Sideboard

The sideboard was a new form of furniture that appeared at the end of the eighteenth century. With its many cupboards, shelves and drawers, the sideboard replaced more simple tables that were used in serving meals and for placing extra plates, cold meats, salads and in some cases, silverware. Knife boxes, cellarets, and expensive glass and silver wares were often stored atop the tables and the addition of drawers to these tables in the 1790s provided additional storage. Sideboards were placed against the wall of the dining room to aid in serving food and drink and to display the family’s best glass and silverware.

Thomas Seymour (1771-1848), attributed maker
Boston, 1812-1817
Mahogany, brass

2006.44.3704