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Antique Shop Display Counters

Victorian Shop Display Counter Top Cabinet
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Victorian Shop Display Counter Top Cabinet This is superb Victorian shop display Cabinet, it has
Category

19th Century Victorian Antique Shop Display Counters

Materials

Glass

Antique Victorian Shop Display Counter Top Cabinet
Victorian Shop Display Counter Top Cabinet
$2,146
H 30 in W 47 in D 23 in
Edwardian Fry’s Counter Top Shop Display Cabinet
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Edwardian Fry’s Counter Top Shop Display Cabinet This Sweet Shop Cabinet has advertising banners
Category

Early 1900s Edwardian Antique Shop Display Counters

Materials

Glass

Edwardian Fry’s Counter Top Shop Display Cabinet
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Edwardian Fry’s Counter Top Shop Display Cabinet This Sweet Shop Cabinet has advertising banners
Category

Early 1900s Edwardian Antique Shop Display Counters

Materials

Glass

Edwardian Cadbury’s Counter Top Sweet Shop Display Cabinet
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Edwardian Cadbury’s Counter Top Sweet Shop Display Cabinet This glazed Shop Display Cabinet has
Category

1910s Edwardian Antique Shop Display Counters

Materials

Glass

McVitie & Price Counter Top Cake Shop Display Cabinet
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
McVitie & Price Counter Top Cake Shop Display Cabinet This is a Glazed Counter top Display
Category

Early 20th Century Industrial Antique Shop Display Counters

Materials

Walnut

1900s Counter Top Fry's Sweet Shop Display Cabinet
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
1900s Counter Top Sweet Shop Display Cabinet This glazed Shop Display Cabinet it has
Category

Early 1900s Edwardian Antique Shop Display Counters

Materials

Glass, Walnut

Edwardian Cadbury’s Counter Top Sweet Shop Display Cabinet
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Edwardian Cadbury’s counter top sweet shop display cabinet This glazed shop display cabinet is
Category

Early 1900s Edwardian Antique Shop Display Counters

Materials

Glass

Arts and Crafts Counter Top Shop Display Cabinet, Watches, Jewellery
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Arts and Crafts Counter Top Shop Display Cabinet, Watches, Jewellery This is a Golden Oak fully
Category

1920s Arts and Crafts Antique Shop Display Counters

Materials

Oak

Vintage Shop Counter Display, English, Plaster, Decorative Figure, Art Deco
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a vintage shop counter display character. An English, plasterwork decorative retail figure
Category

Early 20th Century British Art Deco Antique Shop Display Counters

Materials

Plaster

Victorian Mahogany Shop Display Cabinet / Counter or Vitrine, Late 19th Century
Located in Nijmegen, NL
A museum quality Victorian mahogany display cabinet. This outstanding cabinet has two mirrored
Category

Late 19th Century British Late Victorian Antique Shop Display Counters

Materials

Mahogany

Antique Victorian Mahogany Shop Display Cabinet / Counter or Vitrine, Late 19th Century
Victorian Mahogany Shop Display Cabinet / Counter or Vitrine, Late 19th Century
$2,064 Sale Price
29% Off
H 42.52 in W 34.65 in D 24.81 in
Victorian Mahogany Shop Display Cabinet / Counter or Vitrine, Late 19th Century
Located in Nijmegen, NL
A museum quality Victorian mahogany display cabinet. This outstanding cabinet has two glass doors
Category

1890s British Late Victorian Antique Shop Display Counters

Materials

Mahogany

Antique Victorian Mahogany Shop Display Cabinet / Counter or Vitrine, Late 19th Century
Victorian Mahogany Shop Display Cabinet / Counter or Vitrine, Late 19th Century
$2,207 Sale Price
25% Off
H 36.23 in W 41.74 in D 24.02 in
Fantastic Brass Counter Display Unit-1930s France
Located in Copenhagen K, DK
Elegant and beautiful old shop display case / vitrine counter, from a handbag boutique in Avignon
Category

Early 20th Century French Antique Shop Display Counters

Materials

Brass

Antique Fantastic Brass Counter Display Unit-1930s France
Fantastic Brass Counter Display Unit-1930s France
$9,320
H 32.49 in W 66.93 in D 19.1 in
Art Deco Cadbury’s Sweet Shop Display Cabinet
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Art Deco cadbury’s sweet shop display cabinet This a small but charming cadbury’s sweet shop
Category

