September, 1919 
17 
have an open base with supports or legs up¬ 
holding a table top, and from this again other 
shorter supports bearing up a projecting top, 
in the manner of the Stuart buffet arranged 
for the display of plate, the whole structure 
being about 5' to 6' high. Finally, a credence 
might have either a closed cupboard base or, 
more frequently, an open base and a short cup¬ 
board above, the top being about the height of 
an Italian credenza. Surmounting this was a 
raised back with one or more shelves project¬ 
ing from it, thus making the credence the pre¬ 
cursor of one type of modern sideboard. These 
shelves or steps made apparently the only point 
of distinction between a credence proper and 
its dressoir cousins; their number, according 
to the old etiquette of France—certainly, that 
of Burgundy—indicated the degree of the own¬ 
er. Williamin tells us that the accepted usage 
prescribed five steps or shelves “for use dur¬ 
ing meals for queens; four for duchesses or 
princesses, three for their children and for 
countesses and grandes dames; two for other 
noble ladies.” The foregoing types were sus¬ 
ceptible of further minor variations which, 
however, can readily be understood from the 
explanations already given. 
Cabinet Characteristics 
(5) Cabinets or presses also appeared under 
different guises. One of the most usual forms 
had a cupboard base and a cupboard top, but 
the superstructure receded by offsets, both in 
front and at the sides, a device contributory to 
elegance and grace of contour. Cabinets of 
this type might or might not have one tier of 
shallow drawers in the lower half directly 
above the cupboard doors. Another form of 
cabinet or press had upper and lower divisions, 
as before, but no offset so that the top and 
base were of the same breadth and depth. In 
this type there might or might not be a pair 
of drawers in the middle between the cup¬ 
boards. A third type had tall cupboards in the 
base and corresponding short cupboards in the 
top, the division between the sections being 
defined by moldings, considerably above the 
middle of the mass, and not by any offset. A 
fourth type consisted of a cupboard resting on 
a stand or table base. Although other forms 
occurred, the four just noted were the most 
numerous. 
Armoires and Bedsteads 
(6) Armoires or hanging cupboards corre¬ 
sponded pretty closely in contour, purpose and 
(Continued on page 72) 
In the Louis XIV Boule 
c o m mode above the 
mounts are wrought or¬ 
molu and the ground is 
tortoise shell with en¬ 
graved brass and tin in¬ 
lay, a combination char¬ 
acteristic of this epoch 
in furniture 
The cabinet a deux corps, 
or cabinet of two divi¬ 
sions, is represented by 
this carved type inlaid 
with small panels of 
veined marble. Late 16 th 
or early 17 th Centuries. 
Courtesy of John D. Mc- 
Ilhenny, Esq. 
Characteristic motifs are 
found in the Breton wal¬ 
nut chest below. The 
carving is shallow incised. 
The legs are typical. Of 
the late 17 th Century 
make. Courtesy of John 
D. Mcllhenny, Esq. 
* The Boule bureau to the left, in Louis XIV style, has red tortoise shell ground 
inlay with brass in intricate arabesques. The brass is also engraved. Courtesy of 
the Pennsylvania Museum and School of Industrial Arts 
