German Grain Chest ?? ID help!

Help identify!
I just bought this sideboard from FB marketplace, and wonder if anyone has seen a similar piece. It’s two pieces and the top lifts open to reveal hand stenciled paper lining. There are square pegs and dovetails along with very old-looking round nails. The key and lock do work, but the left lock is totally different and the knob is missing. If anyone has a suggestion of how I can replace that piece, I’d be thrilled. The skeleton wood is pine, but the exterior wood looks like a fruit wood of some kind. The person I bought it from says she got it at an antique shop where it was identified as being a German grain storage cabinet.

 

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a shout out to some of my pals.........maybe they can help !

 

Don't think it's a sideboard, a Dough box maybe?

 

that lining made me think of a church box for storing vestments and other hardware....but...........WDIK !!

 

still.......a type of blanket box........????

 

Sorry, not a clue. I don't think blanket chest though, it should have drawers instead of cupboard doors I would think.

 

No worries.....I never know what kinda wood is gonna tickle your fancy....
cept maybe............Fancy Wood !!! Heehehe!!!!!

 

Well, it's European so right away it is out of my field of interest & knowledge.
That said, has the look & shape of a dough box.
Wait for others, it's EARLY!

 

So the top piece that looks like a coffin can be removed?
Could you please post more pictures of the hardware and carvings?

 

Anyone besides me that thinks these two pieces don't even go together?

Here is a slightly lightened & cropped picture:

 

I'm with you, wisc. Very odd piece. The paper lining could have been done later, but certainly would not be appropriate for the storage of grain. And way too big for a dough box (although we have yet to be given measurements, hint, hint.)

 

Absolutely. They are different in style as qwell. The top piece is rococo/Louis V while the other tends more to classical.

 

A bit out of my area as well. Best guess would be a dough box but agree that it seems a bit large. Have seen some carved French ones that were ornate but not on top of a chest as this is. Would lend to the idea that the pieces are married.

 

Yeah, I've never seen it's like. That's one of the fun things about this site!

A paper lining is a terrible choice for anything to do with food. However, the paper seems old, and the piece has some aesthetic movement elements, so I'm getting an 1870s-80s vibe. Due to the uniqueness of the piece it may have been custom-made by someone with woodworking skill for a specific purpose and/or client.

I will say that, despite the paper, I think it had something to do with food use or storage, at least in the bottom (cupboard) part. I'll agree on it's German origins; the feet and skirt/valence strongly resemble local woodworking traditions here in the "Missouri Rhineland."

 

Random thought, could the top piece be a repurposed trunk bench like one of these? The shape totally reminds me of it