What is a press cupboard?

A press cupboard is closely related to the court cupboard. The main difference lies in the lower section. While a court cupboard has an open lower tier, a press cupboard is fully enclosed with doors below. People often mix up the terms.

My grandmother left me a dark oak cupboard with thick carved posts on the front. I was wondering how I can safely clean the wood without ruining the old dark colour?

Dust it with a soft dry cloth first. If the surface is sticky, you can wipe it gently with a damp cloth and dry it immediately. Apply a clear beeswax polish once or twice a year. Leave the wax to harden for twenty minutes, then buff it out with a clean duster. Never use modern silicone sprays. They build up on the oak and ruin the old patina over time.

How heavy are court cupboards?

They're very heavy. Solid oak construction makes them difficult to move. Always lift from the solid frame rather than the carved details. You'll need two strong people to shift one safely.

I have an old house with uneven floors, and I want to put a cupboard in the hallway. Will the heavy weight cause problems for the wooden floorboards or the joints of the piece?

The furniture will settle onto uneven boards, which can cause the doors to stick. You should slip small wooden shims under the feet until the frame sits level. Leaving it twisting on an uneven floor puts pressure on the pegged joints. A level base keeps the structure sound and ensures the heavy oak doors don't drop on their iron hinges.

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Antique Court Cupboards from the 17th Century

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Antique court cupboards are substantial tiered oak structures originating in the late Tudor period, built to display silver and pewter plates on open shelves before evolving into enclosed cabinets for storing household goods.