Early 20th Century Art Deco Antique Shop Display Counters

Materials

Glass

Recent Sales

Shop Counter Display French Mannequin, 19th Century
Located in London, GB
Rare to find late 19th century French counter display mannquin. Typical 'Belle Époque' S-shape with
Category

Late 19th Century French Belle Époque Antique Shop Display Counters

Materials

Textile, Wood, Paper

Antique 1900 French Continental Bleached Solid Oak Shop Counter Display Cabinet
Located in Dorking, Surrey
This French shop counter was dark oak and has recently been bleached. It has a storage compartment
Category

Early 20th Century French French Provincial Antique Shop Display Counters

Materials

Other

1920s Original French Brass Framed Mirrored Jewellers Shop Display Counter
Located in Hook, Hampshire
1920s Original French Brass Framed Mirrored Jewellers Shop Display Counter 1920s Original French
Category

1920s French Antique Shop Display Counters

Materials

Glass

Large Blue Painted Wall Unit Cabinet Made from Reclaimed Wood 1880s Sweden
Located in Round Top, TX
traditional 1800's style of a "grocer's desk" or shop display counter, complete with half column trim and bun
Category

Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Shop Display Counters

Victorian Counter Top Shop Display Cabinet, Sweet Shop
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Victorian counter top shop display cabinet, sweet shop This glazed shop display cabinet is made
Category

Late 19th Century English Late Victorian Antique Shop Display Counters

1900s French Wood Patinated Display Counter Shop
Located in High Point, NC
This 1900s French wooden display counter embodies the rustic charm and utility of early shop
Category

Early 20th Century French Antique Shop Display Counters

Materials

Glass, Wood

Rowntree’s Sweet Shop Counter Top Display Cabinet
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Rowntree’s Sweet Shop Counter Top Display Cabinet Advertising Shop Display Cabinet the cabinet has
Category

Early 1900s Edwardian Antique Shop Display Counters

Materials

Glass

Antique Victorian Mahogany Shop Counter Display Cabin
Located in Ware, GB
This large and impressive glass cabinet is made from mahogany with glass sides and top. The original 19th Century unit has 2 sets of double cabinet doors and the central section is ...
Category

19th Century British Victorian Antique Shop Display Counters

Materials

Brass

Victorian Mahogany Haberdashery Counter Top Shop Display Cabinet
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Victorian mahogany Haberdashery counter top shop display cabinet A lovely piece of Victorian
Category

Late 19th Century Victorian Antique Shop Display Counters

Victorian Mahogany Watchmakers Counter Top Shop Display Cabinet
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Victorian mahogany watchmakers counter top shop display cabinet A lovely piece of Victorian shop
Category

Late 19th Century Late Victorian Antique Shop Display Counters

Materials

Mahogany

Victorian Mahogany Counter Top Cigarette Cabinet, Shop Display
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Victorian mahogany counter top cigarette cabinet, shop display This is a shallow shop display
Category

Late 19th Century Victorian Antique Shop Display Counters

Vintage Art Deco Haberdashery Shop Counter, Golden Oak Shop Display Cabinet
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
This is superb Art Deco shop counter it is a good size, it is made in golden oak and heavy plate
Category

1920s English Art Deco Antique Shop Display Counters

Materials

Glass, Oak

Rare Art Deco Oak Shop Display Haberdashery Counter
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Here we have a stunning Art Deco shop display which is among the finest you will find on the
Category

Early 20th Century European Art Deco Antique Shop Display Counters

Materials

Oak

English Art Deco Haberdashery Glass Shop Counter, 16 Drawers, Shop Display
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
This haberdashery shop counter is a good large size, it has 4 banks each of 4 graduated drawers
Category

Early 20th Century English Art Deco Antique Shop Display Counters

Materials

Glass, Oak

Victorian Mahogany Retail Shop Display Cabinet Counter, Original Glazing
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Lovely original Victorian Mahogany display shop counter Please note the delivery fee listed is
Category

1880s British Early Victorian Antique Shop Display Counters

Materials

Mahogany

Antique Display Counter
Located in Faversham, GB
Rare Victorian display cabinet or shop counter, crafted in the late 1800s by F. Maund & E. Berg
Category

