Furniture-making artisans used to be called cabinetmakers. They were responsible for designing and building all types of furniture. Up to the middle of the 17th Century, fine cabinets were incredibly rare in Europe and North America. Simple cabinets that could be easily repaired and maintained were the order of the day. However, as the 17th Century turned into the 18th, ornate carvings, inlays and decorative elements began to creep into designs for cupboards, armoires and other cabinets.
