An antique hutch makes a great addition to any home’s decor. For many of us, our homes are filled with furniture that has been passed down through the generations. It’s a great way to add sentimental value and character to your home. While most antiques have survived the test of time, there are some signs to look for in order to make sure it is authentic. One simple thing you can do is read up on how to identify an antique hutch.
Table of Contents
What is an Antique Hutch?
Hutches and armoires are two types of furniture typically used in the dining or living room. They often store dining ware, linens, and even serve as a buffet for guests to pick up their food. A hutch can come in all shapes and sizes with varying degrees of intricacy and detail.
An armoire is typically more ornate, with carvings and embellishments. They are also larger than hutches.
While hutch and armoires have similar purposes, they are actually distinct pieces of furniture that should be identified differently. Hutch is used to describe a type of cabinet that has doors that enclose the storage space inside it. Armoire is used to describe a piece of storage furniture consisting of enclosed cabinets with doors, but which also may contain open shelves or racks.
Hutches are typically made out of wood or glass with higher quality pieces being made out of marble, leather, or silver plate. An antique hutch could be any age above 80 years old (based on when your great-grandparents were born).
Because of their age, they are often made out of high-quality materials and can be very expensive to buy new.
Hutches make great additions to any room in the home, but it is important that you know what to look for before you bring one into your house. That way, you will have a piece that increases the value and appeal of your home without being a blemish on your family history.
How To Identify Antique Hutch
There are many ways to date an antique hutch, from unique markings to its joinery methods. Here are a few tips to help you properly date your hutch.
Look at the wood grain . If the wood used in your hutch is mahogany, walnut, or oak it was likely built after 1800. The same goes for cherry, pine, and birch woods. Make sure that none of these woods are cheap replacements for real antiques. You can also look to see if there are any brand stamps on the back of the piece and compare them against manufacturer catalogs and antique sellers’ databases online. This will tell you when and where your piece was made so you can be more certain about its authenticity.
Check the hardware . Look for screws in either side of each door hinges to age and authenticity of your antiqued hutch. If you see screws in only one of the hinges it is likely a replacement and not as old as your hutch might be.
Examine the joinery . A quality piece will not have any glue or nails holding it together, but will use dovetail joints, mortise and tenon joints, or dowels to hold each piece together. This type of construction is simple and elegant and was used before mass production methods came into play making it an indicator that your hutch may be older than other pieces with metal corner brackets.
Find Antique Hutches for sale online:
History of Antique Hutches
Hutches span many different periods of antiques. They were first used by royalty as a place to store wine and food while entertaining guests. During the 19th century, hutches became more common in middle-class homes because of their storage abilities.
In the late 1890s, Americans began to use hutches for practical purposes, such as storing linens and dishes. In the 1950s and 1960s, antique dealers would paint or refinish older pieces in bright pastel colors. Nowadays, people prefer a cleaner look because newer pieces do not have any stains or scratches on them from years of wear and tear.
The period styles you will find antique hutches built in include:
- Early American: 1720-1790
- Mid Victorian: 1850-1870
- Biedermeier: 1830-1850
- Italianate: 1840-1880
- Queen Anne: 1660-1690
- Georgian: 1710–1785
Recognizing an Antique Hutch
Once you recognize your hutch is an antique it might be reselling for much higher than its original price tag! New antiques can cost up to $3,000, but used pieces can sell for around $400.
The value of your hutch is determined by many factors including where it was made and what type of wood was used to create it. Quality woods like oak or mahogany will increase its resale price, while cheaper woods like pine or cherry will decrease the amount you could get on sale.
Before selling your antique on Craigslist or eBay make sure you check the prices other sellers are asking for similar items in your area. It is important that you do not sell below market value because you might be losing money!
Now that you know how to identify an antique hutch and how much your piece could resell for you can plan accordingly. If your hutch is in good condition and you know it was made before the turn of the century, you could be sitting on a goldmine! But do not worry if your piece is not in perfect condition. Look up refinishing techniques and stain removal tricks so you can bring back the lovely look this time-honored piece deserves.
