Old cupboard? Not sure what it's called or the time period.

[kayaklady]

I found this in my parents' basement and I don't know much about it. I want to sell it, but I don't even know where to start looking for information. I haven't found any similar items online so I'm not sure how to classify it or price it.

I can tell from the glass that it is a very old piece of furniture. It has two shelves inside, and it's in very good condition except for a missing handle and needs to be cleaned up a bit.

Any info helps! Thanks in advance.

[cogar]

Nice piece. 

Looks like a Plantation (bookcase) desk to me.

[bigwull]

I half agree with Cogar....but...i don,t agree with the desk part...as there is not enough "desk area"in front of the doors,unless the drawer opens to reveal an inner desk top....

[mart]

That is what it looks like !!  May have a pull out writing surface but pic is sideways and so dark can`t see much detail !!
Can you straighten and lighten it a bit !!

[bigwull]

pic is riht way up if you open it,....but even as it is you can see ....that there is,nt enough writing space in front of the doors,with the drawer closed....age wise i,d say late 19th century to early 20th,...value...£250+

[sapphire]

Just for mart and her 'high tech' system   

[mart]

Bless you Sapphire !!  Mine does not straighten up no matter what I do !!

[sapphire]

Seeing shots of the construction and hardware should be helpful with dating. Am I seeing brass wheels?

[Dogaman]

I would also like to know how the shelving unit is attached. If you take out the drawer, can you see upwards, under the shelves? If not, can you reach in and feel for screws/nails.

[mart]

If that is an original drawer pull this would be after 1900,, !! More likely late 30`s or early 40`s !! Can we see inside the drawer and the dovetails on the sides of them ??

[bigwull]

I would also like to know how the shelving unit is attached. If you take out the drawer, can you see upwards, under the shelves? If not, can you reach in and feel for screws/nails.

Oh, God, another touchy feely merchant...Mart...y ou are not alone....as for seeing upwards when the drawers out...maybe if they,ve got a trained snake...unless there,s no arse to the drawer housing....

[Dogaman]

Wull,

I don't mean to argue, but sometimes the makers didn't include a bottom piece of wood, using the bottom of the drawer itself as the bottom.  A snake would be okay, but hard to train. That's why I asked them to feel inside.

PS--I asked only for my own education.

[cogar]

..as there is not enough "desk area"in front of the doors

Plantation (bookcase) desks were not made with a lot of space for writing on , to wit:
 

 
http://www.cowanauctions.com/auctions/past-item.aspx?ItemId=81794

[cogar]

I would also like to know how the shelving unit is attached. If you take out the drawer, can you see upwards, under the shelves? If not, can you reach in and feel for screws/nails.

Plantation desks are made in two pieces with the bookcase attached to the top of the desk with a couple screws.

kayacklady's desk has moulding around the base of the bookcase section and if there are no screws down thru it ..... then they are up thru the desk top on either side.

Just my guess of course.

[bigwull]

  they did,nt have a lot of space for writing..Mmm....you can,t get much smaller than whats on offer here...that "desk area"..is no more than 4in....which makes the whole thing pointless,....if the drawer is,nt part of the writing surface,..then i,d say these two were,nt born together....