how do you clean the carved parts safely?

Use a soft bristle brush to sweep dust out of the deep gouges. A cheap natural makeup brush works well for getting into the tight corners of an antique press cupboard. Avoid liquid sprays or water. If the wood feels dry, apply a very thin coat of clear beeswax polish with a cloth, let it sit for ten minutes, and buff it out.

My husband wants to put our heavy television right in the middle of the upper recessed shelf but I am worried it will break the wood, is that safe?

The structural integrity of an antique press cupboard is usually massive. The top boards are supported by thick vertical stiles and solid backboards running the full height of the carcase. Weight is rarely an issue for the upper tier. However, modern electronics trap heat and scratch old polish. You should place a protective felt pad beneath the base to protect the oak surface.

do they dismantle for moving?

Most are built in two separate pieces. The upper recessed canopy section usually lifts straight off the deeper base cupboard. Look for heavy wooden dowels dropping from the top section into holes on the base. Gravity holds them together, making transport much easier.

we have this old stone cottage and the floors are quite uneven, will a cupboard this big warp if it doesn't sit perfectly flat on the ground?

Oak is rigid and unforgiving. If an antique press cupboard sits on an uneven floor, the carcase will eventually twist, and the heavy doors will bind or refuse to latch. You need to level it. Slide thin wooden shims under the feet until the piece sits steady. Once it is level, the doors should swing cleanly on their hinges.

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Antique Press Cupboards

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Massive oak storage pieces built in two stages, antique press cupboards were designed in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries to securely hold folded linens, textiles, and household goods behind heavy paneled doors.