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MAY 2018 • Volume 31 No. 9 www.antiqueshoppefl.com

Chifforobes Were Gentleman’s Closets

By Larry LeMasters
LeMasters’ Antique News Service

A chifforobe (pronounced “shif-uh-rohb”), had dovetailed drawers. If the drawer is simply
also spelled chifferobe and chifforobe, is, in its nailed with butt joints, then the piece was cheaply
simplest form, a two-sided, closet-like piece of constructed or possibly repaired.
furniture with a wardrobe on one side and a chest As furniture goes, chifforobes are considered
of drawers on the other side. modern conveniences. Sometime in the 17th
The term “chifforobe” is a blending of the century, armoires or wardrobes replaced cedar
words “chiffonier” and “wardrobe.” Chiffonier chests in wealthy homes. As people, in the mid-
is a French term, used to describe a tall, narrow, 1800s, acquired the means to own more clothing,
elegant chest of drawers. a place to store clothing became necessary. In
Typically, the wardrobe section runs down fact, the clothes hanger was not invented until
the full length on one side, quite often the left 1869, so up until then closets were only used for
side; although, some chifforobes have a drawer storage, not to hang clothes. Many older homes
beneath the wardrobe. Some chifforobes, called have little or no closets in them since people
Lady’s Chifforobes, have a built-in hatbox atop stored their clothing in furniture—wardrobes—
the chest of drawers. Gentleman’s Chifforobes instead of closets. This made wardrobes and,
have a mirrored hatbox that is tall enough to use later, chifforobes quite popular. During the
as a shaving mirror. Also, the drawers, on the Great Depression, 1930s, chifforobes were
chest of drawer side of a chifforobe, are often popular among lower-income families where
exposed; however, some chifforobes have two Mid-century, modern, chifforobe, circa 1950s, they became known as “poor-man’s closets.”
doors, one covering the drawer side and one that is valued at $1,400. And chifforobes were easily transportable, so
covering the hanging side. Some chifforobes your portable closet moved with you. By the late
also have cupboard or bookshelf space above the 1940s, following World War II, closets became
drawers. features in newly built homes, eventually
Door handles and drawer pulls on chifforobes The hanging side of a chifforobe often had a making chifforobes obsolete.
vary from beautiful Bakelite pulls to elegant full-length “dressing” mirror on its door. Most Sears and Roebuck advertised the first
metal pulls to simple, wooden pulls, depending chifforobes originally had beveled mirrors, so if chifforobe in its 1908 mail order catalogue,
on the design of the chifforobe. you find one today with a plane mirror surface, describing the chifforobe as “a modern
Many chifforobes are veneered, so cracks and the mirror has probably been replaced. This is invention, having been in use only a short time

missing pieces are common in older chifforobes. often used as a field test to see if the piece is and designed to hold both hanging and folded
Solid wood chifforobes tend to be walnut, oak, or original. clothes,” making chifforobes, in many ways,
pine, and when refinished have a deep, luxurious Another “field test” is how the drawers are an American furniture invention.
finish. constructed. Quality, vintage furniture always Continued on Page 3

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