Featured Help with a cabinet

This piece is going up for auction soon and I'm considering it for my kitchen. The photos are not mine so I don't have one of the back. The measurements given are 78.5" H x 48" W. Also, 'most' of the glass is original and square nails are visible. Any guesses of age? Type of wood? Rough estimate of value (I'm in the midwest)? Thank you for any thoughts you may have.

 

@verybrad .

 

This might be yellow pine - southern. I love the patina nice and warm. I would be thinking early 19th with square nail heads but will likely be corrected. The panels for the cupboard doors look hand chamfered. This country stepback cupboard has a nice narrow shape. I really like it!

 

Buy nice handles for it.....Antique

 

Thrift Store Rescue #8 / Mid Century Furniture Restoration - YouTube

 

It's a "Step-Back" cupboard, guesses 2nd half 19th century, country built, mixed woods, looks like tulip poplar for the cabinet with curly birch door panels.

 

It doesn't look like it was meant to have handles. It looks fine to me as it is, and you can open the doors without handles.

 

Prices are all over the place on these cupboards, from $200-$300 to thousands for outstanding examples.
Yours is glazed so that helps value, it does not have drawers though or painted decoration so that hurts.
Guesses $300-$600 at auction, what is the auction estimate?

Prices at LiveAuctioneers
https://www.liveauctioneers.com/search/?keyword=step back cupboard&sort=-relevance&status=archive

 

I definitely wouldn't add handles

 

Thank you! I assumed it was something other than pine because of the doors but I wasn't sure.

 

I like it too!

 

Thank you for the link, that's helpful. I didn't see an estimate. How can you tell on these whether it's early or later 19th century? What to look for?

 

Good! Don't mess with an original piece.

 

Quicky search on LA link above showed this one that is a similar form & age, at Conestoga in Pa that sold for $300 in 2018
https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/63279107_american-19th-century-softwood-step-back-cupboard

 

Well, the only way to know for sure is to examine the piece in person, photographs of old furniture are notorious for being unreliable on construction details which is how you determine the age.

 

Never

 

One way to tell age is the nailheads used although bench-made furniture can still be made that way. I have seen many pieces - mostly English - that have been made to look old with square nail heads only to see newer construction elsewhere. When I compare the cupboard doors on the base to the example James listed above, I see a newer cupboard versus yours. The bead board back versus yours which appears to be newer as well. Also the locks versus the primitive hardware yours has. Love this piece a lot!!!

 

Thank you, James. I appreciate your help.

 

I would add it really doesn't matter much value-wise whether 1st or 2nd half 19th century, the rarity, form, condition, and maker matter much more.
A Shaker step-back cupboard in good condition for example will sell for thousands no matter what era it was built.
The point being I wouldn't get too hung up on the age of a piece as it isn't the main determining factor for value.

 

Oh, I completely understand what you're saying. I was only asking because I'd like to have one that was made around the time my house was built (1830s) if possible. Also, I'm just interested in learning in general.