Please help with age of Belgian/Flemish cabinet

Hello, fellow Antiquers! We have what appears to be a Belgian/Flemish carved cabinet. I am in Southern California; my in-laws purchased this locally around 50 years ago, and have no other information. It’s actually two pieces. The top piece has stained glass and shelves (with a plug-in light added). Both the top and bottom pieces have carved lions. The bottom piece has a top drawer and a cabinet. Both the cabinet on top and bottom have the door open with swivel pins on the top and bottom; no hinges.

It’s showing its age, and the moulding on the top and bottom needs to be nailed back expertly (I have the bottom corner moulding; it just came off). I know this is technically a kitchen piece, and the piece that holds plates in vertically needs to be repaired (shown below). I have the spare pieces. All of the lions had a metal ring in their mouths, which I also have.

Based on others I’ve seen at antique stores and exemplars online, I presumed that this was more or less a late 19th century piece, and not particularly valuable (relative to the amount of skill and effort it took to carve it...curse of the “Brown Furniture.”) I’m getting it ready to send off to get repairs (broken stuff fixed; no refinishing) when I found a link to an antique store (see below) selling a Belgian piece with similar carvings, dating that piece to the 17th century.

Of course, Belgian artisans may have using similar techniques and designs for quite some time, but I’m asking the furniture experts here to tell me how I can estimate the age of this piece. When I pulled out the drawer I was surprised to see just a couple of dovetails holding the front on (closeup below). I own many vintage pieces, and I’ve been antique shopping for decades, and I don’t recall seeing any dovetail configuration like that.

I’m happy to take any additional photos of any other details (other than the back of the piece, as I can’t turn it around). The stained glass looks to be in wonderful condition front and back.

Sorry about the photo on its side. I can’t figure out how to upright it.

The piece is at least seven feet tall. We have kept it in our living room because it has extra high ceilings.

So, what do you think? Late 19th century (Victorian era) or earlier? How can you tell? Other than the glossy finish on the cabinet in the link, the carvings in the 17th century piece look the same as those on my piece to me.

Thanks, everyone. I appreciate it.





https://www.beauchampantiques.com/inventory/17th-century-flemish-buffet-hand-carved-from-oak/

 

I posted a few more detail shots. Any higher resolution and they won’t post here. The second one from the bottom should be vertical, and it’s a detail of the side carvings (some type of fruit or vegetable?).

 

Excluding the top mouldings, the main body of the top piece is 29” wide by 13” deep. The lower cabinet part is 34” wide on top, 29” wide at the main body, and 19” deep (excluding the protruding lion heads). I’ve seen wider ones at antique stores.

 

The top and bottom keys. They are 3” long. They are identical in size (but cut differently); the distortion is from my camera phone. There is no escutcheon at the keyhole. Of course it’s possible the keys and locks were added later.

 

It is a typical 19th century cabinet made in Mechelen in Belgium. The style is Historic Revival, which is really a combination of several styles.
Here in the Low Countries these aren't worth much either. A great pity, considering the work that went into them, but people can't even give them away.
As you can see there is a big difference between your cabinet and the 17th century one. The only similarity is the use of oak. The oak for both cabinets was sourced from forests near Antwerp, Belgium.

 

Thanks for the response. I appreciate it.