Cesare Lacca - brass and rosewood
By Cesare Lacca
Located in Antwerp, BE
Well shaped Italian liquor trolley/serving cart by Cesare Lacca. Marvellous Italian bar trolley in brass and burgundy red lacquered wood. This stunning piece was designed by Cesare ...
Brass
$1,243Sale Price|45% Off
Bar cart attributed to Cesare Lacca, Year 1950
By Cesare Lacca
Located in Bastia Umbra, IT
Bar cart attributed to Cesare Lacca, Year 1950, Made in Italy. Beautiful 1950 bar cart, wood and brass, with two removable glass trays. The frame of this cart is made of stained wal...
Brass
$3,443Sale Price|20% Off
Bar Cart Trolley by Cesare Lacca, 1950’s
By Cesare Lacca
Located in Brussel, BE
Beautiful serving trolley, bar cart with a three bottles holder, one shelve and a magazines compartiment, made in wood, glass and brass, designed by Cesare Lacca in the 1950’s. - Ma...
Brass
Mid-Century Modern Dry Bar/ Trolley by Cesare Lacca, Italy, 1950s
By Cesare Lacca
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Modern Dry Bar/ Trolley by Cesare Lacca, Italy, 1950s
Wood
1950s Cesare Lacca Magazine Rack for Fontana Arte
By Cesare Lacca
Located in London, Lambeth
Born Naples in 1972 Italian architect designer Cesare Lacca created modernist furniture and metalwork throughout the 1950s This unusual magazi...
Steel
$5,014
H 51.19 in W 72.84 in D 17.72 in
Vittorio Dassi Mid-Century Modern Italian Mahogany Cabinet Bar, 1950s
By Vittorio Dassi
Located in Puglia, Puglia
This bar cabinet was designed by the famous Italian design Vittorio Dassi, Italy, 1950. The cabinet is covered in herringbone mahogany with maple inlays and glass top, the central in...
Marble, Brass
Art Dèco Italian Walnut Vitrines or Bar Display Cabinet, 1925
Located in Puglia, Puglia
Art Dèco vitrines or display cabinet, Italian production of the 1920s, in walnut and walnut briar, screen-printed glass with grinding around. The showcase has been restored and polis...
Crystal
$6,576
H 49.61 in W 53.15 in D 13 in
Antique 20th-Century French Art Deco Mahogany Veneered Display or Bar Cabinet
Located in Casteren, NL
This beautiful French Art Deco bar cabinet was made in mid-France in the early 20th century circa 1925. It features a strong geometric design that is typical for art deco furniture. ...
Fabric, Mahogany
Vladimir Kagan Burl Wood Wall Unit Cabinet Sideboard
By Vladimir Kagan, Milo Baughman
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Very nice Mid-Century Modern burl wood liquor cabinet bar, display cabinet or sideboard by V. Kagan. Measures: 8' Tall.
$2,989
H 32.68 in W 33.47 in D 15.75 in
1950s Art Deco Mid-Century Modern Italian Walnut Burl Glass Top Dry Bar Cabinet
By Vittorio Dassi, Guglielmo Ulrich, Paolo Buffa, Gio Ponti, Ico & Luisa Parisi
Located in Carimate, Como
Very elegant Italian Art Deco Mid-Century Modern dry bar cabinet with overall beautiful different veneer walnut briar burl wood decorations and especially the double front door with ...
Brass
$1,793
H 36.23 in W 29.53 in D 17.72 in
Italian Bar or Cart in Walnut, Venice Print and Light, Italy, 1950s Signed Sarti
By Cesare Lacca
Located in Roma, IT
Italian bar trolley or 1950s dry bar in lacquered walnut, bright white inside. Attributable to Cesare Lacca Outside there is a Venice press. The bar automatically switches on when...
Brass
$1,373
H 31.11 in W 27.56 in D 17.33 in
Art Deco Circular Walnut Drinks Bar Cart Trolley, English, 1930s
Located in Devon, England
Very attractive and iconic English Art Deco Savoy Hostess trolley cart dating from the 1920s-1930s period. This three-tiered trolley not only looks impressive but is very functional ...
Walnut
Elegant Mid-Century Italian Mirrored Dry Bar Cabinet, 1950s
By Gio Ponti
Located in Argelato, BO
An elegant Italian dry bar, crafted from dark wood with a high-gloss finish. The bar features two mirrored doors that reflect the surrounding space, adding a touch of brightness and ...
Glass, Wood
Sold|$2,989
H 29.53 in W 29.93 in D 19.69 in
1950s Italian Art Deco Mid-Century Wood Burl Mirror Dry Bar Cabinet
Located in Carimate, Como
Unique and very elegant Italian Art Deco squared shaped dry bar cabinet, in walnut with double front door having amazing glass mirror top and the interior part, with mirrors bottle h...
