Of Unknown Pedigree

The sideboard in our living room. Of unknown pedigree. It definitely is European but whether German (which we thought of at first) or French (which is the heritage the seller said it was) or Belgian or Dutch, we're not sure.

Many of these were made in the 1870's, 1880's and 1890's in Europe for even here -- on the prairie -- you see them a lot. I've never seen two alike, however, for the carving always seems to be different.

Some have three carved doors on the top but ours has one big carved door and two smaller glass ones, some are flat but ours has three separate sections, some have wood tops while ours has a marble one.

We feel that it fits perfectly against the wall and although a big piece seems to go well in the room. We actually bought it for the brick wall in the breakfast room back when we were going to make a HUGE room off the dining room and this piece would be a focal point.

The piece was a steal. We had seen them around, knew what the prices were and felt that we could never afford one. At a shop in the city that featured really old antiques was this piece -- at a really affordable price. It came home with us!

We ended up deciding not to add a room on (and that time) and so this piece became a focal point of the living room -- balancing the fireplace on the opposite wall.

On top, a collection of small antique decanters. Including one from the early 1800's. The mirror propped up behind not only reflects the decanters but when you stand in the middle of the living room it reflects the chandelier as well.

Whatever the pedigree, the sideboard is part of Linderhof's living room. And we couldn't imagine that wall without the sideboard!