**Etymology and History of Wardrobes:**
– The word ‘wardrobe’ originated from Old French words ‘warderobe,’ ‘wardereube,’ and ‘garderobe.’
– In Old French, ‘warder’ meant to keep or guard, and ‘robe’ meant garment.
– The wardrobe in the United States dates back to the early 17th century as an oak hanging cupboard.
– English woodlands being over-harvested led to the export of oak hanging cupboards from America to England.
– Walnut became a favorite material for furniture in the United States in the 18th century.
– The tallboy was commonly used for storing clothes in the 18th century.
– Wardrobes began to develop into their modern form in the 19th century, often made of mahogany or satinwood.
**Size and Evolution of Wardrobes:**
– A common method for determining wardrobe size was based on the ‘eight small men’ method.
– Double wardrobes were considered good if they could hold eight small men.
– Modern fitted wardrobes often have a hanging cupboard on each side and drawers below.
– Wardrobes in the UK can be custom-fitted to the size and shape of the room.
– In the 19th century, wardrobes evolved to include hanging cupboards, presses, and drawers, often made of mahogany or satinwood.
**Frankfurt Cabinet:**
– The Frankfurt cabinet is a two-door baroque cupboard or wardrobe from Frankfurt.
– Made from spruce with walnut veneer or solid oak, they can be dismantled and reassembled without tools.
– Frankfurt cabinets were demanded as masterpieces of carpentry and were used to store household linen and clothes.
– Historical Frankfurt cabinets are often used as filing cabinets in places like city halls and banks.
**Kas Style Cupboards:**
– Kas is a massive Dutch cupboard similar to an armoire, popular in the 17th and 18th centuries.
– Kas was used to store linen, clothing, and valuables, often locked by key.
– They were status symbols and family heirlooms in the Low Countries and America.
– Kas was made of quality wood like cherry, rosewood, and ebony, often panelled, carved, or painted.
**Material and Design Trends in Wardrobes:**
– Walnut became a favorite material for furniture in the United States in the 18th century.
– Wardrobes in the 19th century were often made of mahogany or satinwood, evolving into their modern form.
– Kas cupboards were made of quality wood like cherry, rosewood, and ebony, often panelled, carved, or painted.
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A wardrobe, also called armoire or almirah, is a standing closet used for storing clothes. The earliest wardrobe was a chest, and it was not until some degree of luxury was attained in regal palaces and the castles of powerful nobles that separate accommodation was provided for the apparel of the great. The name of wardrobe was then given to a room in which the wall-space was filled with closets and lockers, the drawer being a comparatively modern invention.[citation needed] From these cupboards and lockers the modern wardrobe, with its hanging spaces, sliding shelves and drawers, evolved slowly.
Throughout the chronological changes in the form of the enclosure, it has more or less retained its preset function as a place to retain a king's robe. The word has gained coinage over successive generations as an independent store for among others, preserving precious items for a ruler like gold, well highlighted in King Edward I's times. It is also a simple patio where clothes are hung from metal bars or tucked inside utility racks running from up to down. The modern wardrobe differs in one respect from the historical one for its triple partitioning: there are two linear compartments on either side with shelves as well as a middle space made up of hanging pegs and drawers, the latter being a latter-day addition, besides a clothes' press in the higher central space on level with a person's chest.
Additionally, an armoire is a wardrobe that is wider than a grown adult's arm span, while a wardrobe is smaller.
Definition from ChatGPT:
Wardrobe:
A wardrobe refers to a piece of furniture used for storing clothes and other personal belongings. It typically consists of a closet with doors, shelves, drawers, and hanging space for organizing and storing clothing items. In a broader sense, "wardrobe" can also refer to a person's entire collection of clothing and accessories.