Sideboard Kisho
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Anglo-Japanese Sideboards
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Anglo-Japanese Sideboards
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Anglo-Japanese Sideboards
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Anglo-Japanese Sideboards
Brass
People Also Browsed
2010s Brazilian Wall Mirrors
Wood, Teak, Mirror
2010s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Sideboards
Birch
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Textile
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Wood
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Dry Bars
Oak
Vintage 1930s Italian Art Deco Beds and Bed Frames
Brass
Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Oak, Plywood
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Sideboards
Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Dry Bars
Steel
Vintage 1960s German Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Brass
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Brass
2010s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Sideboards
Birch, Oak
21st Century and Contemporary American Night Stands
Oak, Wood, Walnut
Late 20th Century Unknown Modern Credenzas
Composition, Marble
21st Century and Contemporary Colombian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights a...
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Night Stands
Brass, Stainless Steel
Recent Sales
2010s Portuguese Modern Sideboards
Wood
Finding the Right credenzas for You
Antique and vintage credenzas can add an understated touch of grace to your home. These long and sophisticated cabinet-style pieces of furniture can serve a variety of purposes, and they look great too.
In Italy, the credenza was originally a small side table used in religious services. Appropriately, credere in Italian means “to believe.” Credenzas were a place to not only set the food ready for meals, they were also a place to test and taste prepared food for poison before a dish was served to a member of the ruling class. Later, credenza was used to describe a type of versatile narrow side table, typically used for serving food in the home. In form, a credenza has much in common with a sideboard — in fact, the terms credenza and sideboard are used almost interchangeably today.
Credenzas usually have short legs or no legs at all, and can feature drawers and cabinets. And all kinds of iterations of the credenza have seen the light of day over the years, from ornately carved walnut credenzas originating in 16th-century Tuscany to the wealth of Art Deco credenzas — with their polished surfaces and geometric patterns — to the array of innovative modernist interpretations that American furniture maker Milo Baughman created for Directional and Thayer Coggin.
The credenza’s blend of style and functionality led to its widespread use in the 20th century. Mid-century modern credenzas are particularly popular — take a look at Danish furniture designer Arne Vodder’s classic Model 29, for instance, with its reversible sliding doors and elegant drawer pulls. Hans Wegner, another Danish modernist, produced strikingly minimalist credenzas in the 1950s and ’60s, as did influential designer Florence Knoll. Designers continue to explore new and exciting ways to update this long-loved furnishing.
Owing to its versatility and familiar low-profile form, the credenza remains popular in contemporary homes. Unlike many larger case pieces, credenzas can be placed under windows and in irregularly shaped rooms, such as foyers and entryways. This renders it a useful storage solution. In living rooms, for example, a credenza can be a sleek media console topped with plants and the rare art monographs you’ve been planning to show off. In homes with open floor plans, a credenza can help define multiple living spaces, making it ideal for loft apartments.
Browse a variety of antique, new and vintage credenzas on 1stDibs to find the perfect fit for your home today.