1930s French Panneled Wood Bistro Bar w/ Functional Sink and Tap - 49½" x 66½"

This restored 1930s French bistro bar presents a warm, paneled timber front beneath a recent zinc countertop with a softly rounded bullnose edge. The façade is articulated with vertical tongue‑and‑groove boards, canted corners, and a moulded plinth, centered by a carved diamond medallion with a stylized foliate motif. The wood shows a honey to chestnut tone with natural grain variation, while the zinc offers a cool gray contrast. A new tap is fitted and the plumbing can be reconnected for water service. Overall condition is very good, with timeworn character to the wood and an excellent, clean zinc surface. Note a hole has been made to the side for plumbing access.

Bars of this type furnished cafés and neighborhood brasseries across France in the interwar years, when practical materials and streamlined profiles echoed the restraint of the Art Deco period. Zinc counters were favored for durability and hygiene, developing a gentle sheen with use, and the vertical paneling reflects straightforward provincial joinery. The carved lozenge adds a traditional note, bridging the decorative tastes of the Belle Époque with the simplified forms of the 1930s. The canted ends and ample counter were designed for efficient service and easy circulation in compact interiors.

This piece works beautifully as a home bar or serving counter in a kitchen, dining room, or library, bringing warmth and texture with its vertical paneling and carved detail. The zinc top pairs well with stone, concrete, or painted cabinetry, and the working tap allows it to function as a true wet bar when plumbed. In a retail or hospitality setting it can serve as a welcoming reception desk or coffee counter, its honest materials and gentle patina setting an inviting, quietly authentic tone.