Illustrated FURNITURE Glossary
.
China cabinet
The Victorians owned many large display pieces. These included great glass-front cabinets and bookcases for the storage and display of knickknacks and books.
By the 1880s a new furniture form had taken the cupboard's place as a display piece - the china cabinet. With the front consisting almost entirely of glass, it contained several shelves; most were made of oak. Although some examples had straight fronts, elaborately curved forms were most favored.
20th-century types include Art Deco examples with flat fronts, inlay, and elongated legs. In the 20th century, most tall pieces fell out of fashion, at least in part because homes were becoming smaller.
Examples from Buffalo:
- Illustration above: Dolphin ornamented Empire style china cabinet - Private collection
- Colonial Revival and Hoosier Furniture
- 143 Linwood Avenue Queen Anne built-in
- 452 Parkside Arts & Crafts