Help needed with age and style of a bureau and desk

I don't usually associate a bow front with Empire styling (except some Empire revival pieces). The way the columns go all the way to the top is more typical of Federal, as are the oval brass pulls. Empire pieces often have the top drawer larger and overhanging, with the columns ending below. The knobs are generally wood, sometimes glass, or just a knob if brass. The small 2 drawer step-back on top is more typical of Empire pieces. This, plus the mass of the columns keeps this from being a strictly Federal piece from my point of view.

 

Thanks Greg. One of these days I'm going to try that on an old trunk.

 

More photographs. The handles are replacements, however, I'm not sure about the round pulls. There are a lot of repairs on this piece. I'm not sure if the back legs are original. The photographs are pitiful. I don't have light out there and the flash on my camera is useless.



The back of the draw

Close-up of the hardware. Even though these are replacements, they do look older.




The lock mechanism

Back where legs are held on by a metal bar.

 

More photographs of the back and inside where the draw slides.







Where the draw slides in

 

Do you have more pictures of the dovetails? They appear to be hand cut(Poorly)