Mirror, Wood
$3,996Sale Price|20% Off
H 54 in W 83 in D 22 in
Gorgeous Gio Ponti Style Parchment and Rosewood Liquor Bar Sideboard
By (After) Gio Ponti
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This Gio Ponti style parchment and rosewood liquor bar sideboard embodies the sophistication and artistry of mid-20th century Italian design. Crafted with a...
Rosewood, Parchment Paper
$13,100 / item
H 42 in W 60 in D 12 in
Modern Liquor Bar Cabinet, By Peter Harrison. Industrial Metal Concrete and Wood
By Peter Harrison
Located in Middle Grove, NY
The Tangent liquor cabinet is a modern storage unit sized for alcohol, but useful for much more. It features gently curved aluminium doors which c...
Concrete, Aluminum, Stainless Steel
$9,206
H 45.67 in W 48.82 in D 15.75 in
Amazing Mid-Century Italian Bar Cabinet 1940' Attributed to Osvaldo Borsani
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Rome, IT
Elegant and unusual bar cabinet. Decorated front door with geometrical inlaid. Door panels inside with mosaic mirror and brass and glass shelfs. Support w...
Wood
Sold
H 33.47 in W 44.89 in D 10.24 in
Italian Console Table in Walnut, Brass and Glass by Cesare Lacca, Italy 1950s
By Cesare Lacca
Located in Roma, IT
Incredibly elegant and unique console table in walnut, brass and enameled perforated metal with crystal glass top. This stunning piece was designed by Cesare Lacca and produced in It...
Brass
Sold
H 27.96 in W 27.56 in D 17.72 in
Italian 1950s Black Lacquer and Brass Folding Bar Trolley by Cesare Lacca
By Cesare Lacca
Located in London, GB
An Italian 1950s black lacquer and brass folding bar trolley by Cesare Lacca with two glass shelves each with a scolloped brass detail in the centre ...
Brass
Sold
H 27.56 in W 33.47 in D 16.93 in
Italian 1950s Cesare Lacca Wood and Brass Bar Cart Trolley with Drink Holder
By Cesare Lacca
Located in London, GB
An Italian 1950s Cesare Lacca wood and brass bar cart trolley with brass drinks holder.
Brass
Sculptural Italian Bar Cart by Cesare Lacca
By Cesare Lacca
Located in Atlanta, GA
Sculptural Italian Bar Cart, designed by Cesare Lacca, Italy, circa 1950s. It is constructed of beautifully grained wood and has a removable tray.
Metal
Italian Mahogany Bar Design by Cesare Lacca 1956 a Complete Set
By Cesare Lacca
Located in Oirlo, LI
Italian Mahogany bar design by Cesare Lacca 1956 a complete set. 1950s Italian dry bar or home bar with bar cabinet and stools. Italian Mahogany bar design by Cesare Lacca 1956...
Brass
Sold
H 28.75 in W 30.71 in D 16.15 in
1950s Black Lacquer and Brass Bar Cart / Trolley by Cesare Lacca
By Cesare Lacca
Located in London, GB
A 1950s black lacquer and brass bar cart / trolley by Cesare Lacca with two glass shelves on original brass castors.
Brass
Italian Mid-Century Bar Trolley by Cesare Lacca, 1950s
By Cesare Lacca
Located in Isle Sur Sorgue, FR
Italian mid-century bar trolley by Cesare Lacca 1950s with 3 removable trays and 6 bottle holders. The wheels are made with brass.
Wood
Sold
H 34.65 in W 31.5 in D 18.9 in
Lovely 1950s Cesare Lacca Mahogany Bar Cart Trolley with Removable Trays
By Cesare Lacca, Cassina
Located in London, GB
A 1950s Cesare Lacca bart cart trolley in rich lacquered mahogany with removable glass trays with brass detailing and orignal brass castors, for Italian company Cassina.
Brass
Sold
H 31.5 in W 24.41 in D 21.66 in
Cesare Lacca Mid-Century Modern Italian Mahogany Bar Cart for Cassina, 1950s
By Cesare Lacca, Cassina
Located in Puglia, Puglia
This bar trolley in mahogany and brass was designed by Cesare Lacca, has both removable trays, and a lower front level for magazines, rear for bottles. " If you like it please make ...
Brass
Cesare Lacca Trolley or Drinks Cart
By Cesare Lacca
Located in London, GB
Italian trolley or bar cart, circa 1950 in brass and rosewood.
Brass
Mid-Century Modern Italian Serving Bar Cart by Cesare Lacca
By Cesare Lacca
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Italian, Mid-Century Modern, two-tier, rolling, serving, bar cart by Cesare Lacca with newly restored, teak frame, glass shelves and brass accents.
Brass
Pastoe Sideboard DB02 by Cees Braakman, 1952
By Pastoe, Cesare Lacca
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Modernist sideboard model DB02 designed by Cees Braakman, manufactured by Pastoe UMS, Holland, 1952. This sideboard has a double folding door with three shelves and four drawers behi...
Birch