A Cabinet is any cupboard-like piece of furniture for storing objects, often with shelves or doors but not always. Compared to modern example which are often poorly constructed and quite plain, old cabinets were often constructed to proudly show off so are a great way to combine character and superb quality in one. With their glass fronted doors Display Cabinets have always been desirable for those special objects you just don’t want to hide away from sight and were particularly fashionable during the 18th and 19th Centuries. In contrast, Side Cabinets usually offer a mixture of solid or glass doors in a design more reminiscent of a sideboard. They tend to be elegantly thought-out objects in their own right often using fine timbers, carved rails and fine tapered legs.
Although most antique cabinets have been designed with a specific purpose in mind such as Cocktail cabinets, Filing cabinets or Music cabinets, never overlook them even if that is not the use you are intending for it. Their versatility can usually still work for any modern use and add a touch of unusualness to the room.
At LoveAntiques we have very large selection of Antique and Vintage cabinets for all your storage needs.
Knight Fine Antiques & Collectables
Antique Late Victorian Walnut Bedside Cabinet / Pot Cupboard by Trapnell & Gane
£ 175
Antique Late Victorian Walnut Bedside Cabinet / Pot Cupboard by Trapnell & Gane
£ 175
Knight Fine Antiques & Collectables
Marlborough Antiques & Interiors
Pair of Early 20thc Oak Marble-Topped Bedside Cabinets
£ 975
Pair of Early 20thc Oak Marble-Topped Bedside Cabinets
£ 975
Marlborough Antiques & Interiors
Bentleigh Antiques
Flemish Carved Oak Stained Glass Narrow Freestanding Cabinet
£ 1,395
Marylebone Antiques
Art Deco Burr Walnut Tallboy Chest of Drawers / Cabinet
£ 1,450
Town House Traders Ltd
Pair Inlaid Mahogany Tray Top Bedside Tables
£ 650
Tom Scott Antiques
Figured Walnut Breakfront Bookcase
£ 1,250
Town House Traders Ltd
Quality Painted Satinwood Side Cabinet
£ 750
Pinefinders Old Pine Furniture Warehouse
Large Tall Partly Glazed Antique Pine Cabinet with Bottom Drawers
£ 890
Large Tall Partly Glazed Antique Pine Cabinet with Bottom Drawers
£ 890
Pinefinders Old Pine Furniture Warehouse
Timeless Furniture UK
Edwardian Mahogany Inlaid Astral Glazed Corner Cabinet
£ 275
Paul Watson Antiques & Interiors Norfolk
Fine Chinoiserie Decorated Bedside Cupboard Circa 1900
£ 750
Fine Chinoiserie Decorated Bedside Cupboard Circa 1900
£ 750
Paul Watson Antiques & Interiors Norfolk
Paul Watson Antiques & Interiors Norfolk
Edwardian Ebonised Shop Display Cabinet
£ 675
Debenham Antiques Ltd
Scandinavian 19th Century Green Painted Kitchen Cupboard
£ 1,750
Debenham Antiques Ltd
Scandinavian Pair of 19th Century Serpentine Shaped Cupboards
£ 5,995
ActFurniture LTD
Antique 20th Century Good Quality Cupboard In Oak
£ 495
ActFurniture LTD
Antique 20th Century Good Quality Cupboard in Walnut
£ 625
LT Antiques
Regency Rosewood Brass Inlaid Cabinet
£ 1,150
ActFurniture LTD
Antique 20th Century Globe Wernicke Style Cabinet in Oak
£ 685
ActFurniture LTD
Vintage 20th Century Pair Of Gothic Bedside Cabinets In Pine
£ 495
ActFurniture LTD
Antique 20th Century Good Quality Small Oak Cabinet
£ 365
Founders Antiques
Antique Edwardian Inlaid Mahogany Glazed Display Cabinet c.1910
£ 575
Worboys Antiques
French Oak Triple Tambour Front Filing Cabinet
£ 825
Worboys Antiques
Pair Of French Oak Bedside Cabinets
£ 510
Philip Hunt Antiques
Sheraton Revival Mahogany Bedside Cabinet
£ 525
Tony Youll Antiques
Pair of Small Cabinets or Bookcases
£ 1,150
Tony Youll Antiques
A Pair of Fine Quality French Bedside Tables
£ 895
Tony Youll Antiques
Pair of Marquetry Bedside Tables in North Italian Taste
£ 895
Worboys Antiques
Pair Of Oak Bedside Cabinets
£ 475
Worboys Antiques
