Barrel Table Tanger/S by Mauser – German Modernism, ca. 1939

This rare piece of bar furniture originates from the legendary Tonnenmöbel series by Alfons Mauser Werke, produced from 1939 in Waldeck and marketed under the model name Bar/Tanger S . The models in this series were named after German and international cities such as Cologne, Frankfurt, Berlin, or London.

Although the Tonnenmöbel series was designed in the late 1930s, full-scale production did not begin until the 1950s due to the war years. During this postwar period, the line became one of Mauser’s most prominent product ranges. These pieces were frequently found in the executive offices of film producers, advertising agencies, and industrial enterprises – representing a discreet yet prestigious interior style of the young Federal Republic. Film producer Atze Brauner is also known to have furnished his office with pieces from the Tonnenmöbel line.

The table on offer is preserved in original condition with a beautiful patina. The cylindrical body is made of black-lacquered sheet steel and features three encircling aluminium rings. The round tabletop retains its original grey linoleum surface. Inside, a pivoting bar compartment lined with red felt can be accessed via a mechanical twist-lock – an elegant and functional detail, crafted with remarkable precision.

This piece reflects the spirit of an emerging postwar Germany and stands as a testament to German design history.

The ensemble shown in the photographs combines this early Tanger/S table with a typical example of 1950s German Streamline Modernism. You can find the matching armchair here:

https://kademo.store/streamline-tubular-steel-armchairs-1952-050/