A cabinet on stand is a piece of case furniture consisting of an upper cabinet, usually enclosed by a pair of doors or a fall front, raised on a separate open stand with legs. The cabinet typically contains an arrangement of small drawers and pigeonholes for storing papers, jewellery and valuables.
The form arrived in England from the Continent in the later seventeenth century and became highly fashionable during the reigns of Charles II and William and Mary. The finest examples were veneered in walnut, often with oyster veneers, crossbanding and floral or seaweed marquetry, or decorated with japanning in imitation of Asian lacquer. Imported Japanese and Chinese lacquer cabinets were frequently mounted on elaborate English or Dutch carved and silvered or gilded stands. Stands typically had spiral or baluster turned legs joined by shaped stretchers, though many were later replaced, since the slender legs were vulnerable to damage and woodworm. Collectors examine whether the stand is original or a well-matched later replacement, as this has a large effect on value. Cabinets on stand are architectural pieces that work well against a wall in a hall, drawing room or dining room.
