Wow - So Many Of You Asked - The Story Behind My China Cabinet

I have been surprised at how many of you asked about my Antique China cabinet. I have had this piece for years and years. It was on the entrance wall of my last home and I didn’t show that side of the living room too often, so it seemed like a new piece to a lot of you when you saw it in the new house.

I am thrilled that it has a great wall to be on in the new house.

It was my very first “big” purchase as a new bride. I answered an ad in the newspaper about a piano but when I got there it wasn’t what I was looking for, however I saw this china cabinet and fell in love.

It belonged to an elderly lady that was selling a lot of her furniture to go into a retirement home. I asked her about the china cabinet and she related the following story.

“When I was a young woman I was a maid for the Speckles Sugar family. They were a wonderful family and always treated everyone like family, even the hired help. Their home was filled with wonderful pieces they had brought back from their travels all over the world. Most things were truly museum worthy. This china cabinet was in the breakfast area of the maids quarters. It was one of their lesser pieces of furniture, but I always loved it. When I left their employment, they were doing some remodeling and I told them how much I loved this china cabinet. To my surprise, they gave it to me as a parting gift. They also gave me this paper showing the information about the piece. Made in England in 1860.”

I loved this piece and asked if it was for sale. She said she wanted a lot of money for it. I timidly asked how much. She answered with $100 cash. Of course I ran to the bank and immediately rushed back to give her the money. This piece is solid oak with mirrors on the inside back and very heavy glass shelves. If you look at the bottom of the piece you can tell how the sides and door are curved and all the glass is pressed glass. I love all the imperfections in the glass, a little wavy and with a few air bubbles.

I have it filled with my family heirlooms and as I call it, my “good stuff”.

This sugar, creamer and tray belonged to my mother-in-law.

The two trays were also from my mother-in-law and two of the revere bowls were my mother’s. I found several fabulous pieces at goodwill over the years. The set of silver goblets were one of those fabulous finds.

My Mother’s coffee service – – –

and her gravy boat.

and this one was my mother-in-laws.

I keep a lot of glassware in here too. All kinds of stems and some other family treasures. This pressed glass sugar and creamer were my mother’s.

These carnival glass pieces are actually pink, but for some reason they kept coming out yellow when I photographed them. They were wedding gifts to my mother and father.