Looking For House Miniatures Hepplewhite ? Then This is Where You Want to Be
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 X ACTO House of Miniatures Furniture Dollhouse  US $36.00
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 SOTHEBYS IMPORTANT ENGLISH FURNITURE 11 23 05 US $11.99
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 LOT OF 4 HOUSE OF MINIATURES DINING ROOM DOLL HOUSE FURNITURE UNASSEMBLED US $9.99
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 Lot of 45 House of Miniatures Kits Sealed US $183.65
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 Xacto House of Miniatures chest clock table lot NIB US $27.99
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 The House of Miniatures Mixed lot NIP LOOK Dont miss out in this US $50.00
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 House of Miniatures Hepplewhite 3 PIECE DINING ROOM US $8.99
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 House of Miniatures Hepplewhite ROUND TABLE US $8.99
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 House of Miniatures Hepplewhite SIDE TABLE US $8.99
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 HOUSE OF MINIATURE MIB QUEEN ANNE FIRE SCREEN SEALED US $5.00
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 SEVEN POST AUCTION CATALOGS Furniture Ceramic Antique $210 US $7.49
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 SEVEN POST AUCTION CATALOGS Furniture Antique 2007 $195 US $7.49
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 House of Miniatures Hepplewhite Serpentine Table US $8.99
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 House of Miniatures Hepplewhite Round Table US $8.99
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 House of Miniatures Queen Ann Tilt Top Table US $8.99
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 House of Miniatures Hepplewhite Corner Table US $8.99
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 Dollhouse Miniatures Furniture 3 Pcs NR US $9.99
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 X ACTO House of Miniatures HEPPLEWHITE SERPENTINE TABLE US $9.95
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 DOLLHOUSE HOUSE OF MINIATURES HEPPLEWHITE DINING TABLE KIT ANTIQUE REPLICA US $5.50
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 The House of Miniatures Lot of 5 US $14.99
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 POOK AMERICANA COLLECTIONS GUNS FURNITURE US $19.99
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 SLOANS CLAIRVOYANT JEANE DIXON COLLECTION LIMITED ED US $55.99
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 X ACTO House of Miniatures Hepplewhite Candlestands CIRCA 1750 US $5.99
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 FREEMANS FINE ENGLISH CON FURNITUREDECORATIVE ARTS US $15.99
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 HEPPLEWHITE HUNTBOARD RARE MIB HOUSE OF MINIATURES US $58.00
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 HEPPLEWHITE SIDE TABLE MIB NICE HOUSE OF MINIATURES US $8.00
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 Dollhouse House of Miniatures HEPPLEWHITE CORNER TABLE US $19.99
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Chifforobe
The name chifforobe (sometimes spelled "chifferobe") owes its history to two words: the French chiffonier, a tall piece of furniture containing drawers, and the Old French "warderobe" or wardrobe,a closed movable closet, and having a space inside in which clothing can be hung from pegs or hooks. A chifforobe may also be fitted with shelves or removable drawers and trays. The chifforobe is, in fact, a combination of both the chiffonier and wardrobe, for it is fitted with drawers and an open space in which clothes can hang. The hanging clothes usually run the entire height of the piece, flanked by the separate compartment housing a vertical stack of at least three drawers.
The origin of the chifforobe dates back to 1908. Sears Roebuck was the first to advertise a chifforobe in its 1908 catalogue, declaring it a new invention. The word seems to be used most commonly in the Southern United States, though chifforobes do appear in lists of belongings in Alberta and elsewhere in the 1920's.
Since the chifforobe made its appearance after the Industrial Revolution, it was common for it to be factory-made, though hand-made versions were also available. The wood of choice was often oak, though this could vary as well. The stain tended to be dark as well as finished with shellac.
The chifforobe was a practical piece of furniture, for it was not until later in the 20th century that reach-in or even larger closets were included as a part of the architecture of homes. By combining a hanging space with drawers, this versatile piece of furniture was a welcome way for homeowners to organize their clothing. Their popularity spilled over into literature and movies, beginning the 1953 short story by Carson McCullers entitled "The Ballad of the Sad Cafe", and perhaps most famously in the 1988 novel by Thomas Harris, "The Silence of the Lambs", where Clarice Starling remarks to herself that she knew the policemen with whom she must work came from houses that didnt have closets but chifforobes, and that she could probably guessed what those chifforobes contained. Chifforobes were even the subject of a court case as recorded by the Southern Reporter in 1934, when seven chifforobes that had been ordered were never actually delivered.
Today, chifforobes are available as custom pieces or factory-made pieces from stores such as Crate and Barrel and the Pottery Barn, or even assemble-yourself ones made by Sauder. A doll-sized chifforobe is available through American Girl for its collection of dolls, and has an accompanying description that describes the wooden chifforobe as being a common piece of furniture found in bedrooms in Mollys (the dolls) time. At 24 inches in height, you are invited to own a piece of history in miniature.
While the chifforobe may not be regarded with the same reverence as a Hepplewhite wardrobe, it has its place in the history of American furniture. It is also a demonstration of American ingenuity, where two pieces of furniture were combined not to fulfill a practical purpose, but as a thing of beauty.
About the Author
Lawrence Bell is Editor of The Antiques Bible. The site offers an illustrated glossary of antiques terms with links to other helpful resources.