curio cabinet
Illustration — A curio cabinet with vases. • Illustration — Curio cabinets of Catharina, wife of Douwe Sirtema van Grovestins A curio cabinet is a specialised type of display case, made predominantly of glass with a metal or wood framework, for presenting collections of curios, like figurines or other interesting objects that invoke curiosity, and perhaps share a common theme. A curio cabinet may also be used to display a solitary object of special interest, such as a hand-crafted doll.
curio cabinet
Josef Günther Stilmöbelfabrik, Steinheim/Westfalen · Ursula Spilker, Johannes Waldhoff: "150 Jahre Steinheimer Möbel, Heimatgeschichtliche und volkskundliche Schriften der Stadt Steinheim", Band 17, Hrsg: Förderverein Möbelmuseum Steinheim 2014, Seite 7 · CC BY-SA 3.0
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Illustration — A curio cabinet with vases. • Illustration — Curio cabinets of Catharina, wife of Douwe Sirtema van Grovestins A curio cabinet is a specialised type of display case, made predominantly of glass with a metal or wood framework, for presenting collections of curios, like figurines or other interesting objects that invoke curiosity, and perhaps share a common theme. A curio cabinet may also be used to display a solitary object of special interest, such as a hand-crafted doll.
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wikidata · Q5194757 · wikipedia · Curio cabinet
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Overview
While display cases for presenting products for sale (such as jewelry) are typically horizontal with a surface covered in felt, a curio cabinet is usually vertical with no felt. Most curio cabinets have glass on each side, glass shelves, and optionally a mirror at the back, to maximize visibility. Another purpose of a curio cabinet is to protect the value of a collection, which it does by preventing contact by dust and vermin. For added security, a locked door or removable panel allows the collection to be seen, while protecting it from damage and theft.
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 16 August 2026.
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