Design & History

The 1930s were an extraordinary period for furniture design in Czechoslovakia, and UP Brno stood at the centre of that transformation.

Under the artistic direction of Jindřich Halabala, the company combined industrial production with progressive Modernist ideas, creating furniture for a new generation of Czechoslovak interiors.

This dressing table is attributed to Halabala and UP Brno and belongs to the more experimental side of that production.

Rather than treating the dressing table as a conventional table with a mirror placed above it, the design brings storage, mirrors and structure together into a single composition.

A tall rectangular mirror provides the dominant vertical element, while the cylindrical cabinet creates a strong horizontal and curved counterpoint below. The adjustable side mirror introduces movement into the composition and allows the piece to adapt to its user.

The result feels remarkably architectural - almost like a small piece of Functionalist architecture translated into furniture.

Design Details

The dressing table is organised around a striking contrast between straight lines and curved forms.

The main rectangular mirror is mounted within a solid wooden structure and secured with visible metal fittings. Attached to one side is a narrower secondary mirror, mounted on a long metal hinge.

This smaller mirror can sit in line with the main mirror or pivot forwards and backwards, allowing the viewing angle to be adjusted as required.

Below sits the circular walnut-veneered cabinet.

Its curved front is enclosed by sliding doors made from alternating wooden slats, introducing rhythm and texture into the otherwise restrained composition. The doors slide away to reveal useful internal storage with a removable glass shelf.

A white opaxite glass surface covers the top of the cabinet, providing a smooth and practical surface while creating a crisp contrast with the warm walnut veneer.

Two cylindrical wooden legs lift the cabinet slightly above the floor, giving the substantial circular form an unexpected visual lightness.

Why We Like It

We love furniture that makes you stop for a moment and work out how it actually functions, and this dressing table does exactly that.

At first it appears almost abstract - a circle, a tall rectangle and a smaller moving plane brought together into one composition. Only when you look more closely does each element reveal its purpose.

The adjustable side mirror is particularly clever. Rather than hiding the mechanism, the long metal hinge becomes part of the design, allowing movement and function to remain completely visible.

We also love the contrast between the warm walnut cabinet and the cool surfaces of glass, mirror and metal.

It is practical furniture, but there is something almost theatrical about it. The proportions are unexpected, the silhouette is unmistakable and the piece changes subtly as the side mirror moves.

For us, it represents the confidence of 1930s Czechoslovak Modernism at its best - functional, inventive and never ordinary.

Condition

The dressing table remains in very good original vintage condition.

We made the deliberate decision to preserve the original mirrors and glass elements rather than replace them, retaining the historic character and integrity of the piece.

Both mirror surfaces show natural age-related patina developed over many decades. The lower internal glass shelf has a chipped corner, which has been retained as part of the original construction.

The wooden structure and walnut veneer remain in very good condition, with only minor signs of age and previous use.

The sliding cabinet doors and adjustable side mirror remain functional.

Please refer to the photographs for a detailed record of its condition.

Details

Designer: Attributed to Jindřich Halabala
Manufacturer: Attributed to UP Brno
Period: 1930s
Origin: Czechoslovakia
Materials: Beech, Walnut, Glass, Steel
Condition: Very good original vintage condition
Quantity: 1

Dimensions

Width: 92 cm
Depth: 46 cm
Height: 170 cm
Cabinet height: 67 cm
Cabinet diameter: 46 cm

Delivery & Returns

The dressing table will be carefully packed and shipped from our studio in Brno, Czech Republic.

EU shipping: €220, confirmed at checkout.
Estimated EU delivery: 3–5 working days

We also ship worldwide using trusted international couriers. Please contact us for a tailored shipping quote outside the EU.

EU customers have a 14-day right of withdrawal. Please see our Terms & Conditions for full details.

If you’d like to check anything before ordering - from condition and dimensions to delivery - Martin and Amy are always happy to help throughout the process, and also after your piece has arrived.