The Welsh dresser (or China hutch, as it is known in the United States) is a typical piece of kitchen furniture that dates back to the 16th century. Originating in oak but subsequently being available in any type of wood, the traditional dresser consists of a sideboard-style bottom with cupboards and drawers on top, with open shelves on the sides.
Many European peasant cultures have dressers in their primary living rooms, where they are a prominent feature. Welsh dressers have been known as “Welsh dressers” for more than a century because of their high quality, wide range of designs, and sheer volume of production.
Those who are interested in the scholarly study of such objects have a tendency to think of country-made furniture as being in some way derived from urban and gentry-produced items. This is not our point of view, and the dresser bears witness to an alternative point of view: outside of “fashionable” contexts, furniture developed organically in response to the practical requirements and cultural values of customers, as well as the skills and resources of local woodworkers and artisans. When it comes to the beautiful Welsh dresser, its gleaming finish and colorful ceramic display make it distinctly non-metropolitan.
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A Brief History About Welsh Dressers
Antique dressers found in mansions and huge townhouses were purely functional structures made of painted softwood and housed below the stairs, where they were only necessary to store utensils. The dresser, in contrast, was usually located in the main living room (the cegin, which also functioned as a kitchen and often as a bedroom), where it could be seen by family, neighbors, and visitors. It served both utilitarian and ornamental purposes, was frequently acquired as a result of a marriage or was a treasured inheritance, and represented the sense of pride the owners had in their house.
Dressers as we know them now may be traced back to the mid-17th century, when inventories reveal that the better-off farmers in each region were purchasing more furniture and having access to prestigious and ornate pewterware and delftware, according to the earliest known examples. Plain cabinets and side tables, wall-hanging shelves, and even slatted food crates suspended from the ceiling served as forerunners to the more elaborate designs. It first appeared in diverse forms in several locations of Wales before spreading throughout the country.
When found in Snowdonia, it took on the look of a closet and was a near relative of the cwpwrdd tridarn (three-part cupboard), however when found in much of mid and southern Wales, it resembled a broad side table with a plate rack connected to the top.
Once established, the dresser developed in a variety of ways in different sections of the nation, with several regional kinds being plainly distinguishable by the mid-18th century in some areas of the country. For example, in the south-west, the bases were designed with a cabinet on either side of an open area (sometimes called the “dog-kennel”). Dressers were made to fit into corners in the same space, and they are considered to be the actual ancestors of the contemporary fitted kitchen.
Dressers come in a variety of styles
Despite the fact that they were known as Welsh dressers, they were not exclusive to Wales. Irish dressers were very prevalent throughout the 1800s and 1900s. Dressers from various geographical locations were altered to meet the demands of the locals. Porridge drawers were common in Highland dressers, which were tin-lined and contained hot porridge that had to be cooled before it could be used again. Crofters laboring on the property could cut and remove pieces of bread from the freezer when it was cold. Delicious!
What was the purpose of dressers in the beginning?
As a functional piece of furniture, the dresser was originally intended for keeping food (in the cupboards and drawers) and preparing meals on its large work surface, much like a primitive kitchen unit. Dressers were normally only found in more affluent dwellings, such as manor houses, and in the bedrooms.
Dressers are more than simply a utilitarian piece of furniture!
After a while, the dresser began to serve a decorative purpose as well, with the open shelf serving as a great exhibition place for not just lovely China and pewter-ware, but also for other decorative items. By the middle of the 18th century, they had begun to emerge in more modest dwellings.
Because of its increased decorativeness, it was increasingly likely to be found in the dining room as a focus point and display surface for fine China (at least in the countryside), rather than in the kitchen as a functional item. While wealthy city inhabitants saw the dresser as a piece of furniture that should be kept strictly “below stairs,” the owners of cozy rural cottages were more inclined to display their dresser in the best light possible.
What is the situation with dressers today?
Even today, the dresser is a highly sought-after piece of furniture, with originals fetching thousands of pounds and copies being widely available and more inexpensive than the original. The style of dressers remained relatively unchanged for nearly 300 years and generally reflected the architectural and stylistic characteristics of the surrounding area. However, by the nineteenth century, with its proliferation of styles, there were arts and crafts dressers, Gothic Revival styles, and dressers influenced by the Art Nouveau movement.
Where can you purchase Welsh dressers?
Miniature dressers are also quite popular in dolls houses all throughout the world, especially in Europe. Pear Tree Miniatures, situated in Wales, makes an accurate tiny reproduction of the original. The ‘Cwpwrdd tridarn’, as seen above, is a design from the 17th century that is peculiar to North Wales. Other North Wales dressers manufactured by Pear Tree include the Meirionydd, the Conwy, and the Ynys Môn, each with its own set of specific characteristics and variances from the others. Dressers from the Powys and the Glamorgan counties, as well as those from the mid and south Wales regions, are also available.