A credenza is a piece of furniture that became very fashionable during the second half of the 19th century. Often made of a burnished and polished wood decorated with marquetry, a central cupboard would be flanked by symmetrical quadrant glass display cabinets. The top would often be made of marble, or another decorative stone, or of inlaid wood.
Modern Credenza
Today, a credenza is more often a type of sideboard used in domestic or restaurant situations. In dining rooms, it is typically made from wood and used as a platform to serve buffet meals. In restaurant kitchens, made from stainless steel, it provides a side surface and storage cupboards.
Originally in Italian the name meant belief. In the 16th century the act of credenza was the tasting of food and drinks by a servant for a lord or other important person (such as the pope or a cardinal) in order to test for poison. The name passed then to the room where the act took place, then to the furniture.[1]
credenza (1) — {{hw}}{{credenza (1)}{{/hw}}s. f. 1 Fede, spec. religiosa: credenza in Dio | Cosa in cui si crede. 2 Opinione, convinzione: è generale credenza che... 3 Fiducia, attendibilità: acquistare –c. 4 Consiglio di –c, nel Comune medievale, collegio di… … Enciclopedia di italiano
credenza — n. 1. a {credence[3]}. Syn: credence. [PJC] 2. a buffet or sideboard similar to a credence[4], especially one without legs. MW10 [WordNet 1.5] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
credenza — [kri den′zə] n. [It, buffet holding foods to be tasted before serving, orig., faith, confidence (in fare la credenza, to make confidence, to taste) < ML credentia,CREDENCE] 1. a type of buffet or sideboard 2. a low cabinet for use as in an… … English World dictionary
credenza — 1cre·dèn·za s.f. 1a. CO il credere, opinione: è una mia ferma credenza | convinzione popolare, spec. superstiziosa: un antica credenza; leggenda | opinione in materia religiosa Sinonimi: idea, opinione, costume. 1b. BU parere: a mia credenza, a… … Dizionario italiano
credenza — crede/nza (1) s. f. 1. fede, religione, confessione, dottrina 2. opinione, convinzione, teoria, avviso, convincimento 3. tradizione, leggenda 4. superstizione, pregiudizio 5. giudizio, parere … Sinonimi e Contrari. Terza edizione
credenza — credenza1 /kre dɛntsa/ s.f. [lat. mediev. credentia, der. di credĕre affidare, fidarsi, ritener vero ]. 1. a. [il credere, con riferimento alla convinzione religiosa] ▶◀ confessione, credere, credo, dottrina, fede, religione. b. (etnol.) [spec.… … Enciclopedia Italiana
credenza — /krəˈdɛnzə/ (say kruh denzuh) noun 1. a sideboard or small buffet, especially one without legs. 2. a small side desk attached at right angles to a main desk to facilitate use. {Italian credenza. See credence} …
Credenza desk — A credenza desk A credenza desk (often simply, credenza) is a modern desk form usually placed next to a wall as a secondary work surface to that of another desk, such as a pedestal desk, in a typical executive office. When used as an active work… … Wikipedia
credenza — noun Etymology: Italian, literally, belief, confidence, from Medieval Latin credentia Date: 1880 1. credence 3 2. a sideboard, buffet, or bookcase patterned after a Renaissance credence; especially one … New Collegiate Dictionary
credenza — /kri den zeuh/, n. 1. Also, credence. a sideboard or buffet, esp. one without legs. 2. a closed cabinet for papers, office supplies, etc., often of desk height and matching the other furniture in an executive s office. 3. Eccles. credence (def.… … Universalium
Credenza
Modern Credenza
