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admin on March 21st, 2009
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In England, china display cabinets they were introduced in the late 1600s and they served the purpose of showing items and collections of china.
Later all sorts of items and collectibles were put on display, china, porcelain, glass, ceramics, silver and so on.
They typically would have a large glass front door or more, and glass to the sides as well, to allow a better view and get more light inside the cabinet.
The shelves were not necessarily very thick, as they weren’t supposed to bear much weight, as for books in bookcases.
There could be a panelled section in the doors to allow for more storage, as pieces would be out of sight and could be stacked.
China display cabinets were important pieces that had to be attractive enough to work as a container for pieces that were to be seen and enjoyed.
That’s why they are often fancy and ornamentally rich, with good woods used and fine design implemented in crafting the pieces in all styles throughout the centuries.
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admin on March 21st, 2009
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Chests of drawers were pieces of furniture designed to keep clothing. They are also known (especially in North America) as dressers or bureaus (bureaux).
They represent the evolution of chests that were not practical when travelling and stacked, since the lid could not be opened easily and access was limited. Drawers were then invented and chests of drawers (literally) started to become popular, even for homes. A transitional piece was a chest (coffer) with a single drawer at the bottom, and still a hinged lid.
They typically have multiple parallel, horizontal drawers stacked one above each other. Some of the drawers could be different in size (height, width or even, although more rarely, depth).
Many, English antique chests of drawers in particular, have a double top drawer, basically 2 drawers instead of just one wide one. Locks became soon increasingly common, for privacy reasons rather than a real antitheft device.
Access to the drawers‘ inside can be accessed by pulling them out at the front side. Chests of drawers were usually positioned with the back side against a wall since access to the back is not necessary. The lateral sides could also be placed against a wall or in a corner, however in modern design, this would be usually discouraged and baseboards would interfere with moulding on the furniture. It’s also suggested to leave a little space between the piece of furniture and the walls or other furniture, a few inches or more depending on the size and contents of the room. Some well made chests of drawers had an incorporated spacer, usually in the form of an extension of the top, to keep the back side away from the wall, to allow air circulation and avoid humidity accumulation behind the furniture and mould.
They were made to accomodate clothes in the bedroom, but since some were extremely stylish, well designed and rich in materials and/or ornaments, today they can be found in any room of the house to store anything that can fit in the drawers, or even traditionally designed business places, offices and stores, to hold documents and else.
As far as height of the chests of drawers, they could be either waist-high, or shoulder high, with very few exceptions.
Both would have a flat top, and some of the waist height ones would have a dressing mirror to the back of the top, often an adjustable one, to allow to dress in front of the clothing container and check the appearance at the same time.
Lampstands, personal and decorative items were often on the chest of drawers‘ top.
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admin on March 21st, 2009
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Occasional tables are pieces of furniture that have a smooth flat top and are supported by a base or one single pedestal leg or more, typically 4, sometimes 3 (tripod), 5, 6 or more vertical supports.
They serve the purpose of supporting household and collectible items in many different areas of a home.
They can be placed against a wall, consol tables (or consolle tables) and side tables, in front of a couch and armchairs, coffee tables, cocktails or sofa tables, or to the side, end tables, or scattered in various areas and corners, corner tables and so on…
Their purpose is often also decorative as they can be made of rare woods and inlaid, carved and ornamented, nicely finished and polished.
Groups of smaller occasional tables that can variously fit in each other and be pulled out for the occasion, are nesting tables (in North America, nests of tables in England) and they usually slide into each other.
Occasional tables in modern times can be found also as a replacement for the traditional bedside cabinet, that is not required for holding a chamber pot any longer.
They can have drawers and compartments, undertiers, and other details.
In brief, occasional tables are the smaller and most versatile tables in a home.
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admin on March 19th, 2009
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Antique side tables are tables that are designed to stay against a wall.
They usually have a straight side that can easily lean against the wall, but they can be found in any shape, depending also on period and style.
They serve many different purposes such as: consolle tables, games tables, lamp tables, buffet tables, writing tables, occasional tables and so on.