Antique Cabinets and Sideboards

Cabinets and sideboards form the backbone of any well-furnished room. Our dealers stock an excellent range of antique display cabinets, sideboards, credenzas, chiffoniers, court cupboards and corner cabinets spanning five centuries of British and Continental craftsmanship.

From imposing Georgian mahogany sideboards designed for grand dining rooms to elegant Edwardian display cabinets perfect for a sitting room, these pieces combine generous storage with genuine visual presence.

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Arts and Crafts Period Walnut Sideboard

A superb Arts and Crafts period sideboard, of chiffonier. Very well constructed in solid walnut and...

Ipswich Oak Dresser

A charming Ipswich oak dresser with a good colour and patina. Well made in solid English oak with a...

Large Sized Victorian Mahogany Buffet

A bold and impressive Victorian mahogany buffet, or dumb waiter, of generous proportions. Very well...

Arts and Crafts Inlaid Mahogany Display Cabinet

A splendid Arts and Crafts period display cabinet in the manner of Wylie and Lochhead. Of very good...

Large Victorian London Quality Burr Walnut Mirror Back Chiffonier

A superb quality early to mid-Victorian period mirror back chiffonier, or sideboard. Bearing the mak...

Demi Lune Brass Inlaid French Mahogany Vitrine

A highly desireable late 19th century French mahogany vitrine. Of demi lune, or bow fronted, form. O...

Early 19th Century Welsh Oak Dresser

A very good early 19th century Welsh oak dresser. Well constructed in solid oak with bone escutcheon...

Chippendale Style Mahogany Display Cabinet

A lovely Edwardian period display cabinet in the manner of Thomas Chippendale. Well constructed in s...

Rustic French Harvest Serving Table

This Rustic French Harvest Serving Table has an abundance of charm as well as being extremely useful...

Liberty & Co. Arts and Crafts Period Oak Dresser

A superb Arts and Crafts period dresser , or sideboard, by the renowned firm of Liberty & Co. of Lon...

Maple & Co. Inlaid Mahogany Display Cabinet

A superb quality Edwardian period inlaid mahogany display cabinet by Maple & Co. of London. Of serpe...

Inlaid Mahogany Corner Cabinet

A fine quality Edwardian period inlaid mahogany corner cabinet , most probably made by Edwards & Rob...

Inlaid Mahogany Vitrine

A pretty inlaid mahogany vitrine, or display cabinet. Well constructed in mahogany and decorated wit...

Compact Inlaid Mahogany Cabinet

This Compact Inlaid Mahogany Cabinet is not only very decorative but also extremely versatile. Stan...

Three Drawer Mahogany Cabinet

This Three Drawer Mahogany Cabinet offers good storage in a surprisingly elegant form. Standing on t...

French Style American Mahogany Bow Ended Display Cabinet

An extremely fine quality early 20th century American mahogany bow ended glazed antique display cabi...

Antique Cabinets: Form and Function

The range of antique cabinets available is vast. Display cabinets with glazed doors show off collections of porcelain, glass and silver to beautiful effect. Side cabinets and chiffoniers provide concealed storage while serving as handsome surfaces for lamps, photographs and decorative objects. Corner cabinets make use of otherwise dead space and work brilliantly in both period and modern homes.

When buying a cabinet, open all doors and drawers to check operation. Original glass in glazed cabinets will have slight imperfections and a gentle ripple that modern glass lacks. Replacement glass isn't necessarily a problem, but it should be reflected in the price.

Sideboards Through the Ages

The sideboard as we know it emerged in the late 18th century. Robert Adam and Hepplewhite designs with serpentine fronts and tapered legs set the standard, and Georgian mahogany sideboards remain among the most desirable pieces of antique furniture. Victorian sideboards tend to be larger and more heavily carved, often featuring mirror backs and elaborate gallery rails.

Credenzas, the Victorian side cabinets with curved glass ends and marquetry decoration, are perennial favourites. They look magnificent in hallways and drawing rooms and offer practical storage behind their decorative facades.

Placement and Care

Position sideboards and cabinets on level floors to prevent doors from swinging open or sitting unevenly. Avoid placing hot dishes directly onto antique surfaces; use mats or trivets to protect the finish. Regular dusting and an occasional wax polish will keep these pieces looking their best for another century.

Frequently Asked Questions

A credenza is a type of side cabinet, usually Victorian, with a flat top, one or more doors at the front and often curved glazed sections at each end. They were originally used in dining rooms for serving but now work beautifully in any reception room as display and storage furniture.

A sideboard is typically a longer, lower piece with drawers and cupboards, designed to sit against a dining room wall. A chiffonier is a smaller side cabinet, usually with a shelf or gallery back, originally used in drawing rooms and parlours. Both serve similar storage functions.

Open and close all doors and drawers to test operation. Check the back for splits or detached panels. Look at internal joints for signs of woodworm or previous repairs. Gently push the piece from side to side; excessive movement suggests loose joints that may need attention.

Yes, many people use antique sideboards as kitchen islands, drinks cabinets or additional worktop space. Bear in mind that antique timber and finishes need protection from excessive moisture and heat, so use trivets and coasters and avoid positioning next to a cooker or sink.