How old is a typical oak wardrobe?

Far younger than the timber suggests. The dated field spans 1750 to 1930, but four in five dated listings fall between 1900 and 1939. The 1920s alone account for 199 listings, with Edwardian next at 91. Eighteenth-century pieces number eight.

What is a compactum wardrobe?

A wardrobe fitted out inside rather than left as an open hanging space. One carcass holds a hanging section alongside drawers, sliding trays or shelves. Twenty-six titles use the word, and related terms such as 'fitted', 'gents fitted' and 'combination wardrobe' recur alongside it. One metamorphic gentleman's compactum and one miniature compactum appear in the archive.

Why do so many listings say French armoire?

Because the French armoire is effectively a second category living inside the oak wardrobe heading. 'French' appears in 99 titles and 'armoire' in 94, running almost level. They are tall two-door provincial cupboards, commonly carved, with some breakfront, painted or bleached examples. Pairs of them turn up among the eight titles that say 'pair'.

Are triple wardrobes worth more than doubles?

Scale pulls upward in this category. Triple appears in 55 titles and large in 38, and breakfront triples run through the highest-priced sampled titles. At the other end, 'small' appears in 32 titles and 'single' in 26, and both cluster at the bottom of the range. The largest sampled pieces are stated at eight feet tall and eight feet wide.

Do oak wardrobes come apart for moving?

Some were built to. Dealers describe them three ways in titles: 'flat pack', 'knock down' and 'splits up'. It recurs often enough that dealers evidently think it worth putting in the title rather than leaving to the description.

How many come up for sale each year?

Around 49 oak wardrobes come to market on Sellingantiques in a year, drawn from a wide field of dealers. Seventy-seven different dealers have listed one, so no single dealer defines the category or its stock.

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Antique Oak Wardrobes

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A full-height oak clothes cupboard, from a five-foot single-door hall robe to a breakfront triple or a fitted compactum with drawers and sliding trays.