Gyula Kaesz, Bauhaus style Cuban Mahogany Sideboard-Buffet, early 1940s Hungary

A highly rare and documented Bauhaus–Modernist sideboard designed by Gyula Kaesz, one of the most influential figures of twentieth-century Hungarian applied arts and design.

Kaesz was a key representative of Central European modernism, integrating the rational clarity of Bauhaus functionalism with refined craftsmanship and proportion. This sideboard appeared in the Hungarian design journal Tér és Forma and relates closely to examples published in the Austrian magazine Innen-Dekoration, both confirming its provenance and Kaesz’s international recognition.

The cabinet is constructed on a 3.8 mm plywood carcass and finished with 2.2 mm thick Cuban mahogany veneer of deep natural tone and subtle sheen. The interior remains completely original, featuring slightly curved shelves with untouched shellac polish and warm patina. The veneered legs have been carefully restored, with partial re-veneering performed by hand and finished with multiple layers of natural oil, preserving the authentic tactile quality and depth of color.

All nickel-plated Kaesz-designed hinges, 4 mm solid round key escutcheons, rectangular metal handles, and original keys are intact and fully functional. The right section contains precisely dovetailed drawers, while the left cabinet features extendable serving trays. The upper removable glass vitrine retains its original beveled glass sliding doors. Every element reflects Kaesz’s exceptional precision and artistic sensibility.

Works by Gyula Kaesz are held in international museum collections, including major Central European design archives and the Museum of Applied Arts in Budapest. This sideboard stands as a museum-quality collector’s piece, representing the pinnacle of Hungarian Bauhaus-inspired modernism — a period when design and craftsmanship existed in perfect harmony.

With the detachable glass display case, the total height is 130 cm.
The display case itself measures
H 45 × W 90 × D 35 cm.