how to clean the velvet inside?

Do not scrub it. Old fabrics are fragile and water will leave a stain while loosening the historic glue. Use a soft bristle brush to sweep dust out of the corners. A low-suction vacuum with a mesh screen over the nozzle helps lift loose dirt without tearing the silk.

I have an old cabinet with a lock but no key came with it so is there a way to open the drawers without breaking anything?

A locksmith can usually pick a simple ward lock and cut a new key. Take the cabinet to them rather than trying to force the doors open with a screwdriver. If the drawers are just stiff, check the runners. Sometimes wood swells in damp conditions, and moving it to a drier room for a few weeks solves the issue.

what kind of wood is this?

Most antique jewellery cabinets are veneered in mahogany or rosewood. Walnut is another common option. Look at the drawer linings to identify the secondary wood. Pine and oak were used for the structural parts.

My grandmother left me a small cabinet and some of the brass handles are missing from the little drawers inside, can I find replacements that match?

Finding an exact match for antique hardware takes patience. Specialist dealers keep boxes of spare handles salvaged from broken furniture over the years. Measure the distance between the post holes carefully. If you cannot find a match, replacing the entire set with period-appropriate handles is an accepted practice. Keep the surviving original handles in a drawer just in case.

Home > Cabinets > Jewellery Cabinets > Page 3

Antique Jewellery Cabinets

← Page 3 of 3 →

Usually taking the form of miniature chests of drawers, antique jewellery cabinets were designed to store rings and necklaces safely. Often lockable and sometimes hidden behind paired doors, they kept valuables organised and out of sight on a dressing table.