Credenza

A credenza is a dining room sideboard or display cabinet, usually made of burnished and polished wood and decorated with marquetry. The top would often be made of marble, or another decorative liquid- and heat-resistant stone.
The credenza started as a rough table with a cloth draped over it. In early 14th-century Italy, it took on an architectural form with column and pilaster decorations.
In modern times, a credenza is more often a type of sideboard used in the home or restaurant. In dining rooms, it is typically made from wood and used as a platform to serve buffet meals. In restaurant kitchens, made from stainless steel, it provides a side surface and storage cupboards.
It can also be referenced in an office environment for office storage; both above and below a desk space.

Etymology

Originally in Italian the name meant belief or trust. In the 16th century, the act of credenza was the tasting of food and drinks by a servant for a lord or other important person in order to test for poison. The name may have passed then to the room where the act took place, then to the furniture.