Featured Drop center dresser

I recently acquired a solid black walnut drop center dresser with mirror. I have very little information on it. I believe it’s hand made. Have no idea how old it is. I’m thinking about refinishing it. Would that hurt its value? and there is a top piece missing. Has anyone seen something like this with the top piece? I think I can make something, I just want to make something that would be consistent for the time frame for this piece.

Not sure why pictures rotated during uploading.

 

Welcome, John. The rotation usually happens when the image was taken with an iPhone.

I'm tagging a furniture expert for you. @verybrad

 

Renaissance revival walnut dresser circa 1870. Looks like the handles are wrong. Not missing much off the top. Here is a similar example with correct pulls.

 

Thank you, Brad.

 

Thank you! That helps a bunch. Would refinishing it hurt value?

 

Thank you for your assistance

 

No problem with respectful refinishing. Based on the one photo, it really looks like it just needs some cleaning and touching up rather than a complete refinish job.

 

Would like a look at the current pulls. Glass? Possibility that they could be older than the dresser and relatively valuable.

 

Were you thinking Sandwich ? Thats what occurred to me but Im often wrong!

 

I will take some close ups of the pulls. They are not glass. I don’t think they are old or valuable, 5he pulls are something my sister put on several years ago. I do have the originals but prolly won’t use them.

 

the left countertop came off during moving. Thought y’all might appreciate the joinery underneath. Don’t see stuff like this in todays furniture

 

The marble is made to be removed, so be sure to remove it if you are trying to carry/move the whole piece, and I'm sure you know to never carry marble flat, stress cracks and breaks will happen (ive watched it happen numerous times ), always turn it up on its side.

I'd personally try some Howard's restore a finish and Howard's Feed n Wax before I went and tried to refinish it.
You might be pleasantly surprised what it can do with very little effort

 

My dresser is the one without the marble. I will look into the Howard’s restore and see what happens before I do a total refinish. Thanks for all the input!