| Ever since collectors have been hoarding pieces of | | | | The popularity of the multi drawer antique cabinet on |
| value and interest, antique cabinets have been around | | | | a stand reached its height in Britain with the return of |
| to house and show off these precious items. | | | | Charles II from exile in France in 1660. Chinese |
| However, the cabinets themselves are also treasures | | | | cabinets had already been finding their way to Britain |
| in their own right and over many hundreds of years | | | | since Elizabethan times. However the fashion was for |
| have been dressed to impress to provide a taster of | | | | these heavily lacquered and gilded eastern cabinets |
| the glories to be viewed inside. From the Italian | | | | to be displayed in the Louis Quatorze style, which |
| Renaissance, to Louis Quatorze and throughout the | | | | meant they were placed on a distinctly European |
| multifaceted styling of the Georgian period, whether | | | | stand. These stands, minus their Chinese cabinets, |
| large and enclosed, glazed or put on a stand, antique | | | | turn up from time to time converted to marble |
| cabinets retain their popularity and still remain as | | | | topped side tables. Some may consider their value |
| useful pieces of storage today. | | | | less because of this conversion from their original use. |
| One version of the Renaissance antique cabinet was | | | | The English glass fronted antique china cabinet came |
| basically a large and square piece of architecturally | | | | into being during the reign of William and Mary |
| built furniture with solid doors. It is from this piece of | | | | (1689-1702). Much blue and white porcelain was being |
| early furniture that the modern wardrobe derives. | | | | imported from China at this time. European influences, |
| Although not commonly made in Britain during the | | | | via Huguenot cabinet makers, all added to create |
| 16th century, it became a standard piece of furniture | | | | what became an essentially English china cabinet. By |
| in Spain, Germany and particularly in France where | | | | the middle of the 18th century any number of bureau |
| the large armoire has always been popular. Later 17th | | | | and breakfront bookcases, china cabinets and corner |
| century country made Baroque armoires often | | | | cabinets were being constructed and during the |
| incorporated some Gothic elements into their styling. | | | | Georgian period these now standard pieces of case |
| The Italian Renaissance antique cabinets on the other | | | | furniture were adopting the varying styles and |
| hand were smaller and more of what we consider | | | | features of Rococo and later Neoclassical themes. |
| the cabinet to be, with large numbers of drawers set | | | | This 18th century English styling was revived many |
| within a carcass and the whole thing placed upon a | | | | times during the Victorian era, throughout the 20th |
| stand. These cabinets with pediments, pilasters and | | | | century and right up to modern day. |
| mini front doors were again architectural in design, | | | | Whether for personal treasures and objet d'art, china, |
| and the stands often had columns in the style of | | | | books, or general household storage, there are a |
| female statues or caryatids. The stand itself was | | | | wealth of different ages and styles of both period |
| usually around two and a half feet high and the | | | | and revival antique cabinets on the market. |
| cabinet was raised up in this way. | | | | |