Welcome to my personal A to Z Challenge on the subject of Home. The goal, in a year time, is to elaborate and dissect topics regarding the Home not as containers of stuff, but as a cocoon for the soul, mind and heart. I will touch on decorations, style, trends, history of home and sometimes technical information. In two days my challenge will be over.
It’s a boy or it’s a lowboy has the same assonance, no, no newborn in my household, just playing on words.
Lowboy is a low dresser on legs and a few drawers that was so much in fashion in 18th century England. The function of a lowboy started as a dressing table with a mirror, side drawers to keep cosmetics, facial utensils, and accessories for hair, open in the front to allow a woman to sit on a small chair and prepare herself for the day. The most valuable pieces have the typical details of Queen Ann furniture, cabriole legs, pad foot, shell decorations and brass drawer pulls. It continued in the same style through the Georgian era and later Chippendale furniture maker produced it in large quantity. This has been a style forever popular in American homes decorated traditionally in Queen Ann, Georgian and Chippendale style. Are you wondering if there is a Tallboy to go with a Lowboy? Yes, there is and it’s a very tall chest of drawers on legs, sometimes with a wardrobe attached.
(Photo credits are given to the respective owners)
In modern homes, an antique lowboy might be found in foyer or in empty corners as a filler and seldom is used as a dressing table. Modern master bathrooms inclusive of all the finest amenities, built-ins and stations for each activity have reduced the need for filling rooms with so many small pieces of furniture. Modern versions of lowboy look more like a credenza than a dressing table, especially in the style of mid-century pieces. Their function has changed as well, we might use them for storing linens, tableware or electronic equipment and that’s why their place now is in dining and living areas and not in the bedroom. The container furniture used today for storing clothes is simply called dresser drawers.
If you have an old piece of lowboy and feel the urge to refurbish it, hold that thought for a while. Show it to a furniture appraiser, you might have something valuable, but if it’s painted it over, the value will be gone. Ciao,
Valentina
http://www.valentinadesigns.com
Copyright © 2014 Valentina Cirasola, All Rights Reserved
It’s my hope that through my writing I am enriching your aesthetic sensibility towards design, style and inspire you to live in beauty. I have loved my profession as an interior designer since 1990. I am here ready to offer consultations on-line if you need it. Check out my latest book on colors ©RED-A Voyage Into Colors, available on
Amazon: http://goo.gl/xUZfk0
Barnes&Nobles: http://goo.gl/q7dQ3w
Valentina Expressions 
Jan 13, 2014 @ 22:44:39
The furniture is just beautiful!!
But since I have three kitties I wouldn’t have one of these. Too special for cat’s claws. 🙂
LikeLike
Jan 14, 2014 @ 00:03:06
They are special pieces, but if you really like to have one look into modern remake of the original pieces. They are very inexpensive. Thanks for commenting.
LikeLike
Jan 13, 2014 @ 20:52:54
Love this blog on a subject I like a lot! Furniture styles — antique or new — are always interesting. I have a couple of lowboys, neither of which very valuable. But they are great workhorses for table vignettes, holding lamps near beds or sofas, or even a TV!!
LikeLike
Jan 13, 2014 @ 21:18:50
Thank you Rusha. My challenge on Home from A to Z will be over tomorrow. I choose to write about it because it’s a subject I know well, but regardless of my WP challenge, furniture is always an interesting topic. He gives insights of customs in places and times and appreciation for history. Thanks for the visit and comment.
LikeLike