Late 19th Century English Antique Shop Display Counters

Materials

Glass, Oak

Antique Display Counter
Antique Display Counter
H 35.44 in W 70.08 in D 22.84 in
Mahogany Counter Top Cake & Biscuits Shop Display Cabinet, circa 1900
Located in Nijmegen, NL
This shop display cabinet was made to display cakes and biscuits. The cabinet has two glass shelves
Category

1890s British Victorian Antique Shop Display Counters

Materials

Mahogany

Mahogany Cadbury’s Counter Top Chocolate Shop Display Cabinet, circa 1900
Located in Nijmegen, NL
This shop display cabinet is made from mahogany, the top has gold leaf lettering and the etching in
Category

Early 20th Century British Victorian Antique Shop Display Counters

Materials

Mahogany

Mahogany Cadbury’s Counter Top Chocolate Shop Display Cabinet, circa 1900
Located in Nijmegen, NL
This shop display cabinet is made from mahogany, the glass has gold leaf lettering on the front of
Category

Early 1900s British Edwardian Antique Shop Display Counters

Materials

Mahogany

Early 20th Century English Victorian Mahogany Shop Counter Display Cabinet
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
For sale is a good quality Late Victorian mahogany shop cabinet, having a glass top, side, and back
Category

Early 20th Century English Victorian Antique Shop Display Counters

Materials

Glass, Mahogany

French Oak 19th Century General Store Shop / Display Cabinet or Counter
Located in Nijmegen, NL
Very nice cabinet most likely from a general store to display items. The cabinet is paneled on
Category

Late 19th Century French Industrial Antique Shop Display Counters

Materials

Oak

Rare Antique Tea Shop Counter/Huge Display Cabinet with Metal Bins, London, Engl
Located in Round Top, TX
This impressive store display cabinet at over 13' long and 8' high is a rare and unusual find. The
Category

Mid-19th Century English Antique Shop Display Counters

Materials

Wood

Victorian Scratch Built Counter Display Cabinet
Located in London, GB
scratch-built pine and glass shop counter display unit. Made from pine, with ebonised exterior and
Category

Early 1900s British Victorian Antique Shop Display Counters

Materials

Blown Glass, Pine

Fry’s Glazed Sweet Shop Display Cabinet
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Fry’s Glazed Sweet Shop Display Cabinet This Charming FRY’s Sweet Shop Display Cabinet is a
Category

Early 20th Century Industrial Antique Shop Display Counters

Rare English Spratts Advertising Counter Display Automaton, circa 1905
Located in London, GB
counter display automaton, featuring an elderly man and women with a jack Russell and cat. This is a truly
Category

Early 1900s British Victorian Antique Shop Display Counters

Materials

Paper

English Late 19th Century Clockwork Bentwood Rocking Chair Shop Display
Located in London, GB
shop display that would have sat in a furniture shop window or on a display counter, you won’t find
Category

1890s British Folk Art Antique Shop Display Counters

Materials

Bentwood

French Pharmacy, Chemist Perfume Display Stand
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
from a pharmacy in France where it was used on the shop counter to display perfume bottles The stand
Category

1880s Arts and Crafts Antique Shop Display Counters

Materials

Pine

Antique Pine Chest of Nine Drawers, Denmark circa 1860-1880
Located in Round Top, TX
served as as small shop counter for display/storage in the mid-1800s of Denmark. While it has the look of
Category

Mid-19th Century Danish Antique Shop Display Counters

Antique display cabinet/ shop counter
Located in Brussels, BE
This classic antique display cabinet/shop counter, is a piece crafted from oak and brass. It
Category

19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Shop Display Counters

Materials

Glass, Wood

Antique display cabinet/ shop counter, Scotland.
Located in Brussels, BE
This classic antique display cabinet/shop counter by Archibald Hamilton dates back to the late 19th
Category

Late 19th Century Scottish Neoclassical Antique Shop Display Counters

Materials

Glass, Wood

Antique display cabinet/ shop counter, Scotland.
Antique display cabinet/ shop counter, Scotland.
H 35.83 in W 59.85 in D 23.63 in
Antique French Angled Top Display or Shop Counter
Located in Wilton, CT
Magnificent, antique French angle top display or shop counter. All original condition, with storage
Category

Late 19th Century French Rustic Antique Shop Display Counters

Materials

Pine

Old Shop Counter Display Case with 20 Drawers
Located in Eindhoven, NL
Old beech wood counter display case with 20 drawers. Counter is in good and original condition
Category

