Iconic Sideboards by Tonic: Where Craftsmanship Meets Contemporary Design

Few furniture pieces balance utility and artistry as gracefully as the sideboard. More than just storage, these designs set the tone of a room, anchoring spaces with presence, proportion, and materiality. For over two decades, Johannesburg-based Tonic has redefined modern South African interiors with its distinctive design language and uncompromising craftsmanship. Their servers and credenzas embody this ethos: equal parts practical and poetic, rooted in heritage yet resolutely contemporary.

Here, we highlight some of Tonic’s top designs – sideboards that have become icons in their own right, celebrated for their form, finish, and lasting appeal.

Penn Server
Unveiled at Design Joburg to mark Tonic’s twentieth anniversary, the Penn Server channels mid-century refinement in the spirit of Paul McCobb and Florence Knoll. Crafted in solid oiled oak or American walnut, with linen-clad doors and brass detailing, it is both a generous storage solution and a collectable piece.

Cathcart Server
Monumental yet minimal, the Cathcart Server pairs a leathered Zimbabwean black granite top with a black-stained oak veneer body and matte steel supports. Its monochrome gravitas makes it equally suited to quiet neutral interiors or as a grounding piece beneath vivid artworks.

Rosso Server
Dramatic and delicate at once, the Rosso dazzles in high-gloss champagne pink with a pale marble top. Slender steel legs lift its form into something sculptural, proving a server can be both playful and iconic.

HG Server
A long-time Tonic classic, the HG Server is low-slung, luxuriously veneered in walnut or oak, and detailed with matte black steel. Its silhouette makes an elegant welcome in foyers, or a quietly confident anchor in living spaces.

Anthony Server
With recessed grip pulls and a satin-lacquered finish that accentuates natural grain, the Anthony Server blends craftsmanship with character. Understated yet charismatic, it adapts effortlessly to any interior mood.

Lobby Server
Concave timber panels nod to mid-century tambour cabinets, while steel accents bring a contemporary edge. The Lobby Server is a study in contrasts: refined engineering with timeless appeal.

AF 003 Server
Originally showcased at the Southern Guild for the 2009 Joburg Art Fair, the AF 003 remains an ingenious design. Its clever detailing fuses legs and handles into a single sculptural gesture, proof of Tonic’s eye for playful innovation.

Tonic’s sideboards are not merely functional pieces; they are landmarks of design. Whether finished in timber, marble, linen, or lacquer, each tells a story of materiality, proportion, and South African craftsmanship elevated to international relevance.