The wardrobe has been known at least since Roman times, as it appears in the Herculaneum paintings. Although at first it only served to contain weapons, according to its name, it was soon used to store all kinds of objects.
The Romans used this piece of furniture to enclose the portraits of their ancestors and books. The former, as they were made of wax, had to be enclosed so that air and dust would not spoil them. These cabinets were only opened on public holidays and in some famous event. Those who had been accused of a crime also opened the cabinets containing those esteemed portraits when their innocence had been justified. Cicero, speaking for Sulla, says it clearly. Roman libraries were made up of cabinets, in which volumes or scrolls were placed and were distinguished by various numbers.
In the Middle Ages, with the exception of churches and monasteries, it was only used to enclose weapons and armor, since the other objects were kept in chests or in simple sideboards. But since the beginning of the 15th century the wardrobe was used for the same purpose as now and its doors were decorated with reliefs when before they only carried paintings. During the 16th and 17th centuries, elegant two-section cabinets were used and from the 18th century on, cabinet-cabinets and bookcases-display cabinets have been built as worthy living room and cabinet furniture.
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