Featured Help identifying interesting wardrobe

Keyhole by Jdab posted Feb 23, 2020 at 8:58 PM

Drawer pull by Jdab posted Feb 23, 2020 at 8:58 PM

Bottom of drawer by Jdab posted Feb 23, 2020 at 8:18 PM

Side by Jdab posted Feb 23, 2020 at 8:18 PM

Lock by Jdab posted Feb 23, 2020 at 8:18 PM

Dovetail by Jdab posted Feb 23, 2020 at 8:18 PM

Front by Jdab posted Feb 23, 2020 at 8:18 PM

View attachment 235910

Bought in texas on craigslist, I cant find any makers Mark's the lock says its British, any ideas on age or maker. Dimensions 41"x21.5"x71"

 

Welcome. Very interesting piece!

 

It's a wonderful piece. Thank you for sharing.

 

Welcome to the board.

Interesting veneer.
What country are you in?
Doesn't look American.
@verybrad @Ghopper1924 @Jeff Drum

 

Hi Jadab
Your piece is English circa 1720-40, walnut ,with oyster cut veneers ,oak drawer sides ,the lock you have in the picture is a new lock,you should see the old locks in the other drawers.
Very nice quality piece .

Regards Giotto .

 

Does the underside of that drawer show circular saw marks or am I seeing things?

 

Hi Jdab
It looks like there has been some restoration on your piece over the years ,to be expected ,New lock,new section on the base of the drawer, filler in some cracked areas ,re polished. (restored at some stage). what does it have inside ? are there 4-5 slim drawers that slide out ,for linen or shirts ect,that slide in grooves in the sides of the cabinet?
I have attached a similar piece earlier than yours as an example of the style.

Regards Giotto.

 

Those two lever locks are mid 19th usually. Someone has done something wonderful with burr walnut. Not a wardrobe: we'd call it a tall boy cupboard probably. Very high quality, that - I think, from the shape and so forth, 1860s ish. Started life my side of the pond.

 

There is one slim shelf but it sit on a piece of wood, there Is another spot for a shelf but it the shelf was taken out.
Thanks for the help I paid 150 usd sounds like i got a good deal

 

I think you stole it.

Even though brown furniture isn't fashionable, the lovely veneer on this makes it very saleable indeed.

 

Hi Jdad
Check inside on the sides to see if any grooves have been filled up with timber ,where the original drawers would have fitted in to the groove and slid into,
Also did you find any original locks (should be steel with small bolt)?
Also can you show us the slide bolts on the left hand door,and the lock on the door?
Regards Giotto.

 

Giotto,
Here are pictures of the slide bolt and lock from one of the drawers. I dont see any filled grooves in the inside.

 

Latch by Jdab posted Feb 24, 2020 at 9:38 PM

Drawer lock by Jdab posted Feb 24, 2020 at 9:38 PM

 

Hi Jdad
The locks and bolts are not right for a 1720-1740 piece,
Can you take pictures of inside and other images of hinges etc.
Are there any other different locks or old holes where other locks were.
It is looking like this piece may not be as early as I first thought.
What about the lock on the door?

Regards Giotto

 

Giotto,

It doesn't look like there is a different hole for locks. The door like is the British 2 lever from the first set of photos. Ownedbybear thinks it's a tall boy cupboard from 1860s, here is a photo of one of the hinges

Hinge by Jdab posted Feb 25, 2020 at 10:47 AM

 

Hi Jdab
Ownedbybear ,maybe correct or it maybe later it is not from the early 1700 like I thought,open the doors ,and stand back and take better images of construction and back.
Regards Giotto.

 

Giotto,
Here are photos of the front with the door open and the back. Sadly the previous person cut a big hole in the back so the could put a tv inside so i am replacing it. Another thing i noticed is the bottom for the drawers are in grooves instead of glued or nailed and they dont use a rail system to slide they just sit on the frame.

Front with doors open by Jdab posted Feb 25, 2020 at 5:33 PM

Back by Jdab posted Feb 25, 2020 at 5:37 PM

 

It looked likely all along that this is not a period piece due to the hardware and lack of wear, but your more recent pics show it is even more recent, probably 20th century but with hand cut dovetails to make it seem older than it is. That is not a serious problem to resale value, since it has great visual impact and would appeal to decorators looking for a great antique look. It will not, however, be comparable in price to 18th century English period pieces seen at Christies, Sothebys, etc.

 

Jeff,

The hardware was fully rusted but I cleaned them.

 

Sorry, I wasn't clear. The hardware should be brass so no rust, just tarnish. (If they are rusted steel that would be a real sign of incorrect hardware). The reason the brass hardware didn't look old (besides the locks that could have been replaced) was because it was cast without any hand tooling. My statement about "lack of wear" was referring to the fact that wood furniture as old as the 1700's shows wear and/or repairs - especially veneered pieces. This didn't show any so didn't look to be authentically antique. Subsequent pictures of the back and interior shows that even more clearly.