What is the difference between a chiffonier and a credenza?

A chiffonier is a low cabinet of one or two doors, commonly with a raised back or shelf standing above the top surface. A credenza is longer and lower, often bow-ended, with glazed sections flanking a central cupboard. Both are listed as side cabinets on Sellingantiques, and together with pier cabinets they make up roughly a quarter of the category.

Which woods are most common?

Mahogany and walnut lead the titles by a wide margin. Rosewood comes next, then oak, satinwood and kingwood. The figured and exotic veneers, burr walnut, kingwood, satinwood, amboyna and thuya, cluster at the upper end. Plain oak and pine sit at the bottom.

Are side cabinets sold in pairs?

Often. The word pair appears in about one title in six, which makes pairs a feature of the category rather than an exception. Listings distinguish between a true pair, a matched pair and a near pair. Pairs dominate the upper half of the range.

How old are most side cabinets on the market?

The dated field runs from 1800 to 1960. Where a decade is given, the listings gather between 1860 and 1900, and again in the 1920s and 1930s. Many carry a period label instead. "19th Century" is the single commonest, with Victorian close behind, and Regency and Edwardian appearing in smaller numbers.

Do side cabinets have marble tops?

Some do. Around sixty titles mention a marble top, most often on French cabinets and on bedside examples. The slab sits as a separate top over the carcase.

What unusual side cabinets turn up?

Specialist cabinets pressed into side-cabinet service account for the oddest entries. A Victorian dentist cabinet, a sewing-machine console and a coal purdonium have all been listed under the heading. Others include a York Minster iron-grill cabinet and two glazed cabinets sign-written for a chocolate maker and a beer keller. Chinese pieces appear in twenty-five titles, with single examples from Syria, North India, Sweden, Switzerland and Germany.

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Antique Side Cabinets

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A side cabinet is a low free-standing cupboard made to stand against a wall, beside a bed or in the pier between two windows, used for storage and display.