Making Sense of Confusing Furniture Terms By Pamela Wiggins

[C. Dianne Zweig Editor's Desk]

Making Sense of Confusing Furniture Terms By Pamela Wiggins

Shopping for antique furniture can be exciting and fun. But with all the differing terminology out there, it can be confusing too. For instance, do you know the difference between a buffet and a sideboard? How about a chifforobe and a chiffonier? Read on to find out.

Buffet vs. Sideboard

These two terms are used interchangeably quite often, and for good reason. They're essentially the same thing. The French actually define a buffet as a small sideboard used for storing dishes. So perhaps a buffet might be a little smaller than a sideboard, or credenza, but it serves basically the same purpose.

Read More:

http://antiques.about.com/od/furniture/a/aa082300.htm