Antique Hutch Styles
If you are in the market for an antique hutch, here are some popular styles to be on the lookout for.
Early American
This style of hutch is typically one or two doors with no drawers and straight legs. You will find this design in cherry, pine, oak, and mahogany. The most common size is 36″ wide by 19″ deep by 72″ tall. Its extravagant counterparts include double doors with glass inserts and additional side panels that cover half of its sides.
Queen Anne
Queen Anne hutches were popular during the reign of Queen Anne (1702-1714). Each door has patterns cut into it like flowers or fretwork designs and sometimes even plaques with names engraved on them. Most doors will have brass or white metal handles in the shape of an S or U.
Italianate
This style has a curved front with no legs and thin molding around its edges. There are often four to six glass panes in each door, which is separated by thin stiles. This type of hutch will come in many different woods including mahogany, oak, pine maple, butternut, walnut, cherry , ash, cedar chestnut , poplar rootwood , white wood , elm tulip tree .
Biedermeier
These hutches have high bases that elevate the piece up four hips. The doors often have raised designs carved into them as well as reliefs that produce a 3D effect. Some models have a plaster inlay on top and some come with glass inserts in their doors.
Mid Victorian
This design is slightly taller than the Queen Anne and has unadorned body panels that stretch down to its lower base. This style of hutch can be found in pine, maple, mahogany, butternut poplar , walnut ash , blackwood cedar chestnut or cherry .
Italian Renaissance Revival
The Italian Renaissance Revival style was from 1815-1880. These hutches are defined by elaborate designs on each door, which is divided into three panels. Each panel is separated by a thin strip of molding with a raised pattern carved into them all together they create a scene.
Antique Buffet Hutch
The buffet hutch is a classic furniture piece that will add charm to any home. Its purpose was to provide extra storage and space for elegant dinnerware in the dining room or kitchen. Because antique buffets can be expensive, it is important that you know exactly what you are looking at when making your purchase. If your piece of furniture has key details like crown molding and specific hardware then it will be much more valuable than one without these distinct characteristics.
Antique Kitchen Hutch
The kitchen hutch was a popular storage solution in the 1800’s. Most were made of pine, cherry, maple or poplar according to the time period that they were produced in. It is not uncommon for these items to have one or more doors that fold down into a table top for convenience while cooking at home. A classic style of this hutch is the curio hutch that comes with glass doors and display shelves on its interior.
Antique Dining Hutch
These pieces of furniture are not only used to store china, but they also provide a beautiful touch to your dining space. It can be something as simple as pine or mahogany wood with plain designs on its exterior like glass knobs grooves, etc… Some antique dining hutches include chairs around them for comfort during meals or even molasses tins underneath them to keep candles lit during dinner parties .
Antique Buffet Hutches
The distinctive feature of an antique buffet hutch would be its central location in the kitchen. A buffet presents another level of storage for all sorts of items. This buffet hutch is defined by the extra space that it provides for storing your dishes, glassware and even food in its side compartments.
Antique China Cabinet
This cabinet is made to put on display all of your treasured china, which you might have inherited from family members. Most hutches are made out of mahogany because it provides both warmth and value for the money.
Antique China Hutch
To define the antique china hutch would be to explore its purpose for being. These hutches are made to store your most valuable plates, bowls and cups in their side shelves with glass doors that cover them. This way you can keep them safe from breakage or theft without having to hide them away into a drawer at the end of every day.
Chippendale Hutch
The distinguishing quality of this hutch is its wood carving. The four corner posts will be elaborately carved with decoration that only the highest quality pieces will have.
Queen Anne Hutch
This design is one of the most distinctive styles because it comes with a top rail that runs across the top of its door panels. There are generally three doors on each side of this antique hutch which are framed by molding with recessed designs in them.
Hepplewhite Hutch
The distinguishing features on an Hepplewhite hutch are its wood carving on the flat surfaces of the doors. There are generally three or more doors on each side with an open glass panel to allow for your most treasured china to show through.
