Neoclassical Style Brass Drinks Trolley with Removable Trays by Maison Jansen, Circa 1940

A refined neoclassical drinks trolley crafted in polished brass, presenting two removable trays supported by a slender, elegantly proportioned frame mounted on four discreet brass casters. The trays, framed by delicate gallery rails, rest on a gracefully articulated structure adorned with neoclassical motifs — fluted columns, acanthus accents, and geometric friezes — all executed with the meticulous hand-finishing characteristic of the finest French ateliers of the mid-twentieth century.

This exceptional piece is the work of Maison Jansen, the legendary Parisian decorating firm founded in 1880 by the Dutch-born entrepreneur Jean-Henri Jansen. Under successive artistic directors — most notably Stéphane Boudin, who led the house from the 1930s to the 1960s — Maison Jansen became the pre-eminent purveyor of interior decoration to royalty, heads of state, and the international haute bourgeoisie. Boudin's mastery lay in reinterpreting classical idioms through a modern lens, producing furniture and objects of impeccable quality that straddled the elegant formalism of the ancien régime and the restrained luxury of mid-century modernism. This trolley, executed circa 1940, perfectly exemplifies his philosophy.

This drinks trolley embodies the art of gracious living as practiced by the French aristocracy and grand bourgeoisie of the postwar era. Its removable trays offer both functional versatility and visual refinement, making it equally at home in a grand salon, a library, or a contemporary interior seeking a note of timeless Parisian elegance. A coveted collector's piece bearing the prestige of one of the most celebrated names in the history of French decorative arts.