Mid-Century Sideboard attributed to Frantisek Mezulanik for Up Závody, 1960s

About This Piece

Vintage Design

This exquisite sideboard, crafted in the 1960s in former Czechoslovakia, exemplifies the epitome of mid-century modern design. A testament to the renowned craftsmanship of UP ZAVODY and the creative vision of Frantisek Mezulanik, it embodies both practicality and elegance.

During the mid-century era, Czechoslovakia emerged as a significant producer of high-quality furniture, influenced by the modernist principles championed by the Bauhaus school. This sideboard stands as a testament to that heritage.

On the left side, four drawers offer ample storage space, each measuring 38cm in length, 33cm in width, and 9cm in height. To the right, a spacious cabinet with a central divide provides versatile storage options. The adjustable shelves enhance its functionality to suit various storage needs.

Veneered with exquisite walnut and ash, the sideboard exudes timeless beauty. Its sleek design is accentuated by a beech base in a striking black hue, complemented by matching black handles, enhancing its aesthetic appeal.

Carefully restored and refinished with oil, the natural warmth and charm of the wood are brought to life, ensuring the sideboard is not just a piece of furniture, but a work of art ready to enrich any space. with its impeccable craftsmanship and timeless design, this sideboard is poised to grace everyday living with both style and functionality.

Click here for full description Close description

Creator	Frantisek Mezulanik
Manufacturer	UP Závody
Design Period	1960 to 1969
Production Period	1960 to 1969
Country of Manufacture	Czech Republic
Identifying Marks	This piece is attributed to the above-mentioned designer/maker. It has no attribution mark
Style	Vintage, Midcentury
Detailed Condition	Restored — This vintage/antique item is in very good condition because it has been refreshed through new upholstery and/or refinishing.
Restoration and Damage Details	Surface has been refinished, Restored
Product Code	MJR-2046759
Materials	Beech, Ash, Walnut
Color	Black, brown, tan
Width	162 cm 162 cm
Depth	45 cm 45 cm
Height	77 cm 77 cm
Weight Range	Standard — Between 40kg and 80kg

Shipping & Delivery

Ships from	Poland
Returns	Returns accepted within two days of delivery, except for Made-to-order items

Sustainability

Carbon Neutral	For every purchase made, Pamono offsets 100% of estimated carbon emissions from global shipping.
Vintage	Choosing vintage and antique furniture reduces your carbon footprint by cutting down on waste and reduces demand for new materials and extends the life of the products we use.

Delivery Options

Front Door Delivery: (Included in Every Order)	A skilled driver will unload the item(s) from the delivery truck and bring it to your building’s doorstep. You will be responsible for further transport beyond that point. We recommend asking a family member or friend for an extra hand; alternatively, you may upgrade to In-Home Delivery (see below). The delivery partner will email and/or call you at least one day in advance to arrange a delivery time. A wooden crate may be used for intercontinental shipments for maximum protection. Item will be left in its packaging after delivery. A signature will be required upon delivery.
In-Home Delivery: (For in-home delivery service, additional fees apply. Please get in touch)	A skilled driver or a team of two will bring your item(s) inside your home and place it in the immediate entryway. For unusually large or heavy items, we recommend asking a family member or friend for an extra hand, as we cannot send more than 2 drivers. The delivery partner will email and/or call you one day in advance to arrange a delivery time. A wooden crate may be used for intercontinental shipments for maximum protection. Item will be left in its packaging after delivery. A signature will be required upon delivery.

Front Door Delivery:
(Included in Every Order)

A skilled driver will unload the item(s) from the delivery truck and bring it to your building’s doorstep. You will be responsible for further transport beyond that point. We recommend asking a family member or friend for an extra hand; alternatively, you may upgrade to In-Home Delivery (see below).
The delivery partner will email and/or call you at least one day in advance to arrange a delivery time.
A wooden crate may be used for intercontinental shipments for maximum protection.
Item will be left in its packaging after delivery.
A signature will be required upon delivery.

In-Home Delivery:
(For in-home delivery service, additional fees apply. Please get in touch)

A skilled driver or a team of two will bring your item(s) inside your home and place it in the immediate entryway. For unusually large or heavy items, we recommend asking a family member or friend for an extra hand, as we cannot send more than 2 drivers.
The delivery partner will email and/or call you one day in advance to arrange a delivery time.
A wooden crate may be used for intercontinental shipments for maximum protection.
Item will be left in its packaging after delivery.
A signature will be required upon delivery.

*Important Note

Please examine every order upon delivery. In the event that there are visible signs of damage or missing or incorrect pieces, please indicate the problem on the Delivery Note and contact us within 48 hours of delivery. A signed delivery receipt without notations of missing, damaged, or incorrect item(s) represents your acceptance of the complete order in perfect condition.

About the Maker

UP Závody

UP Závody—an acronym for Czech furniture manufacturer Spojené uměleckoprůmyslové závody (or, Associated Arts & Crafts Enterprises, in English)—was founded in Brno in 1920, following a merger of enterprises started by Jan Vaněk and Karel Slavíček. Initially comprising woodworkers who chiefly produced cabinetry, the company broadened its offering in the late 1920s to include an entire range of home furnishings, following the directive of the firm’s fresh-faced and precocious development director, Jindrich Halabala, who led the company’s product promotion and sales strategy until 1946.

Believing that furniture should be fully functional, modular, mobile, and widely affordable, Halabala—who also designed for Thonet—advocated for a new mass-market approach to Czech furnishing. To that end, he designed and produced an UP Závody catalogue that included chairs , tables , sideboards , dressers , couches , lamps , and more, all influenced by the aesthetics of Czech Cubism, Art Déco, and European modernism. During the 1930s, he developed the H and E modular series, as well as various types of wooden and tubular steel pieces inspired by Bauhaus designers Mart Stam (1899-1986) and Marcel Breuer (1902-1981). These cantilevered designs, which were fabricated in UP's Hodonín branch, are highly sought-after today on the vintage market.

On the heels of Halabala’s success, by 1937, UP had grown into Europe’s largest furniture manufacturer—with a reputation synonymous with good taste and quality. The company’s clout continued to widen internationally, even with the onset of the Second World War. After the war, however, UP was nationalized, which forced the company to focus more on quantity than quality. Although UP remained active throughout the latter half of the 20^th century, this dilution of its foundational commitment to serial designs of the highest grade ensured the company’s fade from design relevance—a wither exemplified by the lack of late-century UP work on the vintage market.

In 1992, UP merged with fellow Czech furniture manufacturer Tusculum Rousínov to become Tusculum a.s., which, in the early oughts, became absorbed by Jitona, currently one of the five largest suppliers of veneered furniture for Ikea Europe.