Sideboard

The concept of a dining room, a separate room with permanent furniture for dining, evolved in the late 18th century and new forms, such as the sideboard, were created for functional purposes. In 1788 George Hepplewhite wrote in “The Cabinet-Maker and Upholsterer’s Guide” that “THE great utility of this piece of furniture… renders a dining room incomplete without a sideboard.” When George Clarke "The Builder" set about ordering furniture for his townhouse in Albany, he was billed 60 pounds, or approximately $150, for this sideboard from Albany cabinetmaker John Meads. There were many variations in the form of sideboards at the time, and Clarke chose the pedestal end design with a central opening in which he could place his wine cooler. The sideboard served as a small, elegant pantry, providing space on the top for whatever ceramics, glasses, silver, and food were needed at the meal, while the drawers and cupboards provided storage for extra silverware, plates, napkins, and tablecloths. When he moved to Hyde Hall in 1819, Clarke brought the sideboard with him, and it has been at Hyde Hall ever since.