What is a music cabinet?

A music cabinet is a specialised piece of furniture designed to store sheet music and scores securely behind closed doors or within dedicated internal drawers and slots. These pieces emerged in various periods to keep paper collections organised and protected from dust in domestic music rooms.

How do I tell a canterbury from a whatnot?

A canterbury specifically incorporates upright slats or divisions in its lower section for holding music folios or books upright. A whatnot is defined primarily by stacked open shelves intended for general display. Many nineteenth-century examples combine both forms by placing partitioned music slots beneath open display tiers.

What woods were used for these shelves?

Cabinet makers predominantly used mahogany, walnut, and rosewood for these music stands and display units. Burr walnut was frequently chosen for decorative veneering on Victorian pieces. Secondary woods and occasional ebony stringing or inlay complement the primary timbers across different stylistic periods.

Where were these pieces placed in a home?

These shelves and cabinets stood in parlours, drawing rooms, and music rooms alongside pianos and seating areas. They kept working scores close at hand while providing surface space for decorative objects. Freestanding designs with castors allowed owners to reposition the stands easily within domestic interiors.