Decoration on top of the display cabinet: do not overload the upper edge
The top of a display cabinet is a tempting place to put things. Vases, figures, boxes and seasonal items quickly accumulate there because the space appears unused. The result distracts from the contents of the cabinet, makes cleaning harder and, with tall furniture, can become a safety problem. This applies to sales floors just as much as to hotel lobbies, restaurants and private living spaces in which a display cabinet shows porcelain, glassware or collectors' items and is meant to be the focus itself. With a few rules, the surface can be used in such a way that it rounds off the piece instead of overloading it.
Why the top is a special surface
Whatever stands on a display cabinet is usually above eye level and is seen from below. Small objects disappear behind the cornice, flat ones look as if they have simply been left there. At the same time, the cabinet itself is the showpiece: its contents are meant to make an impression, not what stands above them. Much Baroque furniture already has a carved crest or a projecting cornice. In this case the top is already designed, and additional objects compete with the ornament. The top is then best left clear, or carries at most a single, calm piece in the centre.
A few large pieces instead of many small ones
If the display cabinet has a straight top, one to three objects are enough. Pieces from the Decoration range should be large enough to remain recognisable from a distance, for example a single vase, a bust or a pair of candlesticks. An odd number or a symmetrical pair looks orderly; many small items look restless. Leave some distance to the edge at the sides so that the outline of the piece remains recognisable. As a guide value, the decoration should take up no more than about two thirds of the width and should not fill the gap to the ceiling in height.
Weight, stability and ceiling clearance
Tall display cabinets should as a matter of principle be fixed to the wall, especially in rooms open to the public. Heavy objects on top shift the centre of gravity upwards and load a top panel that is not designed for this in every case; if in doubt, ask the supplier. Fragile pieces do not belong at the front edge, where vibrations from doors or footsteps cause them to wander. Non-slip mats or museum wax provide additional hold. There should be visible space between the decoration and the ceiling, and lights, smoke detectors or sprinklers must not be obscured.
Cleaning and rotation in daily operation
Dust collects on the top; it cannot be seen from below, but it settles on the objects. Every additional piece prolongs cleaning and requires a ladder. Therefore plan only as many objects as the staff can regularly take down and wipe. In retail, it is worth changing the decoration seasonally instead of adding to it: one piece comes, one goes. Price tags, boxes and stock have no place on top of the display cabinet; they quickly make the sales floor look untidy and devalue the presentation below.
Related: Display Cabinets, Console Tables, Mirrors. The full range: Baroque furniture.
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