Help on identifying cabinet- please and thank you!

Oh, no, Nvntivs- that was my failure to read properly, not you at all! You've been so super helpful and I have appreciated every thought and suggestion!

I've located a local man who is a very knowledgeable musician and instrument builder. I'm going to take the cabinet to him to look over (and help restore). I think he might be able to help as I am beginning to wonder if that top bit of timber under the lid is actually original - or not. What's confusing me is that there are only those two holes- nothing else to suggest anything attached either via nail, screw, or glue. Just the little outside square of stain and the untouched wood inside that square.

Incidentally- my living room floor (I live in a 1930's California Bungalow- Australian variation) and the timber in my floor is the same- stained around the outside, raw in the middle. I've heard this was a "poor man's" trick to look like carpet!

I wouldn't be surprised if the cabinet matches the era of my house- early Deco. The shapes of the molding on the front doors is very like the shapes in my ceiling plaster friezes.

 

Ha ha ha, Jeff, that's adding another layer of mystery!

I *think* the shelf has been moved- upwards. Though there may have been more than one shelf, of course

The top hinge lid is about 5 inches or 18 centimeters (I'll measure that properly when I get home from work). It's quite deep.

 

Hi Folks,
Some may recall the "mystery cabinet" you all helped so much to identify. I promised restoration pictures once done.... And here they are! I didn't do the restoration myself, I left it to a woodworking genuis. He tells me the cabinet is solid mahogany- would not have guessed that! Anyhoo- my thanks again for all the help, and I hope you enjoy the transformation

 

Lovely! So nice it has a new purpose in life.

 

I can tell that at least doors are veneer. Note how the wood grain is different from front to back. If solid, the wood grains would be the same.

 

VeryBrad- you are correct. That was my typo- It should have read that the top lid is solid mahogany. My apologies, I was rushing.