Featured Help please!

Can someone tell me what this is? It was given to me by a neighbor when they moved and before I start taking it apart and painting it etc. I would like to know what it is. The top drawer is short, the bottom one is deep and the sides open. Image search has been no help. Thanks!

 

Just my opinion: it is lovely and I think it would be a crying shame to slap a coat of paint on it, but it isn't mine so I really have no say in the matter.

 

Oh I like it too. My daughter has begged me to refurbish it and give it to her but I'm not touching it until I know what it is.

 

Furniture gurus will be along.

I'll tag a couple for you to get their attention:
@verybrad @James Conrad @johnnycb09 @Ghopper1924

 

Thank you for your help!

 

The deep drawer, are there any sections in it?
Appears to veneered on the front drawers.

I'd put the date around 1930s/40s.

Lovely.
A real shame to cover it with paint. If it is indeed veneer, once painted you won't be able to strip it without ruining the veneer.

 

from here it looks in great shape.....the wood veneer is dazzling....
open the drawers and cubbies and let us see all it's charm before you kill it !

oh...and what size is it?

 

Hmmm, Sorry, not a clue, not in my area of interest.
Guesses a bar? I'd say cluttered is close on 1930s-40s. Looks to be ribbon mahogany on fronts.

 

PLEASE don't paint it .. it is lovely just as it is !! ... Joy.

 

Would cutlery fit in it?

 

Why on earth would you want to paint something that nice????

 

20s or so dining room piece. Guessing not too wide so would probably call it a server. Styling is based on William and Mary designs but in no way historically true to the style. I am thinking it probably had a more figured veneer on the two doors that has been stripped off.

 

Fancy veneer looks like ribbon mahogany. The base and other solid wood parts look to be poplar and imagine they once matched the veneers a bit better than they do today and everything was a bit darker. Whole thing has been refinished at some point and lightened in the process.

 

@verybrad In your shop, would it sell better 'as is' or with a coat of paint on it?

 

Gorgeous, unusual and robust ca. 1930 piece: Victorian around the legs, classical above. Some type of dining room storage, as was noted.

Of course I never saw it i the past, but have to believe that this is a case of refinishing actually helping the appearance of the piece. That is some BEAUTIFUL mahogany veneer! P.D.P*



*Please Don't Paint

 

The attractiveness of this piece is in its "fancy" veneer (to quote) and bold proportions which are highlighted by the veneer. Painting would turn it into a big lump of solid color, which would not integrate well into any type of decor. IMHO.

Debora

 

Just kidding but I've got a 70s hard rock maple hutch & matching corner cupboard I'd swap you for it. . .they could be painted any color your daughter wants.

 

I really like it and heartily endorse the "do not paint" advice - but it sure would be nice to have dimensions and a picture or 2 of the interiors with the end doors open and construction of the drawers.

 

I'm wondering if it was actually refinished or if the flash is just making it look like that.

I had a (somewhat similar) fancy veneer mirrored dresser that I sold 4 months ago, and when I took pictures with flash the whole thing looked amazing -- new, even, when in fact it wasn't in that great shape. I had to take a photo without flash to get it to look like the actual item.

I'd hesitate painting for above reasons. Maybe try selling?

 

Thanks everyone. I here are additional pics. The measurements are 45w x 20d x37h.