Antique Buffet Hutch
An antique buffet hutch is defined by its central location in the kitchen. It provides storage for all sorts of items and provides a beautiful touch to one’s dining space. This hutch is made out of mahogany or pine depending on the time period that it was produced in.
Sheraton Hutch
This type of hutch is one that is defined by its three features. First, you have the crown molding on top which is common to all hutches. The flat surface provides an excellent place to display beautiful table linens or even antiques. Second, you have the drawer which is framed by four legs and a stretcher. Another distinguishing feature that this hutch has would be its open shelves that provide extra storage for any household items that you might need to store away.
Jacobite Hutch
The distinguishing feature on a Jacobite hutch would be its central location in the kitchen. A buffet presents another level of storage for all sorts of items including dishes, glassware and food. This buffet hutch is defined by the extra space that it provides for storing your china, glassware and even food in its side compartments.
Aesthetic Movement Hutch
This type of antique hutch is one that provides an excellent way to complete your home’s design while also providing some storage areas like drawers and glass doors on its interior. These hutches are made out of mahogany or pine depending on the time period that they were produced in.
American Hutch
A characteristic of an American hutch is that it comes with glass doors and shelves. You can display your favorite china along with other things like salt and pepper shakers or books to add to its appeal.
French Baroque Hutch
This type of antique hutch is identified by its carved legs, moulding, doors and the molding on top. These are usually made out of mahogany because it is so durable in kitchens where you have to endure a bit of wear and tear.
English Hutch
This hutch is one that is made with bold features including ornate carvings on the legs, molding and doors. You can expect to find this hutch in any of your favorite antique stores because it was so popular during the time period when it was manufactured.
Neoclassical Hutch
The distinguishing feature on a neoclassical hutch would be its wood carving on the flat surfaces of the doors as well as its overall design. You can often times find these hutches in mahogany or pine depending on the time period that they were produced in.
Victorian Highboy Hutch
This type of hutch provides storage space for dishes, glassware and food below its extra shelf which comes with hinges that open up to provide more storage. These hutch come in many different styles and wood finishes depending on where it was manufactured.
Renaissance Hutch
This style of antique hutch is one which you can expect to find a lot of the time in any popular antique shop. It comes with a central location in kitchens around the whole world because its design has lasted for so long and is well-liked by many homeowners. Many people choose this type of hutch based on its heavy duty hardware, deep shelves and overall durability.
Swedish Hutch
This hutch is one that looks a lot like a peninsula with its counter-height piece of furniture. It’s a larger type of antique buffet which provides a ton of extra storage space on all sides including the back and underneath for dishes, glassware or even food.
French Hutch
This type of hutch is one which you will find in many homes because it’s the kind that provides extra storage for all types of items. With its deep shelves and glass doors, along with storage space below, this antique hutch has everything you are looking for in terms of extra storage space.
American Empire Hutch
The distinguishing feature on an American Empire hutch would be its open exterior where you can see your dishes displayed through these openings. You also have a very tall piece of furniture that comes with storage compartments on either side for storing anything from dishes to books or even food underneath.
Mission Hutch
This type of Hutch is one which is identified by its design, featuring curving legs and wide shelves. This kind of antique hutch provides extra storage in terms of storing dishes or even your favorite cookbooks underneath the top shelf where you can keep your plates displayed.
Victorian Hutch
This is a type of hutch that features large drawers with metal pulls and storage compartments underneath. You can use this kind of antique hutch in any room including the dining room where it provides you extra storage for all your dishes and glassware.
Wooden Hutch
This is the type of hutch that comes in a very traditional style and features a slim, tall design. You can use this kind of antique hutch in any room including your kitchen where it provides you with extra storage for dishes or glassware on top along with storage space underneath.
Antique Hutch Cabinet
This piece of furniture is one which you can place anywhere in your home to give it an older look. It features a blackish finish with 5 drawers and carving on the legs, doors and each drawer.
1940s China Cabinet
This hutch is one which you can use in any room of your home to provide it with an older, vintage charm. It features doors that open upward to reveal storage space for dishes or glassware and comes with wooden legs and moldings.
