Featured Antique jewelry box - type of wood? Plus few other questions.

Garage sale purchase, not expensive. Thinking this is "oak", is that correct? Measures approx 6 inches across, 3.5 inches high.

I cannot find anything quite like this on Ebay, I feel like I might be using the wrong search words. Tried searching "antique oak jewelry box" and didn't see anything similar either in live auctions or completed. What would you call this?

I can tell you what the person at the garage sale said this was. (I realize that things you hear from a former owner may not be correct, just sharing.) She said it was purchased at a Chicago antique store a few years ago, and the store called it an "18C French jewelry box".

I wasn't sure about the 18C, but felt it might easily be 19C. The fabric inside is quite worn, but maybe gives clues. The box is missing one foot but on inspection I think one of the existing feet might be a replacement. Also appears as if it might have been locked at one time and someone tried to pry it open. I do not have the key.

So... what to call this? Is there a name for the way the drawers sort of swivel out? Type of wood? Estimate of age? Keywords appreciated.

Thanks!

 

Does look like oak; beyond that, I don't know.

 

sure looks like oak......i like the way the lock comes down over the drawers..

 

Yep, they are bun feet indeed!

 

Any idea on the age of this?

 

It's oak, in looking at hinges I would guess 20th century, not 18th century and doubtful 19th either.

 

I realize you didn't wanna hear that but, those are "modern" hinges, screws. I would guess 1950s-60s?

 

Still a nice box, just because it's old doesn't mean it's valuable, they made junk in the 18th century just like we do today, trust me!

 

I think it is neat the way the drawers go this way and that way.
I am not a furniture person, but I am getting a late 1950's vibe.
BWDIK.

 

Agrees, i think that's probably close.

 

Well I'm only in it for $10. It just seems like a fair amount of work went into this. The rounded wood, not veneer, brass plates with steel nails, all those tacks like things, etc. The bottom insert of the drawers looks like pine. The types of wood joints --dowel/tongue? (Probably don't have the right word there but some kind of plate or wood is in the outer corners). In fairness, I can't come up with any comparables from any era. Here are a few more photos. Maybe 1920s-40s? Thanks.

 

Neat joinery, last pic is a "spline" joint. Oak & pine construction, it's a cool box, you absolutely got your 10 dollars worth! And, if 1950, that's 70 years old! You can find bun feet online to replace one that's missing.
The front curvy/wavey dealio is called a "serpentine" front in furniture world.

 

Thank you for the "serpentine" and "spline" name James, And INH, yes that tack decoration might be a search word to establish.

Anyone have an idea what to call those metal tack like things? There are 103 of them in total (1 missing). 28 on the top, 17 on each side, 20 in the front and 20 in the back.

 

"studs" maybe? or studded?

 

Just a thought but, could this be a man's jewelry box? The studds seem awfully masculine to me. Course, i know nothing about jewelry or the boxes that hold them.

 

My grandparents brought me back a similar kind of box when they were traveling.
I think it was in the late 60's maybe 70's.
I still have it with some items from my childhood inside.

This one is similar to mine. I think they were unisex and like souvenirs.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-PI...269602?hash=item3d6ff40ae2:g:q~AAAOSwOD9bbjvR

 

I may be wrong, but it looks Arts & Crafts period to me, 1880-1920, like mission oak furniture. The rickrack trim used inside the drawers was popular during that time period (and again in the mid 20th century). The inside of the lid was padded with cotton with silk over the top, perhaps to hold brooches or other pins if it was used for jewelry, or needles if it was a sewing box. I don't think sewing boxes were generally locked, though.

 

I hope you are correct and i am sure @Lucille.b would be thrilled!