Drink cabinet model D 625 by Thonet, 1930

An original modernist drinks cabinet from the 1930s. What makes this particular model exceptional and rare is its wooden finish. Instead of a walnut veneer, (a material that was popular and widely used on furniture at the time), this piece has a maple veneer surface. What is even more unusual is that the maple veneer was made by using the old technique of burning in the hot sand. This technique is known from biedermeier furniture of the beginning of the 19th century but is rarely seen on the modernist pieces of the early 20th century. This old and quite labour difficult technique makes the veneer darker brown and the pattern less noticeable than when using walnut. The cabinet is divided into three parts: there is storage at the bottom left part behind a hinged door. Above this door there is an open storage space for magazines. The main storage for bottles together is on the right side, and it has two built-in glass holders. This storage can be accessed by flipping the top lid to the left side that then rests on the tubular steel handle, and there is a front opening door that rests in a horizontal position. Both these doors have a lovely detail of fixed black opaxite glass on their inner side. The whole piece has got a beautiful, very subtle maple veneer pattern in dark brown colour. Inside the cabinet the wood is a light honey colour and has two bright red glass holders and two black opaxite glasses. It also is on castor wheels which makes it easy to move about your interior, making entertaining smooth and fun experience! The drink cabinets were very fashionable items at the time and every household that wanted to impress it’s guests had to have one. This particular model was one of the more luxurious ones and was a clear indication of the family’s social status quo. The cabinet has no visible thonet label, however this model can be found in the 1930’s thonet catalogues. It is also possible that a model with a maple veneer finish was made to a bespoke order.

Ref. : VAAZXWT4