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Antique Questions Forum / Re: Mystery Cabinet... Feathered Hat Detail, Old Screws, Remnants of Christmas Print

« on: December 09, 2012, 09:39:23 am »

Thank you so much for all the information!

Two more random questions that I'm curious about with this piece, if anybody has any insight that would help my research that would be awesome:

1. Do you think the print was original to the piece?  Or is it possible that it just got stuck on there at some point?  After learning the timeframe of the piece itself, the artwork looks to be of the same era.

2. What is the purpose of the little shelf extending from the top?  I've noticed a similar shelf on other secretary side-by-sides online, but can't seem to find a good source on it's actual purpose.

Thanks again!

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Antique Questions Forum / Re: Mystery Cabinet... Feathered Hat Detail, Old Screws, Remnants of Christmas Print

« on: December 09, 2012, 08:51:05 am »

Hahaha, I believe I agree with you.  I'm looking for more information now, as far as the time frame goes, how old would you say this is?  I have found quite a few similar cabinets that say "Victorian" or "Mission" era.

By the way, that also explains why the legs on the right side were replaced... because they were never there! 

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Antique Questions Forum / Re: Mystery Cabinet... Feathered Hat Detail, Old Screws, Remnants of Christmas Print

« on: December 09, 2012, 08:19:11 am »

It is very thin, I would estimate less than 1/4" for sure.  After the first reply, I tailored my searching a bit and found this piece on ebay that at least has some similar features:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ANTIQUE-SIDE-SIDE-GOLDEN-OAK-CABINET-SECRETARY-DESK-/220994442986?pt=Antiques_Furniture&hash=item33744b96ea

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Antique Questions Forum / Re: Mystery Cabinet... Feathered Hat Detail, Old Screws, Remnants of Christmas Print

« on: December 09, 2012, 08:05:15 am »

Thanks for the reply!  There are no signs that I can tell on the outside of the cabinet, it is in rough shape in general, but I didn't see any places where hardware would've attached another piece to it.  I'm going to attach a picture of the back as well, I'm such a novice I can't even tell if this is one piece of thin wood that has cracked, or several pieces of wood put together to form the back panel.

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Antique Questions Forum / Mystery Cabinet... Feathered Hat Detail, Old Screws, Remnants of Christmas Print

« on: December 09, 2012, 07:33:54 am »

Hello, everyone!

I have recently acquired an old cabinet, and while its original purpose was to be refinished because I was able to get it so cheap ($10), I have grown quite curious about it.

It has several unique features, and I have tried every known search phrase on google to find pieces with similar style, detail, features... but to no avail.  I am completely stumped on even how old it could be.

I'll try to attach pictures, but I'll also describe it the best I can just in case.  It's a wooden cabinet, approximately 6 to 6 1/2 feet tall, including the legs and the part of the back that extends above thew top of the actual cabinet.  There is a door in the front that is glass framed in wood, with what appears to be the original clasp and hinges.  The legs were approximately 4-6" tall, but made into the sides of the cabinet (not cut from a separate piece of wood).

It has 3 shelves inside, but a lot of the hardware that originally held them in place is gone and has been replaced by pieces throughout the years.  Above the top of the cabinet (outside the area encompassed by the door), there is a separate little shelf that extends to the upper right.  Behind this shelf, the wood is carved into what I'm guessing is a feathered hat design.

In the research that I've tried to do to learn about this piece, I examined the screws in the hinges and clasp mechanism, and the slots appear to be visibly off center in some.  Hopefully someone with more experience than me can look at the pictures and get more information.

Lastly, one of the shelves has a remant of a print on it.  I don't know if the print was on paper and then glued to the shelf, if it was original or added later.  There isn't much left of whatever it was, but it has a girl in a bonnet, along with some reindeer and the letters "Chr", so I'm guessing something to do with Christmas?  The picture itself looks pretty old school, but I know that could just be a reproduction of an old drawing.  It looks like some (or all) of the other shelves may have had something on them as well, but it is too far gone to tell what it might have been.

Absolutely any and all help, thoughts, or information would be appreciated on this piece.  I am an antique novice, and have been absolutely fruitless in internet searches for clues.  Right now the plans are to refinish the outside and replace the unstable legs, and then use it in my living room for display.  It has definitely piqued my interest, and I'd love to know more about what we're working with!  Thanks in advance!