Closets and Wardrobes

[Carol]

Catlady:
> > I seem to recall Molly taking dishes from the dresser in the 
kitchen of 12 Grimmauld Place soon after Harry arrives there.
> 
Carol:
Thanks, Catlady! I knew there was at least one reference to "dresser"
used in that way, but I was concentrating on "cupboard" in my posts. 

> Goddlefrood:
> 
> Geoff's already expanded on what a Welsh dresser is. I would add 
> that while it is a familiar piece of furniture it is not all that 
> common. If my internal US - UK conversion is working correctly I 
> think it would be known as a tallboy there. <snip>

Carol:
I don't think we use the term "tallboy." I think we'd call it a "china
cabinet." Usually, they're quite expensive and are used more for
display than for storage. I can't afford such luxuries and wouldn't
have any dishes worth displaying if I bought one.

With regard to Molly's use of a dresser for dishes, maybe it's just
one more element in the old-fashioned lifestyle (robes, candles,
fireplaces for heating rather than decoration) of the WW. I'll bet
that Petunia stores her dishes in the cupboard, just as she uses
"eckeltricity" for lighting, heating, and cooking. (The stove might be
gas, I don't know, but she also has a microwave.)

Carol, glad that catlady remembered the "dresser" reference