Bar Trolley S 179 from thonet

Whether used as a home bar cart, serving trolley or side table, the elegant tubular steel design from legendary architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe is a shining example of the design principles “less is more” and “form follows function”. The bar trolley is characterised by a refined structure with a centred, symmetrical composition. It was first produced in the 1930s when the designs of leading Bauhaus designers and masters were being put into industrial production, making Thonet one of the most important manufacturers of modern tubular steel furniture. This classic design is now being relaunched with a modern twist, and, almost one hundred years after it was first produced, is still just as appealing with its minimalist shape and functionality.

From an elegant addition to private living or dining rooms to a practical serving trolley in high-end hotels, the S 179 bar trolley is a mobile and versatile piece. Made of chrome-plated tubular steel, its form follows its function. One continuous, centrally placed piece of bent tubular steel provides the supporting structure for the sophisticated design. The trolley rests on three points: the two wheels and the bend at the front of the frame. The aluminium wheel discs encompassed by rubber rings are connected to the frame via an axle tube.

The trolley is moved simply by lifting the black leather handle, which is embossed with the Thonet logo. Two removable shelves made of grey-tinted clear glass provide space for glasses, bottles and bar equipment – or even for books, vases or other ornaments. These glass shelves are held in place by a frame of chrome-plated flat steel. For more stability and to prevent bottles from falling over, Thonet Design has added a rail above the bottom shelf.

Compared with Mies van der Rohe’s original design from the 1930s, the relaunched version is somewhat larger in scale to bring the bar trolley up to date.