Brass and Formica rolling trolley, 1960s – Ilse Möbel

Rolling trolley, trolley, composed of two black-and-white Formica trays, each edged with a brass rim. Ilse-Möbel edition, 1960s.

The design of this living-room piece may seem unassuming at first glance, but it reveals a subtle formal exploration: a structure made of two brass “laces,” enlivened by the contrast of black and white, while the wheels are cleverly concealed beneath integrated covers.

• W 78 cm x D 45 cm x H 62 cm.
• Height between the two trays: 31 cm.
• Very well preserved, with rare signs of normal use.

Uslar, the furniture town and the birth of Ilse-Möbel

This trolley or bar cart in brass and Formica, produced by Ilse-Möbel in the late 1950s, reflects the industrial dynamism of Uslar, a German town long associated with the manufacture of designer and high-quality functional furniture. Located in the wooded Solling region, Uslar developed a major wood-processing industry from the second half of the 19th century, favored by the abundance of local natural resources: wood, sand, and water.

Among the town’s leading companies, Ilse-Möbel gradually established itself as the dominant player. After absorbing several competitors, the company became the only major local manufacturer to survive World War II. From the 1950s onward, it gained an international reputation and became one of Europe’s most important makers of occasional furniture.

At the height of its activity, the company employed up to 2,800 people across four industrial sites throughout the town. Ilse-Möbel then controlled the entire production chain, from raw material to finished furniture. Its widely distributed designs accompanied the evolution of modern post-war interiors.

The brand is particularly remembered for its kidney- or bean-shaped tables, rolling trolleys, bar carts, plant stands, record-player cabinets, and occasional pieces combining functionality, light lines, and contemporary materials.

Choosing an Ilse-Möbel rolling trolley, vintage trolley, or bar cart today means acquiring a witness to the design boom of the 1950s to 1970s, from a house that profoundly shaped the industrial history of Uslar and European furniture.