Tridarn and Deuddarn cupboards for Nantwich houses

Both are Welsh press cupboards. A Deuddarn has two stages, usually a cupboard base with a cupboard section above. A Tridarn adds a third, typically an open top tier, often under a canopy. Regional details and dating vary, and scholarly opinion is not settled on every point, so ask Sara about the particular piece.

It may not. Tridarns are tall pieces, and the beams in timber-framed buildings can sit well below the ceiling. Measure from the floor to the underside of the lowest beam where the cupboard would stand, then ask Sara for the total height and the height of each stage before going further.

Many press cupboards were made in sections that lift apart, which helps on narrow stairs and through low doorways, but construction varies from piece to piece. Ask Sara whether the particular cupboard separates, and for the dimensions of its largest section, before planning how it would come into the house.

The Tridarn in particular is closely associated with North Wales, and Sara sources her pieces from Wales. You can ask her what is known about a particular cupboard and its history. Enquire on lifefullcolour.uk or on 01286 400155; purchases complete through Creative Caernarfon.

Not on its own. Dates and initials can be original, but they can also be added later, so look at whether the carving is as worn and dark as the timber around it. Ask Sara what she knows about whether a carved date is thought to be original.

Check that the top tier matches the rest in timber, colour and wear, and that the turned columns look as if they belong with the stages below. Fresh-looking joints or mismatched turning can mean a later addition. This matters in a beamed room where height is already tight.

They are not unusual on old cupboards, since doors take the most handling. Look for panels that differ in colour, grain or thickness from their neighbours, and for frames with fresh joints. A replaced door is not a fault, but it should be known.

Turned parts are exposed and easy to knock, so check for chips, splits and glued breaks. A missing drop, or one that looks cleaner than the others, may be a replacement. Gentle wear on turned parts is normal and expected.

The base stage is the heaviest and sits closest to the floor, so it collects knocks, scrubbing and damp. Some wear and a few repairs at floor level are normal. Watch for soft, crumbly timber or fresh patching at the foot, which needs a closer look.

Check that each door swings without dragging and that the hinges sit firmly in the timber. Dark, aged iron with soft edges suggests age, while very bright or machine-neat hinges may be newer. Replacement hinges are common and should simply be noted.

Often not. Panels sit loosely in their frames so the timber can move, which can give a small rattle without any damage. A panel that is cracked, bulging or pushed out of its frame is a different matter and worth examining.