Glyndebourne Leather-Cased Cocktail Bar, 1930s
Glyndebourne Leather-Cased Cocktail Bar, 1930s
3619
A wonderfully rare and characterful leather-cased travelling cocktail bar, made specifically for drinks at Glyndebourne and dating from the 1930s. Compact, ingenious, and richly evocative of a particularly glamorous period in British social life, it combines the practical refinement of a portable bar with a direct connection to the early years of the Glyndebourne Festival Opera.
The fitted leather case opens to reveal a carefully organised cocktail service, designed to make entertaining possible wherever the occasion required. Its original Bakelite fittings are especially appealing, their warm dark tone and unmistakably period character perfectly suited to the streamlined taste of the 1930s. The case itself has the presence of a fine piece of luggage: practical, handsome, and made for a life of travel, theatre, and outdoor entertaining.
Glyndebourne was founded in 1934 and quickly became synonymous with elegant summer opera, long intervals, and the distinctive ritual of dining and drinking in the grounds. A cocktail case made for use there is therefore a particularly evocative survival, recalling the relaxed sophistication of guests arriving for an evening performance and enjoying drinks between acts.
The glasses have been replaced with plastic examples, a practical later substitution that allows the cocktail set to remain usable while clearly reflecting its history of use and adaptation. This does not diminish the charm of the piece; rather, it adds to the story of an object made to be enjoyed.
A highly unusual piece for collectors of cocktail antiques, Glyndebourne and opera memorabilia, Art Deco design, or smart 1930s travel accessories. It would make an exceptional conversation piece in a bar, library, dining room, or country-house interior.
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