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

So far this isn’t really close, but similar.
https://picclick.com/Antique-Oak-Serpentine-Front-2-Drawer-Lift-top-273184064791.html

 

Nice box Lucille I think it has age to it too. Maybe @Poisonivy would know if this is a sewing box?
@clutteredcloset49 might know too

 

I also think this has a bit of age. Definitely oak and has been refinished. I am comfortable with a date sometime the first couple decades of the 20th century.

 

Thanks for all of the thoughtful replies.

I did wonder if this was refinished -- makes sense.

As I look for comparable pieces, something is nagging at me. I wonder if this used to be on more of a solid base? Most every small oak box from this era with similar brass plates seems to have a solid base that slightly extends out. (Like the link INH posted.) Would such an alteration explain why the bottom of mine is sort of dark and unfinished looking possibly? That something happened to the base, it was removed and feet were added? Might be completely wrong, but suddenly found myself wondering.

In the process of looking at Google images I found an interesting example on the Morning Glory Antiques site. Was looking at an oak box, and down a few columns further was a black carved box (1845) with the same style of small drawers that swing out on hinges. Almost the same design exactly. Different in outward appearance but at least an earlier example of this design.

http://www.morninggloryantiques.com/collectboxes.html

 

good find Lucille

 

It very well could be, I also wondered about that dark base, something happened there because it would not normally age like that.

 

I wonder if it had felt glued onto the bottom and it was removed when the piece was refinished.

 

Could be, it looks like a glue/mastic type product on bottom to hold something on.

 

In the hand it kind of looks like black paint or stain.

This brings up another question, will add a few more photos.

 

Maybe we should call this a "puzzle box" since all these questions are coming up, LOL.

When looking at the bottom minutes ago, I realized the spot where the one foot is missing does not have this black paint/stain. Maybe feet were original to this. Bare wood under the missing bun foot as you can see in the 2nd photo.



Is it possible the whole thing was black at one time? When I look at the brass pieces there are places where black is in the crevices.


I know there was a crazy of stripping/refinishing older pieces for a while. Whoever refinished this did an incredible job, must have taken some time in any case.

 

Some elements here look similar. Maybe some key search terms or something. Sorry I can’t really help other than finding similar.
https://www.harpgallery.com/shop/item26657.html

 

Nice box .. Well done James !! .. Joy.