What is a Whatnot?
The term “whatnot,” used to refer to a small, usually inconsequential object, dates from 1540. Ornaments and other decorations may be referred to collectively as whatnot, and in 1808, the term began to describe the piece of furniture used to hold whatnot as well. A number of furniture designs fall under the general category of a whatnot, but in general a whatnot has open shelves, often supported by decoratively carved pillars, and it is designed to display objects. The open shelved display has, of course, been around since long before 1808, and has been referred to by other names including the French etagere. In order to be considered a true whatnot, a shelving unit must be clearly designed for display purposes, and in general will not accommodate books or other heavy items. The open shelves allow a clear view of all the objects on the whatnot, which are usually artfully arranged to create a pleasing visual field. The bottom of the whatnot may include a small drawer, and a whatnot may