1940s Buffet Hutch
This kind of hutch provides you with extra storage space on the bottom along with shelving for displaying your dishes, glasses or food on top. You can find this type of hutch in antique stores today because its design has lasted for over 50 years producing many different variations to choose from.
Antique Breakfront Cabinet
This is a type of hutch that features glass doors and wooden molding along with two cabinets below. You can use this kind of antique hutch on its own as a display piece or in any room you want to add a vintage style to, including your dining room which will provide you extra storage for dishes on top and underneath.
Distressed Hutch
This is a type of hutch that features a very traditional style and comes in two sections. You can use this kind of antique hutch as one piece on its own or separate the two pieces to provide extra storage for dishes, food or glassware where you can keep it on display as well.
Shabby Chic Farmhouse Hutch
This piece of furniture features a country style that you can place anywhere in your home to give it an older, vintage feel. It features 3 drawers on the left side and open storage space for accent pieces on top where you can keep extra dishes or cookbooks underneath.
1920s Buffet Cabinet
This type of hutch is one which has been around since the 1920s when it became very popular in homes all across America when they started building their own homes without much help from others. This antique hutch comes with many different styles and finishes including paint, wood or metal pulls and offers a ton of extra storage space in terms of dishware or food.
Vintage Hutches
This is a type of hutch that has many different styles, finishes and designs available depending on what you are looking for. You can choose from metal pulls or wooden legs with glass doors in terms of design while some even come with drawers underneath or extra cabinets for more storage space.
1930’s Antique China Cabinet
This kind of antique hutch provides you with extra storage space on the bottom along with shelves for accent pieces on top. You can use this type of piece in any room of your home to add an old world charm including the dining room where it will provide you with extra dishes or glassware to keep on display throughout your home.
Distressed White Hutch
This kind of hutch features an antique style that you can place in any room of your house to give it a vintage charm. It comes with wooden legs, molding and two cabinets which include one open shelf space on top for accent pieces or dishes.
Different Terms Used for a Hutch
When looking for a hutch, you might encounter some different terms used for this piece. These terms include: Hutch, China Cabinet, Buffet or Formal Dining Room Hutch, Breakfront and Sideboard/Credenza.
Hutch
This is a piece of furniture that comes in a wide variety of styles, colors and finishes for your home. These pieces may come with either 2 or 3 cabinets on top where you can keep plates, dishes or glasses to display throughout your home.
China Cabinets
A china cabinet is a hutch that features glass doors along with wooden molding and sometimes even metal pulls. You can use this kind of antique hutch as one piece on its own or separate the two pieces if you want to place it against a wall for additional storage space underneath.
Buffet Hutch
A buffet hutch is another type of hutch that has many different styles and designs available depending on what you are looking for. You can choose from metal hardware, glass doors or wooden legs on all three pieces. This type of piece is great for adding extra storage space in the dining room where you can keep extra dishes, table linens or glassware to dine with.
Credenza
This is a type of hutch that features two cabinets and one top open shelf space where you can place accent pieces or display porcelain. You can use this kind of antique hutch as one piece on its own or separate the two pieces if you want to place it against a wall for additional storage space underneath.
Formal Hutch
A formal hutch, also known as a sideboard or breakfront, is another style of hutch that comes with many different designs and styles available depending on what you are looking for. You can choose from metal pulls or wooden legs combined with deep molding, glass doors and even drawers underneath for extra storage space.
Sideboard
This is a type of hutch that also comes in many different styles, colors and finishes depending on what you are looking for. You can place this kind of antique hutch in any room to provide additional storage space including the dining room where it will offer extra dishes, glassware or table linens when entertaining guests throughout your home.
Breakfront
This type of hutch features deep molding, glass doors and some even come with drawers underneath for additional storage space. You can use this kind of antique hutch in any room to add an old world charm including the dining room where it will offer extra dishes or table linens when entertaining guests.
Materials To Build a Hutch
- Maple – This is a strong wood that can last for decades and comes in light and dark finishes. This kind of material is easy to maintain and relatively inexpensive.
