Hand Built Vintage China Cabinet
Today I’m excited to share with you my latest in vintage treasures.
This piece is a china cabinet built by a family member in the 1800s and transported via covered wagon. We’re not 100% what the wood is but we believe it may be American Chestnut which nearly went extinct in the early 1900s due to a tree blight.
I’ve spent a good 10 hours over the past two weeks getting the china cabinet moved into my house and bolted to the wall (I’m in earthquake country) and hand washing and arranging everything in it.
Everything inside is vintage too save for the Peter Rabbit mug on the bottom shelf that I received as a baby gift and the glass pumpkin which I purchased at The Great Glass Pumpkin Patch which is a fabulous local art event that takes place in Palo Alto, California every fall (the event is free and worth seeing even if you aren’t planning to buy).
On the top two shelves we have my grandparents’ lead crystal. I only have champagne glasses (used as sherbets) and water goblets because my grandfather did not drink. I am planning to pick up wine glasses as well as they become available on eBay. (Because the pattern is hard to find and I’m still looking for pieces I won’t be sharing the name of it at this time.)
On the third shelf we have pieces from my grandparents’ fine china which I told you about when I go that a few months back.
On the bottom shelf is a variety of pretty other trinkets. On the left are some pieces from my Sharon Cabbage Rose depression glass set. Depression glass was the stimulus package of the 1930s, you’d get a bowl in your cereal box or a plate for seeing a movie. The set has no dinner plates (makes it less painful to be eating those smaller portions as you literally tighten your belt). All of my Sharon pieces were purchased at antique shows and shops or on eBay. I’ve also got a few cute salt, pepper, and spice shakers from my great grandparents and my two member glass menagerie.
There is a cabinet further below that contains the rest of my Sharon and a huge assortment of Hobnail and pressed glass platters and bowls from my grandparents and great grandparents.
I’m the second or third owner of almost everything you see here and what I hope you get out of this is that
- quality items that are well cared for can last more than a lifetime
- used doesn’t have to mean ugly or in poor condition
- these items don’t even have to be expensive (the vintage crystal runs about $10 a piece which is the same as new lead crystal at Target)
Related posts:
- Vintage Fine China
- Vintage Glass Snack Sets: A Classic Reusable
- It’s Time to Clean Out and Organize Those Closets
- eBay Best Offer: Ask for a Discount
- Cleaning Silver with Baking Soda and Aluminum Foil



{ 6 comments }
Hi, you said you’re in earthquake country…yikes ! How do you keep all that glass and china from breaking during a quake? I’d be so worried about it. The cabinet is so pretty…you’re lucky to have it.
well “the big one” hasn’t happened yet but the idea of bolting your tall furniture to the wall is so that it doesn’t fall over and crush you to death when the big one does come, i won’t be worried about a couple broken items then, they’re replaceable and i’m not
Love the china cabinet! And the vintage pieces. Just lovely.
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I was unaware of the Depression Glass stimulus program. American Chestnut makes this piece even more valuable. Despite the rich history of these pieces, I love your comment about what is replaceable and what isn’t in the event that “the big one” occurs.
I’m a huge fan of Antiques Road Show and wish there were more posts like yours that treat us to compelling pieces like this with rich histories. Thanks for the info and your level of research.
That cabinet with the brownish wood is just beautiful.
I used to have a cabinet like that but my boys scratched it all when they were little.
Now my apartment is way too little to have a cabinet like that.
Your china is beautiful
Blessings,
Eren Mckay
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