Antique Cabinets

Cabinet making is an art and this is no better reflected than in the wonderful antique cabinets available to purchase. There are a delightful number of antique cabinets to choose from, including display cabinets, bedside cabinets, filing cabinets, table cabinets, bookcase cabinets, corner cabinets, music cabinets, cocktail cabinets, wine cabinets and office cabinets, as well as hanging wall cabinets.

Antique cabinets tend to be glass fronted with internal shelves and drawers. A good space saving item of furniture for any home is that of the antique corner cabinet. Antique cabinets are a variable item of antique furniture with lots of styles and designs from different periods to choose from.

History of Cabinets

The earliest type of cabinets were designed to store papers and valuables and were used as a surface to write on before the bureau evolved. Cabinets were the result of the realization that drawers at the front of a chest may be more practical than access through the top, and that raising the chests height also meant you did not have the inconvenience of having to bend down to access the drawers.

Early cabinets tend to have been mounted upon a stand, these types of cabinets came into existence in the late 16th C and early 17th C and were likely to be an item of furniture possessed only by the wealthy, often imported from Europe; namely Italy and Germany.

Cabinet making was a result of very good craftsmanship and the cabinet-maker was highly regarded in the field of woodwork due to the skills involved, such as inlaying, marquetry, veneering and carving. During the Industrial period there was mass production of cabinets due to the growth in the demand from the middle classes, but the Arts and Crafts movement in the middle of the 19th C increased the want for traditional cabinet making. Sheraton, Hepplewhite and Chippendale are all notable cabinet-makers of their time.

Types of Antique Cabinets

Antique Display Cabinets

The practice of displaying wares began in the earlier part of the 18th C when the wealthy would showcase their porcelain and books. During the 19th C it became desirable to display ornaments and objects, and stand-alone glazed display cabinets were made. Often designed upon cabinets made in the 18th C by Chippendale and Sheraton, these designer influences produced Chippendale style display cabinets that tended to have intricate carvings, whereas Sheraton’s designs were more delicate.

A nice antique cabinet is the Georgian display cabinet, which is normally crafted from walnut, whereas Victorian display cabinets tended to be made from mahogany. Some antique display cabinets may have mirrored backs and interior lighting; it is also possible to pick up specialist antique display cabinets, such as gun and trophy cabinets.

French and Victorian cabinets tend to be taller pieces and look nice against a plain wall. Art Nouveau cabinets are more innovative, their shape more elaborate with ornate carvings. For an antique cabinet with straighter lines an Art Deco cabinet is a nice choice, these have geometric designs and are often highly polished, they tend to be shorter in height than earlier cabinets.

Other notable antique cabinets are Chinese and Japanese lacquer cabinets, these are highly sought after. Side cabinets and chiffoniers tend to be of greater value, they are slightly more expensive due to their useful size, they are both elegant and simple.

Cabinets made from rosewood, or with features such as original lattice grille doors and brass inlay are also of value. An attractive choice is a pair of cabinets to flank a fireplace or set against a wall in a hallway; wherever you choose to place your antique cabinet in the home it will double up as both a useful and practical piece to keep an array of items, and as a thing of beauty.