Neoclassical Brass Drinks Trolley with Removable Trays by Maison Jansen, French Work, circa 1940

This neoclassical style brass drinks trolley with removable trays is a creation of the legendary Maison Jansen, the most prestigious Parisian interior decoration house of the twentieth century. Founded in 1880 by Jean-Henri Jansen, a Dutch entrepreneur established in Paris, the house acquired a worldwide reputation by decorating the greatest palaces, embassies and royal residences across the globe, from the White House to the palaces of the Middle East. Under the artistic direction of Stéphane Boudin from the 1930s onwards, the house developed a distinctive style blending neoclassical refinement with a taste for noble materials.

This drinks trolley perfectly illustrates the decorative vocabulary of Maison Jansen: finely worked brass, elegant proportions, soberly applied neoclassical ornaments. The removable tray design testifies to the concern for functionality that characterised Jansen productions, always intended for demanding aristocratic use. The trays could be removed for service, then replaced to present glasses, decanters and other accessories of the refined table.

A centrepiece in the antiques market, a drinks trolley bearing the Maison Jansen provenance represents a high-value heritage investment. It testifies to the absolute excellence that characterised this house, whose creations have traversed the century without ever losing their prestige or decorative relevance.