1920s British Antique Shop Display Counters

Materials

Beech

Old Shop Counter Display Case with 20 Drawers
Old Shop Counter Display Case with 20 Drawers
H 35.83 in W 71.26 in D 18.9 in
Massive and Notable Industrial Era Antique Shop Counter/ Display Case
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A massive and rare industrial era shop counter/ display cabinet with fine craftsmanship, great
Category

Early 20th Century Industrial Antique Shop Display Counters

Materials

Metal

Antique Painted Blue Shop Counter With Glass Front For Merchandise Display
Located in Los Angeles, CA
doors in the back. Worn patina, a beautiful piece of folk art. Works as a buffet or shop counter/display
Category

Early 20th Century Guatemalan Antique Shop Display Counters

Materials

Glass, Wood, Paint

Victorian Stationers Cupboard, Macniven & Cameron Pens Display Cabinet
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Victorian Shop display, this small Mahogany Counter top cupboard is from Scotland’s MACNIVEN AND CAMERON’S
Category

Early 1900s Arts and Crafts Antique Shop Display Counters

Materials

Walnut

18th Century Italian Pine Sideboard Chest Dresser
Located in Rio Vista, CA
. Originally constructed for use as a retail shop counter and display for tailors or drapers. The top is made
Category

19th Century Italian Rustic Antique Shop Display Counters

Materials

Iron

Antique Green Painted Multi-Drawer Cabinet from Romania, circa 1880
Located in Round Top, TX
would make a great server, entry piece or bookcase. It likely served as a shop display or counter in the
Category

Late 19th Century Romanian Country Antique Shop Display Counters

Deco Display Counter
Located in Llandudno, Conwy
A glazed shop display counter in the Art Deco taste. Polished alloy wrapped timber frame, two
Category

1920s British Art Deco Antique Shop Display Counters

Materials

Glass

Deco Display Counter
Deco Display Counter
H 35.44 in W 70.87 in D 22.05 in
Counter Top Shop Display Cabinet Glazed Ebonized 19th Century Glass
Located in Newcastle upon Tyne, GB
An impressive late 19th century glazed counter top glazed display cabinet. Framed in ebonized
Category

19th Century English Antique Shop Display Counters

Materials

Glass

Haberdashery Counters
Located in Llandudno, Conwy
Bronze and English oak shop retail counter display units. Multiple graduated drawers to the
Category

Early 20th Century English Antique Shop Display Counters

Haberdashery Counters
Haberdashery Counters
H 36.23 in W 74.41 in D 24.02 in
French Iron and Oak Display Table, circa 1930s
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
A very practical, circa 1930s French shop counter or display table in iron with adjustable oak
Category

Early 20th Century French Antique Shop Display Counters

Materials

Iron

French Iron and Oak Display Table, circa 1930s
French Iron and Oak Display Table, circa 1930s
H 33.08 in W 58.27 in D 30.32 in

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"V" Day Bed Yellow Velvet and Beechwwod base (Mid Century Style)
By Dusty Deco
Located in Los Angeles, CA
DD V daybed is an exclusive daybed made by hand in Bosnia and Herzegovina by skilled craftsmen with long experience in wood and upholstery. Both frame and the characteristic V-shaped...
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2010s Bosnian Mid-Century Modern Antique Shop Display Counters

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Fabric, Beech, Velvet

"V" Day Bed Yellow Velvet and Beechwwod base (Mid Century Style)
"V" Day Bed Yellow Velvet and Beechwwod base (Mid Century Style)
$4,500 / item
H 15.75 in W 74.81 in D 29.14 in
Macassar Art Deco Amsterdamse School Display Cabinet by Napoleon Le Grand, 1920s
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Magnificent and rare Art Deco Amsterdamse School display cabinet or vitrine. Design by Napoleon Le Grand for 't Modelhuis N. Legrand Amsterdam. Solid macassar ebony base with two ori...
Category

1920s Dutch Art Deco Antique Shop Display Counters

Materials

Glass, Macassar

Macassar Art Deco Amsterdamse School Display Cabinet by Napoleon Le Grand, 1920s
Macassar Art Deco Amsterdamse School Display Cabinet by Napoleon Le Grand, 1920s
$4,483 Sale Price
20% Off
H 78.35 in W 57.68 in D 20.28 in
A Qajar Painting Depicts Sage And His Pupil, 19th Century
Located in London, GB
Oil on arched canvas, a young prince sits with an elderly sage on a carpeted terrace, an open book between them and more piled up before them, a small pearl-studded box in the foregr...
Category

