What is a China Cabinet?

It’s common for people to mistake a hutch for a china cabinet. But the two differ in style and purpose. What is a china cabinet? And what is a breakfront china cabinet? Read on as we tell you the differences between the two.

A china cabinet is a furniture type that stores fine pieces of china, porcelain, and other ceramics. They often display beautiful glassware, silverware, plates, vases, and glasses. Many people think china cabinets originated from China. However, china cabinets have a long history in American and European craft. But what is a china cabinet called?

While others interchangeably use hutch and china cabinets, both are different. Other terms for a china cabinet are china closet, china cupboard, or breakfront china cabinet. These pieces of furniture were first fashioned at the end of the 17th century. The king and queen of England in 1689, William and Mary, decided to bring this furniture concept from the Netherlands to store fine china. 

A china cabinet displays fine china, porcelain, or stunning ceramics. It’s also used to store and protect dishware. It can have plate stands where the dishes are stacked on each other.  It’s usually placed against a wall and features dishes as if they’re floating because china cabinets’ shelves come in glass. Some china cabinet shelves are also made of wood lined with mirrored sections to emphasize the dishware.

What is a china cabinet, and what is a hutch? Here are the differences between the two:

• China cabinets usually come in one piece with big shelves and glass doors, while a hutch comprises two parts. The top part is a display shelf on top of a cabinet-style bottom part with drawers and a countertop.
• While a china cabinet is more formal and ornate, hutches look more casual. 
• China cabinets are typically displayed in dining rooms, while hutches are more versatile and are a piece of all-around storage furniture. 
• A china cabinet is shorter, while a hutch dwells more on a vertical appearance, making it suitable for smaller spaces.