Dressers, cabinets and credenzas are extremely elegant pieces of furniture which are highly attractive to amateur and professional antique hunters alike. Here we look at some examples of what to look for if you're thinking of buying one. In this article Dressers Cabinets Credenzas In most collectors' minds, antique dressers epitomise 'country' style and rustic charm. They give instant atmosphere to a room and can look equally impressive in a dining room, kitchen or hall - or wherever else you care to put them. According to the style you're looking for, dressers vary greatly in price: those made from simple pine in the 19th century, or later, are most affordable; early oak ones are usually much more expensive. Cabinets are among the most refined - and valuable - pieces of antique furniture available. They were made in the 17th and 18th centuries to store precious curiosities, and became status symbols reflecting the wealth of their owner. Cabinets can create a dramatic focal point in a room - but unless you're extremely lucky, you may have to dig deep in your pockets to be able to afford an early one. If you seek a more affordable elegance, look out for a 19th-century credenza. Like cabinets, credenzas were made to display valuables, and are often highly ornate and decorative. Unlike most early cabinets, however, many are still available relatively inexpensively. Dressers Beware of dressers where the base and rack have been 'married' and didn't originally belong together. Compare the colour and patina of the wood on both parts. Here the colour of rack and base are similar, showing that they belong together. Look for the outline of the rack on the base, such as you can see here. Value is from $5,000 to $8,400. Remember - not all dressers had racks. Cabinets Legs on cabinets have often been replaced. Even though the stand of the c.1690 oyster laburnum marquetry cabinet pictured top is a later replacement (it has a harsh glossy finish quite different from the mellow sheen of the rest of the piece), the cabinet is still very valuable at around $15,000. Credenzas Credenzas can still be bought for under $1,600 - a bargain considering their usual good quality, especially when you compare them with the cost of earlier similarly elaborate pieces. This one is worth around $1,200 to $1,600 and has many desirable features: walnut veneers, original glass, gilt mounts and attractive inlay. Marquetry decoration Marquetry decoration, as on the cabinet above, always adds to value. Terms used to describe the different techniques are: Oyster veneering: slices cut across branches to make patterns like an oyster shell. Cross banding: border with a grain at right angles to the main veneer. Parquetry: geometric pattern of small pieces of veneer. Stringing: narrow line of inlaid wood.