Can you fit hangers inside them?

Most early armoires were built for folded linens rather than hanging clothes. You'll often find them fitted with a stack of wide shelves. Later generations adapted them by removing the upper boards and fitting a wooden rail. A piece deep enough to hold modern coat hangers proves practical today.

My house has fairly low ceilings in the bedrooms upstairs, so I'm wondering if a large piece like this would actually fit?

Measure your ceiling height before you buy. Many grander pieces stand over two metres tall, especially those with arched tops or deep cornices. Think about the staircase too. Unless the carcase features a knockdown design, a solid oak armoire can be hard to navigate around tight corners.

What is a knockdown armoire?

It is a clever construction method using wooden wedges rather than permanent glue to hold the frame together. You simply knock the wedges out to dismantle the piece into a flat stack of boards.

There are some old woodworm holes on the back boards of one I am looking at buying, does this mean it will collapse soon?

Flight holes are common in the softer secondary woods used for the back boards. In most cases, this indicates historical activity rather than a live infestation. Tap the wood gently. If it feels firm and no fine dust falls out, the structure is usually sound. Dealers often treat these pieces as a precaution anyway.

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Antique Armoires from the 19th Century

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A large, free-standing wardrobe originally designed for storing clothes and linens, the antique armoire typically features two tall doors opening to reveal a spacious interior fitted with shelves or a hanging rail.