Antique Buffet Sideboard Server inquiry

Greetings. I am hoping to solve a mystery regarding a piece of furniture. I have an antique server buffet sideboard. There are 3 sections. At the top of each section is a wood trim piece with carved fan design. These pieces are each double hinged and flip up and outward. Does anyone know what function these serve? Thanks in advance. Jbf

 

nice piece.......
at 1st glance....it looks like they move to allow something taller to slide in or out...
the other shelves... look larger...and may move....but the top ones look stationary...

 

Thank you. Both of the shelves on the left and right are adjustable.

 

both the middle ones....as I surmised....... or all 4 ?

 

All 4.

 

Hummmm...well then....something similar......they move....so as not to be broken off while pulling something tall......off the shelf....

 

Like a drawer?

 

Looks like some sort of store display ?

 

you say they flip up..and outward....how far outward?

 

Agrees, they do.

 

The trim flips 90 degrees up/out. No piece slides. At least no piece that is present

 

Like a door, not a drawer.

 

like they are trying to get out of the way of something !