- Oak – This is a hardwood material that also comes in light and dark finishes and will look great as the years go by. Oak is not as common as maple, which makes it slightly more expensive than other woods such as pine.
- Mahogany – This kind of wood is strong and can last for decades. It comes in dark finishes with a deep red color that will look beautiful as the years go by. Mahogany is more expensive than maple, oak or pine.
- Pine – This type of wood makes a great hutch because it is easy to stain or paint and looks great no matter what finish you decide on. Pine is also very inexpensive compared to other types of woods such as mahogany which makes it easier to maintain.
- Walnut – This type of wood is strong and looks great with a dark finish. It can also last for decades if it is properly maintained. Walnut does come at a higher price than pine, maple or oak which makes it a very affordable choice.
- Cherry – This type of wood looks great with a dark finish and will turn a golden color over time. Cherry is affordable and comes in various finishes including light, medium and dark to choose from.
Avoiding Antique Hutch Reproductions
If you are looking to add an antique hutch in your home, there are a few things you should look out for when it comes to reproductions. There are only three ways to know if the piece is a reproduction or not:
The price – If a piece of furniture is extremely cheap, chances are it’s a knock off instead of an original piece. Most antiques need to go through different restoration processes which increase the price of the end product significantly.
Leather handles – If you see leather handles on any kind of antique furniture made from wood including cabinets and hutches, don’t buy them because they cannot withstand moisture which means they can crack easily. In addition, most antiques use metal hardware with intricate designs that will cost more to reproduce.
The color – Most antiques are painted in dark colors which is where you can find the original piece made from natural woods instead of lighter paints that usually come with knock offs.
What Can An Antique Hutch Be Used For?
The great thing about having an antique hutch in your home is that it can be used for anything you need extra storage space for including dishes, glassware and table linens when entertaining guests. In addition, it can also be used as a media center to store your DVR, DVDs and CDs. Hutches belong in the living room or family room where they provide additional storage space for photos, artwork or other collectibles. You can also put a hutch in a bedroom if you have limited space to place items such as clothing because it will give you more floorspace to move around freely.
A Guide to Valuing an Antique Hutch
You can find hutch listings in antique stores, second hand shops and online postings. Most of the time, the color, condition and quality is mentioned in the description section which will let you know if it’s a good deal or not before making an offer. If you are planning on selling your own hutch, be sure to highlight any repairs that were made on the piece because it could lead to more money for your end products.
Hutches can go from anywhere from $250 to upwards of $3,000 or more depending on where you look and what kind of condition it is in. Every minute detail counts when buying an antique including screws used for assembly, age marks scratches and anything else that adds value to the end product.
There are a few ways you can determine if the end product is worth your money or not. Firstly, look at the finish of the piece because it could be too shiny which means it’s probably been restored. If it has any scratches, dents or chips in the wood, keep looking for another antique to buy because they are usually expensive to have fixed up.
Finally ask yourself if this is something you want to own because once you decide it’s for you, decide on a price range and stick with that when buying. An antique hutch is definitely an investment piece so be sure that you’re ready to invest before making a purchase.
Where to Find Old Hutches For Sale?
If you’re interested in antique hutches for sale, many people sell them through websites such as Craigslist which is a great place to find one on a budget. However, if you’re looking for quality and you can afford it, antique specialists are your best bet because they have an eye for the finer details that other sellers may neglect.
Another place you can look is at local antique shops because many venders carry hutches along with other pieces of furniture whether it’s new or old. If you ask nicely, some owners may let you take photos before deciding on whether or not to purchase the hutch which means less money spent in the long run.
Finally, look online for sites where people list their items including estate sales and garage sales because even they will be cheaper than buying from a specialist. Just remember that buying at estate sales can be difficult to determine the condition of the product until it arrives which means you might have extra repair costs, or worse, it could come in damaged and unsellable which is why you should always ask about their return policy before buying.
Found this article on antique hutches useful? Be sure to check out our other antique guides, like our guide to identifying and valuing your antique vanity.
Find Antique Hutches for sale online:
