Looking for help with a ?quarter sawn oak buffet?

I'm looking for help to identify this old piece. It was in the basement of my home as a child and later the attic. It belonged to my grandparents, I believe, originally. I'd like to restore it to usefulness. It may have had a mirror and maybe legs at one time.
I want to put legs back on it. How high, what would look most authentic? My grandparents would have owned it in the early 1900's. The finish on top is very rough and bumpy. How best to restore? I almost painted it a few years ago, but I'm glad I didn't. Looking for some "expert" advice as I begin this journey into antique furniture loving!

 

I too am glad you never painted it!!! Much prefer the natural look!! I'm not sure it actually ever had any legs, but others will be along to better help you with that thought!!! @verybrad....

 

Wonderful piece. So glad you are interested in bringing it back to life.

 

What a lovely piece and looks like it has the original pulls. Seems that legs would balance it out nicely. Wait for the furniture gurus to come along.

 

Hi Carolsue!

Welcome to Antiquers.............

 

Greetings, CarolSue! Lovely piece!

 

Please post pics of the underside, so we can better determine what happened down there, if anything. Also, the top please. It sounds from your description it may be a thin layer of veneer rather than solid wood. We may also be able to tell from the "ghosts" and any holes, if it did have a mirror. My initial guess on age would be circa 1920s.

 

We don't necessarily get the furniture specialists stopping by in the Introductions Forum. It might be a good idea to tag them OR to post your questions in the Furniture Forum too.

@Ghopper1924 @James Conrad (I see that verybrad has already been tagged above ^)

 

So thankful that you didn't cover up that beautiful quarter sawn oak!

Carolsue, are you in the U.S.?

I'd give this a date ca. 1910; it's got some nice neo-Renaissance detail; love the bow front drawers. If you turn it over you can see where the feet went; I imagine they were short n' stocky. Best to view as many examples as possible, try Eboo keywords like...um....quarter saw oak buffet, ha ha.

Not positive that it would have had a mirror. The best thing to do would be to pull it away from the wall and look for holes near the top of the back. If you don't see any, then it didn't have one.

 

Not an oak fan here...but I admit the wood is nice.

 

Yes, eastern US. Thanks for your advice! It does have holes on the back, and there are marks under the drawers where something may have been attached. I’ll turn it over when there is someone here to help. Meanwhile a few more photos @Darkwing Manor

 

WELCOME Carolsue !!! ... Joy.

 

Thanks for the additional photos. I'm having trouble with the resolution, but from what I can see it looks as if the top is a solid piece of wood, rather than veneer. Definitely something is missing from the back.. most likely a simple, low back splash/ rail. This is a poor pic of as close a style type as I could find as an illustration of a similar back treatment. I'm finding similar body styles elusive on Google today. You can keep searching classical revival side board, but I've got to go cook a turkey now! a

 

@Darkwing Manor Thanks for your help. Happy Thanksgiving