Hawker cabinet, England around 1920-1930

Hawker Aviation

The British aircraft manufacturer Hawker achieved particular prestige for its fighter aircraft. In the 1940s, the lightweight aluminum material used experienced a boom, with the metallic sheen of thin, riveted aluminum sheets gaining widespread popularity. Therefore, in the mid-1940s, Hawker also produced furniture such as this Hawker cabinet. Its aluminum construction, highly polished, features an original black Galalith handle. A super-lightweight piece of furniture used for aircraft and zeppelin interiors.

Small dents on the front, otherwise in good condition.

This wonderful cabinet, as extravagant as this original Louis Vuitton travel trunk or this three-sided glazed Art Deco display case.

Detailed Description of the Hawker Cabinet

Aluminum Cabinet, England, 1920s/1930s
Design: Factory Design of the Hawker Company, England
History: Hawker Company
In 1920, the company H.G. Hawker Engineering Co. Ltd. was founded, taking over parts of the insolvent Sopwith Aviation Company.
From the beginning, the development and manufacture of
military aircraft was the company’s core business.
In 1933, the company was renamed “Hawker Aircraft Ltd.”
As a byproduct, they produced lightweight
cabin furnishings, including for commercial aircraft.
Using expertise from aviation construction, they manufactured
furniture from aluminum, which was riveted and then painted.

Original Condition

Today, the original paint is removed, and the aluminum is sanded and polished by hand.
The original paint is generally only used for restoration. This was generally a roughened varnish that was resistant and covered up unevenness in the aluminum.
During manufacture, no effort was made to polish the furniture. Therefore, the rivets were simply sawn off after riveting. This naturally left saw marks on the smooth material. These marks – some of which are deep – cannot usually be completely sanded or polished out, because otherwise the rivets would come undone. This would only be possible through complete re-riveting, but contradicts our concept of age-appropriate restoration. We also believe that this furniture is industrial and, above all, utilitarian design, whose age and origin in mechanical engineering should be evident.
The aluminum side panels and doors also show visible signs of age and wear.
We believe that appropriate restoration must reveal the character and origin.

Use

This wardrobe has a clothes rail in the center of the interior, with shelves attached to the left and right sides.

Continuous shelves can also be easily made and inserted.

This makes it possible to use it as a small wardrobe.

It can also be converted into a bar cabinet with a mirror and glass.

Art Deco at RSA Wiesbaden

You can find more Art Deco cabinets, Art Deco chests of drawers and Art Deco lamps in my shop in Wiesbaden. Regine Schmitz-Avila – your specialist for French Art Deco furniture and art objects from around 1930.