Began
with the
Wonderful,
Incredible,
Cupboard
We carry many stylish and functional antique cupboards in a wide variety of woods • Storage Cupboards • Jelly Cupboards • Step Back Cupboards • Corner Cupboards • Chimney Cupboards.
It all began when... In the 18th and 19th centuries, almost every house in America had some sort of cupboard with shelves for storing crockery or pewter—literally cups on boards. These were practical pieces of furniture and remain so, used for storage and display pretty much the same way they were more than 200 years ago. These practical storage and display pieces add character to any interior.
Cupboards made in the post-Revolutionary period, circa 1779–1850, took several forms, with stylistic differences determined by the region in which they were made.
No matter the style, a sturdy cupboard is always a good investment. It can anchor a room's furnishings and hold so many things that you may wonder how you ever lived without it.
Some cupboards are referred to as step-back cupboards because the top is less deep than the bottom, providing a flat work surface. Corner cupboards have triangular backs so they can fit unobtrusively in a corner. Some of these are freestanding with feet—especially in the South—but many were built in.
Freestanding cupboards tend to dominate a room. An open cupboard or a closed onewith glazed doors feels less massive and is a good choice if your goal is to display a collection. Corner cupboards are a charming way to make efficient use of a small space, although you will probably need a carpenter to reinstall a built-in.
Whatever the style of cupboard they produced, craftsmen usually used indigenous woods—cherry, walnut, red gum, and maple are common, inexpensive pine and poplar to the backs and interiors, which were often painted. Pieces made entirely of pine were usually painted inside and out to dress them up.
