Cabinet
Author: Unknown
Origin: Unknown
Dating: 17th century
Material: Exotic Wood, Ivory & Metal
Dimensions (cm): 136,7 x 108,7 x 57
Inv. no.: PD0081
The Cabinet is a type of portable office that allows documents, as well as small valuable objects, to be stored in its drawers. Sometimes, these Cabinets were assembled with locks or secret combination systems.
Originally, it was a piece of furniture that had small compartments with lids and drawers. During the 15th century, in Italy, they began to be used as jewellery boxes.
As time passed by, the design of cabinets underwent several changes in order to adopt the needs, fashion and tastes of the epoch. From a small box divided into drawers, it became a piece of furniture with its own base (in some cases, a table). In other cases, it was a piece of furniture with drawers or doors and, eventually, it was just placed on a frame for support.