19th Century Asian Antique Shop Display Counters

Materials

Canvas

Late Century Frosted Glass Vintage Industrial Spotlight Trio
By Industrial Design
Located in Leicester, Leicestershire
The small aluminium vintage industrial spotlight trio are reclaimed from Russian Cargo ships built during the 1970s. They are a very versatile lighting solution for domestic and comm...
Category

1970s Russian Industrial Antique Shop Display Counters

Materials

Aluminum, Brass

BRAUN "RT 20", Tischradio, Dieter Rams
By Braun, Dieter Rams
Located in Neuss, NW
Design classic RT 20 by Dieter Rams for BRAUN from 1961. Table radio with veneered wooden corpus in ash and grey lacquered metal front. Made in Germany. The front has been repainted...
Category

1960s German Mid-Century Modern Antique Shop Display Counters

Materials

Wood

BRAUN "RT 20", Tischradio, Dieter Rams
BRAUN "RT 20", Tischradio, Dieter Rams
$3,809
H 10.24 in W 19.69 in D 7.88 in
Art Deco Table or Desk Top Brass Mounted 7" Double Convex Magnifying Glass
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Art Deco desk/table top adjustable magnifying glass. A 7" diameter double convex lens in an open topped brass frame suspended between two vertical posts rising from a stepped two-tie...
Category

Early 20th Century American Art Deco Antique Shop Display Counters

Materials

Brass

Stunning Practical Tall Slim Brass Display Cabinet, Early 1900s
Located in Copenhagen K, DK
Handsome old French brass display cabinet from around the year 1900, in classic Art Nouveau style, which one can see on the charming brass shelf jacks. Equipped with a large glass d...
Category

Early 20th Century French Antique Shop Display Counters

Materials

Brass

Bamboo Lounge Chair Beige Linen Upholstery
By Dusty Deco
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This low bamboo lounger is made of natural bamboo with a slight stain to get that cool vintage look, cushions in a natural beige colored linen. The lounger is mainly made for indoor...
Category

2010s Philippine Antique Shop Display Counters

Materials

Fabric, Bamboo

Bamboo Lounge Chair Beige Linen Upholstery
Bamboo Lounge Chair Beige Linen Upholstery
$2,990 / item
H 29.53 in W 29.14 in D 31.5 in
Custom Glass Display Case
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
Made from heavy gauge steel with brass trim. This handsom case is stunning and functional. Display a collection or secure a high end store display. This piece has a creative locking ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Antique Shop Display Counters

Custom Glass Display Case
Custom Glass Display Case
$4,875
H 49.5 in W 60 in D 24 in
Impressive Antique Hand Carved Oak Gothic Revival Door Complete with Wall Frame
Located in Lisse, NL
Stunning Gothic architectural door with strong iron hardware in original frame. This striking and all hand carved door was originally probably part of a church or monastery and the ...
Category

19th Century European Gothic Revival Antique Shop Display Counters

Materials

Iron

1970s Vintage Sculptural Lucite Handles Door Pulls Pair
By Charles Hollis Jones
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Vintage Sculptural Lucite Handle Pulls 3.25d x 10 h x 4 w plastic handle 1 diameter Pair of Lucite handles. Vintage. One small perforation. Preowned unrestored Refer to images
Category

1970s Mid-Century Modern Antique Shop Display Counters

Materials

Lucite

Beechwood "V" Bedside Table with drawer and shelf
By Dusty Deco
Located in Los Angeles, CA
V Bedside Table Walnut is a multi-purpose table made of solid walnut. With a lot of storage, this table is just as functional in your bedroom next to a bed, as in the living room nex...
Category

2010s Bosnian Mid-Century Modern Antique Shop Display Counters

Materials

Beech

Beechwood "V" Bedside Table with drawer and shelf
Beechwood "V" Bedside Table with drawer and shelf
$2,300 / item
H 21.66 in W 19.69 in D 19.69 in
Spare Set of 5 Original Fans for Uchiwa Pendant Lamp by Ingo Maurer
By Temde Leuchten, Ingo Maurer, Ib Fabiansen, Hans-Agne Jakobsson, Fog and Morup
Located in München, DE
Set consisting of 5 original compartments for Uchiwa pendant lamp by Ingo Maurer. One fan is very well preserved. All compartments are beautiful from the outside and largely free of ...
Category

