A Welsh dresser is a type of kitchen furniture that originated in England during the 1600s. It is comprised of a bottom section that serves as a cupboard and a top piece that consists of open shelving. These sections make the cabinet very versatile, providing valuable storage space as well as a display area for fine china. It may also be known as a kitchen dresser, pewter cupboard, or china hutch.
This furniture is called a Welsh dresser because it was first built in England and Wales during the 1600s. It was a popular item in rural farmhouses because it provided storage as well as a place to prepare and serve food. Some models had special drawers for cooling porridge, while others had a long flat top which could be used to prepare meals.
Most models are made from wood, and oak and maple are the most common materials used. These cupboards may be painted or stained, and antique dressers may be lightly varnished as well. Primitive pewter cupboards may contain unfinished boards and are sometimes made of pine rather than other types of wood.
The bottom section of a Welsh dresser is in fact a kitchen cabinet. It may contain a combination of drawers and storage areas with a door on them. There may be only one drawer or multiple ones, but a pewter cupboard normally has at least two doors. These fixtures may have wooden knobs or more elaborate hardware, such as brass pulls.
A hutch with open shelving completes the top section of a Welsh dresser. This piece is somewhat narrower than the bottom section. There are normally two or three shelves evenly spaced in the hutch. Some may have grooves in the center of each shelf to allow plates to sit upright. Grooves are sometimes found on the top of the hutch as well.
It can often be difficult to locate an antique Welsh dresser in good condition. For this reason, many furniture makers produce a number of different pewter cupboards that are similar in design to the original cabinets. Homeowners may also be able to have one of these dressers custom made by a professional cabinetmaker if they are unable to find a model they like. This means most people can find a kitchen dresser that will suit their budget and decor, no matter what area of the world they live in.