Our reproduction is patterned after one in Georgia that was originally used to store home-canned jellies and preserves. It was probably hammered together by a farmer, not built by an experienced cabinetmaker.

The cupboard stands 68 inches tall and is about 32 inches wide and 12 inches deep. You could use it to hold towels and toiletries in a bath, games and toys in a playroom, a compact CD player, or even canned goods in the kitchen. During construction, the shelves can be spaced to fit whatever you need to store.

Stock pine boards are used for almost all the parts, minimizing the need for ripping. Construction is simple and fast. No fancy joints are used, only wood glue and nails.

We painted the piece with a cream-colored latex paint, and then followed with a coat of medium blue. After the paint dried, we sanded, scraped, and beat the surface to duplicate years of wear. A coat of tinted paste wax completed the finish. Other possible color combinations include green over red, cream over red, and black over cream. If desired, you could paint the interior of the cabinet a contrasting color or, as was often done, cover the shelves, sides, and back with wallpaper.