Wardrobe Closets

You would never guess the history behind the wardrobe closet. One might think it’s simply another piece of furniture mass produced and sold in big box retailers, invented in a board room or meeting. While some furniture sold as wardrobe closets is definitely mass produced, true wardrobe closets come from a much more interesting background.

First of all, let’s look at the terminology used for wardrobe closets. You might have also seen them referred to as an “armoire”. Armoire is a french term that loosely describes any type of wooden cabinet with shelves. This is a fairly apt description of both modern and antique wardrobe closets, as the most classic look is that of a solid wood wardrobe closet that has multiple shelves.

What’s far from different between then and now is what the wardrobe closet or armoire was used for. Interestingly, the armoire historically was used to house weaponry! Along with weapons, it often held food items. Somewhere along the lines, it delved more into holding clothing than weapons or other items, and now, it’s almost always used to hold clothes or some kind, with some exceptions for dish ware and other collectibles.

Traditionally, throughout history wardrobe closets were a hand crafted item. People worked with their hands, creating an armoire as an individual piece of art. Many antique wardrobe closets bear the markmanship of this art, as shown through elegant and abstract designs carved into the wood. This could create a signature mark for the artist, as well as signify the general cultural timepiece that the wardrobe closet comes from.

It’s really interesting to think of wardrobe closets (or wardrobe armoire furniture) being used to house weaponry, and it’s also fascinating to think of each one being hand made, and then seeing how they development as a whole in different areas such as France, England, China, and India.

Next time you look at your antique wardrobe closet, ponder it’s history and be proud to own such an item!