I also believe that this was a hall cabinet! Simply elegant and entirely useful.
However, to get off on a tangent....Etagere -
http://quezi.com/14180The one they are referring to is the original intent of the Étagère! Such as this gorgeous French Étagère'!
Pretty much the pic that you chose Wullie is a "plain ole' shelf'. Boring and plain (referred to as an etagere as well by many in this day and age for lack of a better word)...However an etagere' was intended for proudly and ELEGANTLY displaying items of value or interest and were deemed more elaborate or gracefully pleasing to the eye (even if in simple shelf style - was made with eye-pleasing turned wood pieces, and/or exotic woods etc.)
Also endearingly called a Whatnot for displaying whatnots! Some did have small drawers but were commonly open display.
Po-tat-to, Po-tah-to (differences...all in the eye of the beholder!)
Today they even refer to the shelving that goes around a toilet/lu/throne to be a etagere - Makes me cringe!!!!!