When would y’all say this was made? Goes together (or did) without any screws or hardware. Photos obviously aren’t very good but all I have to go on. Owner is claiming it’s quite old just want to see what others think.
I am not convinced this is older than around WWI and could be newer by a few years. Certainly not 19th century. But "no screws or hardware?" That I find hard to understand given what we see in the pictures. After all, the doors do seem to have metal hinges. Does the owner think hinges don't count as hardware? How would the whole thing not just fall down with nothing holding all the pieces together?
I guess what I meant to say is that there is no hardware needed to assemble the pieces as you see them according to them. So outside of the hinges I suppose they mean it’s all tongue and groove or pegs or what have you. They think it’s much, much older than your estimate. It didn’t strike me as such so that’s why I’m asking. They are claiming 18th c.
18th century? No way. Maybe they really mean 1800's? Still doesn't look that old to me, but, whatever. I wouldn't just sit there and "suppose" what holds it together. Ask!
more interested in determining if their age statement is even close to correct. I would say they may have confused their centuries except for the fact they specifically said the family story places it in the 1700s. We know that family stories are often wrong. I just want to know if anyone sees any truth in this so I can learn why or why not.
I'd call it ca. 1880, walnut. I have one that is not dissimilar, and it is also held together like a puzzle, without any nails. In this case it looks like you're missing a top and a crest. Also, the drawer pulls are replacement. You may or may not be missing areas of walnut burl as well.
Great, thanks. So they were about 120 or so years off if that’s the case. The pulls didn’t look right to me for that era. Apparently not even right for 1880! The original shelves were missing too. They said that while it used to go together perfect and sit nicely, after a few moves it may need to be be shored up with some screws or nails.
Seeing as you have one that’s not dissimilar I assume you consider it a piece of furniture worth owning. I also assume yours is much nicer than this one. That said I’ve been looking for a large storage solution. I don’t necessarily have a good way to transport one that is more solid. Since this is already broken down and it’s being offered to me gratis I was thinking of taking it. I don’t want to get something not worth holding onto for a while though. They must be pretty well made to be able to just stack into themselves, no? Anyways my point is, would you recommend this or would you skip it? Obviously the price point is good. Edit: hoping they have a top that’s just not pictured.
IMHO - it looks like it has had the crap kicked out of it and will take an enormous amount of effort to even make it functional. Prices on brown furniture is in the dumpster & I'd opt to spend a small amount of money on a much nicer piece.
Free is worth a lot, particularly if you can use it. I don't see anything all that wrong with this that a little spiffing and a couple pulls wouldn't improve significantly ...... assuming the top is there.
