Primitive Wood Armoire
Antique Late 17th Century Italian Wardrobes and Armoires
Chestnut, Walnut
2010s Italian Baroque Revival Wardrobes and Armoires
Brass, Copper
Antique Late 18th Century French Country Wardrobes and Armoires
Iron
Antique 18th Century Spanish Cupboards
Wood
Antique Late 18th Century Spanish Baroque Cupboards
Oak
People Also Browsed
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Textile
2010s American Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Brass
Mid-20th Century French Neoclassical Benches
Bronze, Wrought Iron
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Sofas
Metal
2010s Austrian Jugendstil Chandeliers and Pendants
Silk
21st Century and Contemporary French Art Deco Console Tables
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Country Beds and Bed Frames
Oak
Antique 1880s American Primitive Painted Furniture
Tin
Antique 19th Century Italian Wardrobes and Armoires
Pine
Early 20th Century American Primitive Cupboards
Wood
Antique 18th Century Italian Doors and Gates
Wood
2010s Italian Side Tables
Onyx
20th Century American Organic Modern Beds and Bed Frames
Metal
Antique 1870s Italian Rustic Wardrobes and Armoires
Poplar
Antique 19th Century French Empire Wardrobes and Armoires
Walnut
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis Philippe Models and Miniatures
Mirror, Walnut
Recent Sales
Antique 16th Century Spanish Primitive Wardrobes and Armoires
Wood
Antique 18th Century French Primitive Wardrobes and Armoires
Antique Mid-19th Century Hungarian Wardrobes and Armoires
Wood
Antique 19th Century Guatemalan Wardrobes and Armoires
Cedar
Antique Early 19th Century Irish Wardrobes and Armoires
Wood
Antique Late 18th Century Russian Wardrobes and Armoires
Wood
Antique 19th Century Russian Wardrobes and Armoires
Wood
Antique Late 19th Century Lithuanian Wardrobes and Armoires
Wood
Antique Mid-19th Century Swedish Wardrobes and Armoires
Wood
Antique 18th Century European Medieval Cabinets
Iron
Antique 19th Century French Wardrobes and Armoires
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Swedish Wardrobes and Armoires
Wood
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Wardrobes and Armoires
Yew, Oak
Finding the Right wardrobes-armoires for You
When shopping for antique and vintage wardrobes and armoires for your home, there are several things to keep in mind, not least of which is question number 1:
What is the difference between an armoire and a wardrobe?
The difference between an armoire and a wardrobe is actually simple: An armoire is merely an ornate wardrobe. A wardrobe is a tall, streamlined storage cabinet that usually has some combination of drawers, shelves and hanging rods.
Antique and vintage armoires, on the other hand, are freestanding, heavy wooden structures that typically feature decorative metal hinges and pictorial carvings. Armoires are large cabinets that aren’t outfitted with the varied storage features that wardrobes now commonly have. Armoires often have one or two doors and a hanging bar and allow for quick access. Whether a minimalist mid-century modern wardrobe or grandiose Victorian-era armoire is the right fit for you, both are highly functional furnishings and can be a smart storage solution.
Armoires have been around since medieval times, and initially they may have housed weapons and armor. In their early days, armoires were often adorned with elaborate carvings and lavish paintings, particularly in Renaissance-era France. During the 18th century and later, armoires were widely known as “presses” for hanging clothes, and they were so large that they swallowed up the room where they stood.
In today’s modern homes, an antique armoire can be a striking, architectural work of art amid comparably unadorned furnishings. Whether you’re using your piece in the kitchen for cookware or as a food pantry, in the bedroom for clothes or in the living room as a media console, it will likely become a lovable focal point.
The evolution of the armoire can be seen in today’s corner wardrobes, which may rest on an asymmetrical base to account for corner placement, and even mirrored wardrobes, which feature a mirror affixed to the inside panel of one of the doors for convenience. Contemporary wardrobes commonly feature additional sliding trays and drawers and hanging space for clothing or linens, and the cabinet doors make them ideal for concealing televisions and computer monitors when such devices aren’t in use.
When choosing the right wardrobe or vintage armoire for your home, it’s good to have the following in mind: What are you planning to store in it? How much of what you’re storing will need to be housed in it? It should be big enough to accommodate your needs. What is the size of the room where your wardrobe or armoire will live? A large new piece of furniture in a modest space can easily become a hindrance if you have to navigate your way around it during your daily routine, so be mindful of the area you'll need in order to move freely.
Whether you are looking for an antique walnut armoire or a simple contemporary wardrobe, find the right piece for your home today on 1stDibs.
Read More
The Ultimate Guide to Types of Tables for the Home
Whether you’re just moving in or ready to give your home a makeover, our guide will give you pointers on tables that are fitting for every room, nook and hallway.
What Exactly Is a Secretary Desk, and What Is It Used For?
The furniture equivalent of a Swiss Army knife, it's the multifunctional piece you didn't know you needed.
This Shelving System with Oxidized Brass Tubes Is Retro and Futuristic at Once
Italian studio DimoreMilano mustered great ingenuity when crafting these sculptural shelves, which are built without any screws.
28 Cheerful Home Bars, Where Everybody (Literally) Knows Your Name
Simple or sophisticated, equipped with console, cart or custom cabinetry, these stylish bar areas deserve a toast.
Ask an Interior Designer: Work-from-Home Edition
Leaping into a design project, whether it's refreshing the bedroom or redoing the whole house, can be overwhelming. Luckily, we know more than a few interior designers. You asked questions on Instagram, and now they're answering.
Collected and Eclectic, ‘Wunderkammern’ Are Back in a Big Way
Introduced nearly 500 years ago, curiosity cabinets are finding new fans among today's collectors and designers.
Meet the Incredible Woman Transforming Fallen Trees into Sleek Furniture
In the hands of New York Heartwoods cofounder Megan Offner, unwanted local trees become works of design art.
These New York Architects Love a Complicated Project
From Brooklyn townhouses to Maine campgrounds, Trattie Davies and Jonathan Toews relish a challenge, like transforming a former warehouse space into the new 1stdibs Gallery.