Wardrobe help!

Hi! Usually, I’m pretty good at nailing down dates of my antique furniture, but this one kinda has me stumped. I bought it from my boss as it has been in his family for decades. It had the original skeleton keys but some jerk took them when they looked at the house that was for sale where this wardrobe was living. I’m thinking it’s early 1900s. The only piece of cool history I have on it is that it used to be in a funeral home. The right side of the dresser has original hooks to hang things up. Nothing has been restored and is all original.

 

Think a bit earlier. Circa 1880. Can't tell if walnut or mahogany from these pics. The former would be more typical for this time period, assuming American.

 

Agrees with Brad, late 19th century

 

What style period would this be from? Also, anyone have a lead on the manufacturer that stamps 495 on their stuff?

 

Eastlake is the style period & yours does have eastlake like incised lines on the pediment above mirror. Not entirely sure this is american though, the hinges are French style. Naturally, they could be imported.
The 495 is a manufacturer number, probably a part number to aid in assembly.

 

What is the secondary wood species on the drawers, if you know?

 

It’s really light so I’m guessing pine.

 

Well, if it was poplar then it almost certainly is American as poplar is native to north america but not europe. Pine grows everywhere though so i dunno.

 

Think this is a transitional piece. Elements of both the renaissance revival period and Eastlake. I assume this is a KD piece so the style of hinge would facilitate this. Door should just lift off the hinge. Was used on both American and European furniture.

 

Eh? Poplar is most certainly a European and British native tree.

 

No, it's not. Tulip or Yellow Poplar is native to North America, I think it's in the Magnolia family.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liriodendron_tulipifera

 

Additional information: Early North American explorers were impressed with the size of the tulip poplars discovered in the New World and used the long, straight logs to build cabins. Samples of the species were sent to Europe for cultivation and today tulip poplar is one of the most popular American trees grown in France and England.

http://www.uky.edu/hort/Tulip-Poplar

 

You didn't say yellow poplar. There are many native European and British poplar species. The one you're referring to is in a totally different genus.

 

I think there are only 2 native species extant, north american & china and, since chinese furniture is pretty much out of the question, if your antique furniture has tulip/yellow poplar in it's construction, it is almost certainly American......

 

Well, here in the States, when one says "poplar", they are referring to tulip/yellow poplar. A VERY important tree here in furniture building.
Tulip Poplar - Liriodendron tulipifera
Magnolia Family (Magnoliaceae)