Michael van Beuren was born in New York and studied architecture at the Bauhaus under Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Josef Albers until its closure in 1933. He moved to Acapulco at the end of 1936, where he oversaw the design of the interiors of the bungalows at the renowned Flamingo Hotel in 1937, and quickly became a formative member of the Mexican Modernism movement.
By 1938, van Beuren began focusing on furniture design, working with a fellow Bauhaus colleague, Klaus Grabe, to create modern and affordable pieces. Inspired by the local culture and craftsmanship, the duo applied Bauhaus design principles to popular Mexican mainstays, such as woven reclining chaises and wooden dining chairs.
The approach was a success — Grabe, Morley Webb and van Beuren were named among the winners of a 1941 competition organized by the Museum of Modern Art that focused on designer teams from the United States and Latin America called “Organic Design in Home Furnishings.” This award catapulted them to wide renown.
In the following years, van Beuren founded his furniture label Domus, which became synonymous with well-crafted, modernist design that garnered fans both in Mexico and America. Along with his own designs, Domus also produced work by Clara Porset, a friend and contemporary of van Beuren’s. However, by 1951, the company’s move toward more mass manufacturing meant that van Beuren’s earlier designs were no longer being produced.
Find vintage Michael van Beuren furniture on 1stDibs.
(Biography provided by 7710 Gallery)
$7,000 / set
Original Bar by Michael van Beuren "Domus Line"
By Michael van Beuren
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
We offer this rare and Original Bar designed by Michael Van Beuren for the "Domus" line, circa 1950, recently restored professionally.
Pine
$1,298
H 30.32 in W 27.56 in D 16.93 in
Original Art Deco Chrome Modernist Hostess Trolley Bar Cart, c1930
Located in Devon, England
Now this really is a fabulous hostess bar cart. Original 1930s Art Deco chrome two-tier trolley. A tubular chromed frame makes up the skeletal body of the cart with thick acrylic ins...
Chrome
Bamboo Portable Bar, France, 1960s
By Vivai del Sud, Adrien Audoux and Frida Minnet
Located in SOTTEVILLE-LÈS-ROUEN, FR
A refined portable bar crafted in bamboo, produced in France in the 1960s. Both sculptural and functional, this piece reflects the period’s enduring fascination with organic materi...
Bamboo
English Art Deco Cocktail Shaker by Van Buren
Located in Austin, TX
A vintage English cylindrical martini or cocktail shaker of fine plate silver featuring a stylish Art Deco design, with removable cap and strainer. Impr...
Metal, Silver Plate, Copper
1950's Vintage Libbey Bar Glasses, Curio Line Designed by Freda Diamond
By Libbey Glass Co.
Located in Downingtown, PA
Horsepower of History: Libbey’s 'Curio' Barware by Freda Diamond (1950s) This charming, twenty-three-piece Vintage Libbey Bar Glass Set is part of the i...
Glass
Metamorphic Surprise Bar
Located in Mérida, YU
This is a metamorphic oak bar/ cabinet, with a rise and fall mechanism lifting the table top fitted with assorted glassware. circa 1920. All original.
Metal
Post-Modern Stainless Steel Bar Set by Michael Graves
By Michael Graves (b.1934)
Located in San Diego, CA
A nice post-modern stainless steel bar tool set by Michael Graves, circa the 1980s. The set is in good vintage condition and measures 6.5"W x 8.25"D x 1"H. The set includes cocktail ...
Stainless Steel
$294Sale Price|40% Off
H 1.25 in W 4.5 in D 6.5 in
Mid-Century Bar Party Set 1517 in Original Box by Amboss, Austria, 1950s
By Amboss Austria
Located in Vienna, AT
A gorgeous bar set nestled in its original wooden box from the 1950s. It comprises a bottle opener, a corkscrew, and a can opener. Model #1517, crafted by Amboss Austria, this set is...
Steel, Chrome
Geraldo De Barros Bar Cart
By Geraldo de Barros
Located in Washington, DC
A rare and highly collectible bar cart designed by Geraldo de Barros for Hobjeto, one of the most influential manufacturers associated with the development of Brazilian modern design...
Metal
$642
H 12.5 in W 5 in D 5 in L 12.5 in
Mid Century Holmegaard Glass Decanter By Michael Bang, Denmark, 1960's
By Holmgaard, Jacob Bang
Located in North Miami, FL
This vintage smokey gray gradient blown glass cinched decanter bottle was designed by Michael Bang for Holmegaard. It is called the Kluk Kluk. He was a major designer for the company. This is from the 1960s. What is most unusual about this is the rare crown stopper that was only made for the Danish markets. This was brought back from Denmark by a collector. For the upper class homes, this was used at the time for liquors and serving special schnapps. Great barware. The small gray gradient bowl seen in the photos must be purchased separately and was only used in this instance for a mini photo still life...
Blown Glass
1960s MCM Italian Silver Plated Bar Caddy / Barware Accessories / Bar Tools
By Raimond Silver Manufacturing Company
Located in St. Louis, MO
Nice little silver plated cocktail / bar set made in Italy in the 1950s or 1960s by Raimond. The bar caddy stand sits on a round marble base, and is full of bar accessories / tools. ...
Carrara Marble, Metal, Silver Plate
Mid-Century Modern Lacquered Goatskin and Brass Bar by Aldo Tura
By Aldo Tura
Located in New York, NY
This beautiful and dramatic bar was realized by the esteemed midcentury designer Aldo Tura, in Italy, circa 1970. Nautically inspired, the piece offers a frame consisting of two angu...
Brass
$392Sale Price|20% Off
H 28 in W 32 in D 13 in
Mid-Century Modern Wine Bar Walnut Table by Arthur Umanoff, 1950s
By Arthur Umanoff
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration, a 1950s mid-century modern wine bar table. It is an unmarked piece attributed to the well-known American industrial designer, Arthur Umanoff. The piece ...
Iron
$350
H 11.5 in Dm 4 in
Art Deco Philco Radio Bar Type Cocktail Shaker W/ Red and Black Line Decoration
By Radiobar Corp. and Philco
Located in Nantucket, MA
Large Art Deco cobbler type cocktail shaker of clear glass of stepped tapering form with aluminum lid and cap. The clear glass painted with red lines above black lines and with the line widths narrowing toward the center. This shaker is in the style of the glassware used...
Aluminum
$750 / set
H 7.5 in Dm 3 in
Vintage Op-Art Cocktail Set from the Bartrix Line by Cera in a Panton Pattern
Located in Nantucket, MA
9 Piece cocktail set by Bartrix / Cera Glassware in a black and white Op-Art Verner Panton style design. Included are six stacking rocks glasses and a co...
Glass
1960s Bar Cabinet
Located in Neuss, NW
Rare bar cabinet (former TV cabinet) from the 1960s. High-quality corpus in walnut veneer with two tambour doors, illuminated bar compartment with mirror, two hinged doors, and new s...
Mirror, Wood
Mid-Century Modern Mexican Bar Car by Michael Van Beuren
By Michael van Beuren
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
We offer this Mexican modernist serving cart designed by Michael van Beuren, Edimburgo line, made of mahogany wood, with two rectangular shelves and a wooden frame, circa 1970.
Mahogany