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What is Armarium?

“Armarium” sounds like a beautiful Italian word, but what does it actually mean?

The word has Latin origins and, surprisingly, it refers to a cabinet or safe (according to dictionary.com). According to encyclopedia.com, besides a cabinet, armarium can also refer to a storage room, such as a pantry, library, or a specialized cabinet for storing weapons.

In ancient times, when not everyone could afford furniture, a cabinet was a symbol of wealth and reliability. The armarium held the most important items. The earliest recorded mention of a Roman cabinet is found on the lid of a marble sarcophagus and dates back to around 200 BC. In this cabinet with a cornice on the top shelf, there are rolls of manuscripts, and on the bottom shelf, a bowl. Scholars have identified lines resembling surgical instruments, concluding that the cabinet likely belonged to a physician or surgeon.

Source: Marble sarcophagus

The next mention of the armarium (from the 3rd–2nd centuries BC) is related to the Library of Alexandria, where cabinets were used to store scrolls and manuscripts. By then, manuscripts were made of parchment rather than papyrus, requiring special storage conditions.

Source: Library of Alexandria

The presence of a cabinet in an interior indicated the owner’s high status and intellectual capacity. The image of an armarium can also be found in the well-known Amiatinus Codex, the oldest surviving copy of the Bible.

Saint Lawrence with the instrument of his martyrdom and a book cabinet

Prophet Ezra with a book cabinet and scribe tools

Source: AMIREZ, J. (2009). Sub culmine gazas: The Iconography of the Armarium on the Ezra Page of the Codex Amiatinus. Gesta, 48(1), 1-18. doi:10.2307/29764893

From the 9th century, the French, having borrowed the term from the ancient Romans, began calling cabinets “armoires,” a term still in use today. The armoire is a classic style cabinet, often adorned with carved cornices and concealing the owner’s secrets behind framed doors.

Source: Chateauneuf Rustic 2-Door French Armoire, French Bedroom

Today, we no longer perceive a cabinet as a sign of wealth, but rather as a functional piece of furniture where we can store not only family treasures but also anything we wish to hide away. However, personal libraries still indicate the intellectual level of the owner. Archivists advise keeping books not in cabinets like Roman parchments but on open shelves, away from direct sunlight, in a room with a temperature between +25 and +28°C and humidity of 50–60%.

Source: pexels.com – bookshelf

Interestingly, with a name like “Armarium Cabinetry,” the most popular product we offer is not a cabinet or wardrobe, but kitchen furniture. Is this a trend of societal digitalization, where we now only need one large hard drive for storage?

If a hard drive is not enough for you, we would be happy to make you a cabinet, armarium, armoire, or even set up a library or walk-in closet. Start here: moobel@armarium.ee or

The History of Creating a Cozy Interior

One of the significant projects of late 2020 and early 2021 was the design of private apartments in the Merikalju district of Tallinn.

On the first floor, our team created a cozy, modern interior based on a design by Yana Dymskaya. The client also actively participated in selecting materials and color schemes. We are pleased to present the result of our collaboration, which we are fully satisfied with. The refined design solutions have now become a kind of standard for our furniture collection and are showcased in our showroom at Parnu mnt 33, Tallinn.

Our Projects

Kitchen and Hallway in Mustamäe

Case Furniture

Texture

Case Furniture, Upholstered Furniture, Wall Coverings

 

Attic floor

Case furniture

 

Black and white

Case furniture

Airy kitchen

Case furniture

Interior of a unique barge

Case Furniture, Upholstered Furniture, Marine Interiors

Hiiu lounge

Upholstered Furniture

Mack Bar-B-Que

Tables with Patterns

 

Venus Club

Sofas in a Lounge Zone

Warehouse Interior Design

Perforated Wall Coverings

Continental Bed

Soft Furniture

Kitchen Area in the Office

Case Furniture

Our Contacts

Production

Vesiveski tee 32,Jõgisoo
küla, Saue vald
Harjumaa, 76441

Working Hours:

Monday - Friday: 09:00 AM - 06:00 PM

Contacts:

Phone: +372 5648 8344

Phone: +372 5342 4942

Email: info@armarium.ee

Email: moobel@armarium.ee

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