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Choosing the Right Type of antique buffets

An antique buffet usually sits next to the wall of the dining rooms. The term buffet originally referred to French sideboard furniture where food was served. These have always been very functional pieces of furniture that can be used as a serving area with the cupboards under, providing ample space for storage of cutlery and dishes. Besides being very functional these buffets are packed with a rustic charm that can add a lot of character to the environment.

While choosing an antique buffet, there are a few things one should consider. Both style and functionality should be given equal consideration. If you plan to have it in your dining room it should be big enough to hold your dishes, cutlery or linens. The amount of storage available should be decent enough to satisfy your requirements. The space where you plan to keep your buffets should be measured well in advance so that there is enough space to move around as well as pull out dining chairs.

There are different kinds of buffet available to choose from and the wood options include oak, pine and mahogany etc of which oak was the most popular. The options from the 18th century usually showcase curved tops and thin legs with the compartments on the sides comparatively larger.

The Victorian Buffets often featured a mirror at the back edge of the buffet on a vertical panel. These also showcased beautiful carvings and were quite large, thus offering good storage space. Since the Victorian era saw a surge in mass produced furniture in general, the quality saw a little bit of a downfall. This brought in the Arts and Crafts Movement which was an effort to maintain the traditional styles of production and quality.

The Art & Crafts Buffets were hence simple yet elegant and functional too and featured artistic detail uplifting the overall aesthetic appeal. The Art Deco Buffets on the other hand had a very distinct style and were quite elaborate.

Chinese Buffets became quite popular during the Victorian era as well as the 20th century. These featured clean and elegant lines giving it a more formal appeal.

While the Victorian or the Art Deco periods gave you elaborate options, the ones with the most rustic appeal were the ones created by therural people which were always high on functionality rather than looks. These are again quite simple, but in the contemporary  or traditional homes can look very chic and unique.

Notable names of the time like Thomas Chippendale, Sheraton, Hepplewhite etc gave us pieces that are quite sought after even today. Each piece showcased attributes of the designer’s style and taste.

Browse through the website to have a look at our beautiful collection of buffets.

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