Thanks to design lovers’ enthusiasm for Art Deco and mid-century modern furniture, and the increasingly competitive market for pieces by more famous creators, 20th-century Czech designers are making their way back onto the international stage. Foremost among these talents is Jindřich Halabala.
Halabala was one of the leading designers of a particularly rich period in Czech furniture history, when pieces were defined by Bauhaus functionalism as well as Art Deco influences. He was a cabinetmaker’s son whose training was almost wholly focused on woodwork, first at a state-run vocational school for woodworking in Valašské Meziříčí and later at UP Závody in Brno, where he ultimately became chief designer.
Halabala's alluring bentwood H chairs, such as the H269 and H237, and stylized ottomans have become classics, while his 1930s and 1940s sofas, tables and storage cabinets, with their sweeping curves, stylized geometry and dark, richly grained wood, embody the best of Art Deco furniture design, a style that was brought to worldwide attention at an exhibition in Paris in 1925.
Halabala's work, which was manufactured by the likes of Thonet and UP Závody, is seen by some as the segue between early 1900s Czech Cubism and the modern style that dominated the mid-century years.
Find a collection of vintage Jindřich Halabala furniture today on 1stDibs.
Restored Art Deco Buffet, By J. Halabala For Up Závody, Mahogany, Czech, 1930s
By Up Závody, Jindřich Halabala
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
This sideboard (bufet) is an iconic piece of interwar Czechoslovak design from the 1930s. It was designed by the legendary architect Jindřich Halabala, who, as the chief designer for...
Wood, Lacquer, Mahogany
Minibar-Luxury Glazed Drinks Cabinet by Jindrich Halabala
By Up Závody, Jindřich Halabala
Located in Vienna, AT
Luxury glazed drinks cabinet, beechwood, walnut veneer and black lacquered side legs. In excellent condition. Presumably executed by Spojene UP Zavody, Czechoslovakia.
Art Glass, Beech
Original Art Deco Buffet, by J. Halabala for UP Závody, Walnut, Czech, 1920s
By Up Závody, Jindřich Halabala
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
This luxurious sideboard or commode with the poetic name "Tulipán," originating from the 1920s, represents the absolute pinnacle of interwar design in the Art Deco style. It was desi...
Walnut, Lacquer, Wood
Art Deco buffet, Macassar Ebony and Walnut Burl, 1920-1930
Located in Langemark-Poelkapelle, BE
Art Deco buffet in exceptional quality. Solid oak with Macassar Ebony veneer and Walnut Burl veneer. The buffet has a top with the original marble slabs. The back wall has a large li...
Marble
French Art Deco Buffet in Bleached Oak with Marble Top, 1930s
Located in Kaštel Sućurac, HR
French Art Deco Buffet in Bleached Oak with Marble Top, 1930s. This Art Deco buffet is built from solid oak with a bleached, light finish that reveals open grain and quarter-sawn fi...
Marble, Brass
$4,413
H 39.38 in W 49.22 in D 17.72 in
French Art Deco Buffet, Carved Hardwood and Rouge Marble, 1930s
Located in Kaštel Sućurac, HR
French Art Deco Buffet, Carved Hardwood and Rouge Marble, 1930s. This Art Deco buffet is built from a warm exotic hardwood with a light honeyed finish and topped with a thick slab o...
Marble, Bronze
$8,450
H 35.44 in W 95.28 in D 26.78 in
Walnut Art Deco Sideboard by Jindřich Halabala for UP Závody Czechoslovakia 1930
By Jindřich Halabala
Located in Almelo, NL
Walnut Art Deco Sideboard by Jindřich Halabala for UP Závody, Czechoslovakia, 1930s An exceptional and highly sculptural Art Deco sideboard attributed to renowned Czech designer Jin...
Metal
$4,001
H 48.82 in W 17.72 in D 48.82 in
Scandinavian Teak Showcase from the 60's by HW Klein Edited by Bramin
By Henry Walter Klein
Located in Ternay, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Very nice Scandinavian vitrine from the 60's attributed to designer Henry Walt Klein, edited by Bramin. Structure in solid teak and veneer. It is composed of two sliding glass doors ...
Glass, Teak
French Art Deco Mahogany Buffet
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A classic and sleek French mahogany buffet from the Art Deco period is the perfect modern storage piece. The cabinet has its original gray and white marble top for a durable and prac...
Marble, Chrome
$5,770
H 61.03 in W 37.8 in D 17.33 in
Luxury Parisian Art Deco Burl Walnut Display Cabinet with Brass Hardware, 1930s
Located in Almelo, NL
Exceptional Parisian Art Deco display cabinet from the 1930s, executed in richly figured burl walnut and fitted with original patinated brass hardware. Offered in fully original cond...
Brass
Gramophone Cabinet Designed by Jindřich Halabala, 1950's
By Jindřich Halabala
Located in Praha, CZ
- Made in Czechoslovakia - Made of wood, veneer - Good, original condition - The record player is spinning - Has signs of use.
Wood
$1,647
H 51.19 in W 49.22 in D 18.12 in
Restored Art Deco Cabinet, by J. Halabala, UP Zavody, Satin Wood, Czech, 1940s
By Jindřich Halabala, Up Závody
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
This exceptional Art Deco cabinet originates from Czechoslovakia from the 1940s. It is a masterpiece designed by the legendary Jindřich Halabala for UP závody, characterized by timel...
Wood, Lacquer, Satinwood
French Art Deco Buffet, Walnut and Aluminum, Bowed Doors, 1930s
Located in Kaštel Sućurac, HR
French Art Deco Buffet, Walnut and Aluminum, Bowed Doors, 1930s. This low buffet is constructed in figured walnut veneer over a hardwood carcass, with warm reddish tones and pronoun...
Aluminum
$14,710
H 59.06 in W 39.38 in D 22.05 in
1930s Art Deco Burl Walnut Borsani Sideboard Buffet Server Credenza Wax Polished
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Vigonza, Padua
Midcentury Gaetano or Osvaldo Borsani Art Deco burl walnut sideboard buffet with server chest, restored and wax polished Measures cm: H 150, W...
Burl
Art Deco Bar Designed by Jindřich Halabala, 1930's
By Jindřich Halabala
Located in Praha, CZ
- made in Czechoslovakia - made of glass, wood - good, original condition.
Glass, Wood
Wall Unit Model H by Jindřich Halabala for UP Závody
By Jindřich Halabala
Located in Hronská Breznica, Banskobystrický kraj
Wall unit model H by Jindrich Halabala for UP Závody in original condition. Bookcase 120 x 124 x 43cm. Bar cabinet 180 x 124 x 43cm.
Wood
Buffet Art Deco J. Halabala from 1920
By Jindřich Halabala
Located in Kraków, Małopolska
We present a made to order, unique designer Art Deco buffet from 1920, designed and made by a famous designer and carperter Jindrich Halabala - (a Czech designer ranked among the mos...
Walnut