Medieval Cupboards

	Cupboards
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This list focuses on cupboards of the sort that used to contain drinking-vessels and dishes, rather than linen-press cupboards and other cabinetry, and does not include (many) examples from hospitals, convents, or churches. Several of the illustrations of formal dining include a butler at the cupboard; see the Duties of a Panter or Butler in The Babees’ Book. Cupboard with four doors, 15th century Continental oak cupboard, made in 15th century France Cupboard, 15th century Cupboard made in Flanders in the 15th century Cupboard made in Germany in the 15th century Right wing of the Werl Altarpiece by Robert Campin, 1438 Center panel of the Annunciation Triptych by Rogier van der Weyden, c. 1440 The Magdalene Reading by Rogier van der Weyden, c. 1445 Madonna and Child, mid-15th century Alexander is poisoned, The history of Alexander the Great (BNF Fr. 20311, fol. 288), third quarter of the 15th century Cupboard, c. 1450-1500 Cleaning breadcrumbs from a cupboard, the Ashkenazi Haggadah (British Library Additional 14762, fol. 1v), c. 1460 Courtiers and servants observe a couple lying in bed, Les Fais et les Dis des Romains et de autres gens (British Library Harley 4373, fol. 88v), c. 1460-1487 The Last Supper in the Altarpiece of the Holy Sacrament by Dieric Bouts the Elder, c. 1464-1467 Wedding banquet, Histoire d’Olivier de Castille et d’Artus d’Algarbe (BNF Fr. 12574, fol. 181v) Wedding banquet, Histoire de Renaud de Montauban (BNF Arsenal 5073, fol. 148r), 1468-1470 Belshazzar’s feast (fol. 45r) and Ahasuerus’s feast (fol. 91r), Bible historiale (British Library Royal 15 D I, fol. 45), c. 1470-1479 Beverages, De proprietatibus rerum (BNF Fr. 9140, fol. 114), 1480 Painted cupboard, c. 1480-1520 Herod’s Banquet by Domenico Ghirlandaio, c. 1486-1490 Walnut tiered buffet, made in late 15th century France Richard II dines with the dukes of York, Gloucester and Ireland, Recueil des croniques d’Engleterre (British Library Royal 14 E IV, fol. 265v), late 15th century January in the Grimani Breviary, c. 1490-1510 Cupboard, c. 1491-1500 Cupboard with two doors, c. 1491-1500 Cupboard with two doors, c. 1491-1500 January in the Grimani Breviary, c. 1490-1510 Cupboard, 15th-16th century Cupboard, c. 1500 The Wealthy Man by Jean Bourdichon, from Les Quatre États de la Société, c. 1500-1510 Cupboard, c. 1501-1510 Cupboard made in Flanders in the first half of the 16th century A food cupboard made in England in the 16th century. “Cupboards pierced in this way for ventilation were used for the storage of food. They are known as dole or livery cupboards since they are supposed to have contained the allowance of food and drink given each night to members of a household in the medieval period.” Flemish oak cupboard, 16th century A German oak linenfold cupboard, probably Westphalian, 16th century Mark the Evangelist (fol. 119v), The Da Costa Hours (PML M.399, fol. 119v), c. 1515 February, a book of hours (PML M.632, fol. 2r), c. 1520 Cupboard, 16th century The Limerick Hutch Table, 16th century Cupboard, 16th century Cupboard, c. 1574 A court cupboard, made in England c. 1580; “This cupboard belongs to a group of court cupboards. They are essentially a series of tiered tables, in each of which is a drawer … Court cupboards were placed in the hall or dining parlour in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. They often housed eating and drinking vessels. Although they were connected with eating, some were placed in bedrooms where they provided shelf space for other domestic equipment.” Interior with Banqueters by Bartholomeus van Bassen, 1618-1620

Cupboards

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Constructing Medieval Furniture: Plans and Instructions with Historical Notes

Medieval Furniture: Plans and Instructions for Historical Reproduction

This list focuses on cupboards of the sort that used to contain drinking-vessels and dishes, rather than linen-press cupboards and other cabinetry, and does not include (many) examples from hospitals, convents, or churches.

Several of the illustrations of formal dining include a butler at the cupboard; see the Duties of a Panter or Butler in The Babees’ Book.

Cupboard with four doors, 15th century
Continental oak cupboard, made in 15th century France
Cupboard, 15th century
Cupboard made in Flanders in the 15th century
Cupboard made in Germany in the 15th century
Right wing of the Werl Altarpiece by Robert Campin, 1438
Center panel of the Annunciation Triptych by Rogier van der Weyden, c. 1440
The Magdalene Reading by Rogier van der Weyden, c. 1445
Madonna and Child, mid-15th century
Alexander is poisoned, The history of Alexander the Great (BNF Fr. 20311, fol. 288), third quarter of the 15th century
Cupboard, c. 1450-1500
Cleaning breadcrumbs from a cupboard, the Ashkenazi Haggadah (British Library Additional 14762, fol. 1v), c. 1460
Courtiers and servants observe a couple lying in bed, Les Fais et les Dis des Romains et de autres gens (British Library Harley 4373, fol. 88v), c. 1460-1487
The Last Supper in the Altarpiece of the Holy Sacrament by Dieric Bouts the Elder, c. 1464-1467
Wedding banquet, Histoire d’Olivier de Castille et d’Artus d’Algarbe (BNF Fr. 12574, fol. 181v)
Wedding banquet, Histoire de Renaud de Montauban (BNF Arsenal 5073, fol. 148r), 1468-1470
Belshazzar’s feast (fol. 45r) and Ahasuerus’s feast (fol. 91r), Bible historiale (British Library Royal 15 D I, fol. 45), c. 1470-1479
Beverages, De proprietatibus rerum (BNF Fr. 9140, fol. 114), 1480
Painted cupboard, c. 1480-1520
Herod’s Banquet by Domenico Ghirlandaio, c. 1486-1490
Walnut tiered buffet, made in late 15th century France
Richard II dines with the dukes of York, Gloucester and Ireland, Recueil des croniques d’Engleterre (British Library Royal 14 E IV, fol. 265v), late 15th century
January in the Grimani Breviary, c. 1490-1510
Cupboard, c. 1491-1500
Cupboard with two doors, c. 1491-1500
Cupboard with two doors, c. 1491-1500
January in the Grimani Breviary, c. 1490-1510
Cupboard, 15th-16th century
Cupboard, c. 1500
The Wealthy Man by Jean Bourdichon, from Les Quatre États de la Société, c. 1500-1510
Cupboard, c. 1501-1510
Cupboard made in Flanders in the first half of the 16th century
A food cupboard made in England in the 16th century. “Cupboards pierced in this way for ventilation were used for the storage of food. They are known as dole or livery cupboards since they are supposed to have contained the allowance of food and drink given each night to members of a household in the medieval period.”
Flemish oak cupboard, 16th century
A German oak linenfold cupboard, probably Westphalian, 16th century
Mark the Evangelist (fol. 119v), The Da Costa Hours (PML M.399, fol. 119v), c. 1515
February, a book of hours (PML M.632, fol. 2r), c. 1520
Cupboard, 16th century
The Limerick Hutch Table, 16th century
Cupboard, 16th century
Cupboard, c. 1574
A court cupboard, made in England c. 1580; “This cupboard belongs to a group of court cupboards. They are essentially a series of tiered tables, in each of which is a drawer … Court cupboards were placed in the hall or dining parlour in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. They often housed eating and drinking vessels. Although they were connected with eating, some were placed in bedrooms where they provided shelf space for other domestic equipment.”
Interior with Banqueters by Bartholomeus van Bassen, 1618-1620