1970s German Mid-Century Modern Antique Shop Display Counters

Materials

Bamboo

Johannes Aasbjerg Solid Finger-Jointed Teak Display Cabinet with Glass Doors 60s
By Johannes Aasbjerg
Located in Dallas, TX
A rare Johannes Aasbjerg vitrine imported from Denmark in the 1960s. This is a deep display case so it will accommodate larger ceramic bowls and sculptures that smaller bookcases wil...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Antique Shop Display Counters

Materials

Teak

Tiffany Studios Bronze Desk Set "Zodiac" Pattern
By Tiffany Studios
Located in Austin, TX
This Tiffany Studios bronze desk set embodies past elegance through its intricate "Zodiac" pattern. Known for exceptional quality, attention to detail, and use of high-quality materi...
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Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Antique Shop Display Counters

Materials

Bronze

Tiffany Studios Bronze Desk Set "Zodiac" Pattern
Tiffany Studios Bronze Desk Set "Zodiac" Pattern
$3,800 Sale Price / set
20% Off
H 6 in W 6 in D 6 in
Pair of Blue Agate Console Tables
Located in London, GB
Pair of blue agate console tables Continental, 20th Century Height 92cm, width 152.5cm, depth 36cm A blue agate veneer covers the surface of both console tables crafted in the 20t...
Category

20th Century European Modern Antique Shop Display Counters

Materials

Agate

Pair of Blue Agate Console Tables
Pair of Blue Agate Console Tables
$24,146 / set
H 36.23 in W 60.04 in D 14.18 in
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Antique Shop Display Counters For Sale on 1stDibs

An assortment of antique shop display counters is available at 1stDibs. The range of distinct antique shop display counters — often made from wood, glass and mahogany — can elevate any home. Antique shop display counters have been made for many years, and versions that date back to the 19th Century alongside those produced as recently as the 20th Century. Antique shop display counters made by Victorian designers — as well as those associated with Industrial — are very popular at 1stDibs.

How Much are Antique Shop Display Counters?

Antique shop display counters can differ in price owing to various characteristics — the average selling price at 1stDibs is $2,594, while the lowest priced sells for $521 and the highest can go for as much as $16,500.

Finding the Right Storage-case-pieces for You

Of all the vintage storage cabinets and antique case pieces that have become popular in modern interiors over the years, dressers, credenzas and cabinets have long been home staples, perfect for routine storage or protection of personal items. 

In the mid-19th century, cabinetmakers would mimic styles originating in the Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI eras for their dressers, bookshelves and other structures, and, later, simpler, streamlined wood designs allowed these “case pieces” or “case goods” — any furnishing that is unupholstered and has some semblance of a storage component — to blend into the background of any interior. 

Mid-century modern furniture enthusiasts will cite the tall modular wall units crafted in teak and other sought-after woods of the era by the likes of George Nelson, Poul Cadovius and Finn Juhl. For these highly customizable furnishings, designers of the day delivered an alternative to big, heavy bookcases by considering the use of space — and, in particular, walls — in new and innovative ways. Mid-century modern credenzas, which, long and low, evolved from tables that were built as early as the 14th century in Italy, typically have no legs or very short legs and have grown in popularity as an alluring storage option over time. 

Although the name immediately invokes images of clothing, dressers were initially created in Europe for a much different purpose. This furnishing was initially a flat-surfaced, low-profile side table equipped with a few drawers — a common fixture used to dress and prepare meats in English kitchens throughout the Tudor period. The drawers served as perfect utensil storage. It wasn’t until the design made its way to North America that it became enlarged and equipped with enough space to hold clothing and cosmetics. The very history of case pieces is a testament to their versatility and well-earned place in any room. 

In the spirit of positioning your case goods center stage, decluttering can now be design-minded.

A contemporary case piece with open shelving and painted wood details can prove functional as a storage unit as easily as it can a room divider. Alternatively, apothecary cabinets are charming case goods similar in size to early dressers or commodes but with uniquely sized shelving and (often numerous) drawers.

Whether you’re seeking a playful sideboard that features colored glass and metal details, an antique Italian hand-carved storage cabinet or a glass-door vitrine to store and show off your collectibles, there are options for you on 1stDibs.

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