Pair Of French Oak Marble Top Bedside Cabinets
£ 725
Fernyhough Antiques Ltd
Regency Walnut Cabinet
£ 895
The Sitting Room & Heydays Antiques
Inlaid Mahogany Bijouterie Display Cabinet
£ 695
Stalham Antique Gallery
Mahogany Chippendale Style Side Cabinet
£ 650
£ 2,250
Antique Victorian Satinwood Demi-lune Side Cabinet with Painted Panels, c.1890
£ 2,250
Hawkins Antiques
£ 2,500
Antique Satinwood Painted Demi-lune Commode with Classical Panels - c.1900
£ 2,500
Hawkins Antiques
£ 1,250
Antique Art Nouveau Mahogany Display Cabinet - Inlaid, Leaded Glass, C.1900
£ 1,250
Hawkins Antiques
£ 1,650
Antique French Walnut Vitrine Display Cabinet With Porcelain Plaques
£ 1,650
Hawkins Antiques
Hawkins Antiques
Antique French Ormolu Mounted Vitrine Cabinet With Marble Top
£ 2,950
Hawkins Antiques
Fine Antique William IV Rosewood Side Cabinet
£ 950
Philip Hunt Antiques
Mahogany Victorian 2 Door Side Cabinet
£ 840
Marylebone Antiques
Antique Victorian Burr Walnut Bedside Cabinet
£ 595
Graham Deakin Antiques
Victorian Marble Top Mahogany Bedside Cabinet
£ 295
The antique cabinet first emerged in Italy in the late Renaissance. From initially being a small room that displayed objects, thus the term display cabinet, the antique cabinet soon became a piece of furniture with a pair of doors enclosing small drawers. Some antique cabinets were on stands while others were placed on chests. In the 16th century, the French style antique cabinets were based on architectural lines, while the English style antique cabinets were small and mounted on a stand. By the 17th century, the English style antique cabinet was popular among the rich, and in the mid-17th century, southern Germany and Antwerp specialised in creating inlaid ones. After the Restoration in 1660, these antique furniture pieces became decorative objects.
Not all old cabinets are antique. It could be one of those vintage cabinets; it could also be a mere replica or a new display cabinet designed to look old. To know that what you have is an authentic antique cabinet, it’s essential to be familiar with the craftsmanship, material, and each style used at least a hundred years ago. Aside from signs of wear, you have to look for any marks of the manufacturer. Try to find the stamp or branding as well as the location or country where it was made. Determine the type of wood used, how the cabinet was put together, and signs of it being handcrafted. To accurately identify the age of your antique display cabinet, take it to a reputable appraiser or antiques expert or antique dealers.
If they aren’t yet a hundred years old, or not created during the Georgian period, Regency, Victorian or the Edwardian period, 19th century or early 20th century, then you have vintage cabinets. Vintage storage cabinets would often have bright or pastel colours and romantic floral decorations. For a display cabinet to be vintage, it has to have the best characteristics of the period it was created in, so you have to learn about the different styles of the different decades under 100 years. Going to an antiques expert or appraiser or visiting your local antique dealers will save you time and you’ll get to have all the information you need, including the price range you could sell your furniture for.
An antique cabinet can have a price range of £90-£85,000. The price of any antique furniture depends on the item’s condition, age, materials and style, among others. The more original components these items still have, the higher would be their value. By getting your items appraised by a professional, you’d be able to find out if you have antique cabinets UK dealers would pay much for as well as know how much money you could make out of the items. The more information you have about your items, the more chance you’d be able to sell them.