What is a traditional dresser?

A traditional dresser is a functional piece of wooden furniture designed for storage and display, combining lower cupboards or drawers with upper shelving. These items range from Georgian oak bases to twentieth-century Welsh dressers with open plate racks.

How were traditional dressers used?

Historically, households utilised these pieces in kitchens and dining rooms to store tableware, dry goods and cooking utensils. The upper shelves displayed ceramics and plates while the lower drawers and cupboards held linens and heavier pots.

What woods are used in these pieces?

Makers constructed dressers and sideboards from a variety of domestic and imported timbers depending on the period and region. Common materials include solid oak, mahogany, pine, walnut, ash and elm, often paired with brass or iron hardware.