What wood are Edwardian cabinets usually made from?

Mahogany dominates, appearing in more than half of all titles on Sellingantiques, and it is usually inlaid with lighter woods. Satinwood, walnut and rosewood form the next tier, and single listings name amboyna, kingwood, coromandel, pollard oak and fiddle-back mahogany. Oak and pine turn up mainly on office and shop pieces.

Are these cabinets always from Edward VII's reign?

No. Only around a third of listings carry a clean year, and the field as a whole runs from 1800 to 1960. Some are labelled Victorian, 19th century, 1880s or 1890s; a smaller tail runs into the 1920s and 1930s. The heading works best as a style bracket around c.1890-1920.

Which types come as pairs?

Pairs are a genuine sub-population, appearing in a good number of titles. Bedside cabinets are the commonest, followed by pier and display cabinets. Matched pairs in satinwood or the Sheraton-revival manner sit at the very top of the range.

What is a bijouterie cabinet?

A small glazed case, sometimes made as a table, with a lift-up glass top over a shallow lined interior. It was made for jewellery, trinkets and small curios. It shows up regularly among the display cabinets and is one of the recognised sub-types of the form.

Do shop and office cabinets appear under this heading?

They do, and they form a persistent minority. Oak filing banks, tambour-fronted office cabinets and glazed counter showcases from haberdashers, jewellers and cigar shops all list here. Several counter cases carry later sign-written advertising for confectionery and cocoa brands.

How many drawers do collectors' cabinets have?

Specimen and collectors' cabinets are described by their drawer count, and the numbers vary widely. Examples run from twenty drawers up through egg cabinets of twenty-four, oak filing banks of thirty-three, collectors' cabinets of forty, mahogany slide cabinets of forty-four and walnut filing cabinets of forty-eight.

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Edwardian Cabinets

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Glazed and cupboard furniture made in Britain around the turn of the twentieth century, most often in inlaid mahogany, built to show china and small collections or to serve a bedside, a music room, an office or a shop counter.