Thought it was from the 1940's Now 1800's ?

[dmishler]

Bought this men's chest of drawers under the assumption it was from the 1940's. One of the pulls is missing the bail. Did a Google image search and came across a vendor who has a match. His write up describes the bail pull as from the 1800's.

The chest is all mahogany.
All 9 drawers work.
On the back of the chest the numbers 1873 are hand punched into the wood.
Dimensions are 38"x24"x52"

Is it possible I fell into an antique? Would appreciate any info you might be able to provide.

[mart]

Can you please open one of the bottom drawers and take a picture of the dovetail joints on the side and one of the back ??  Its sure a possibility just from looking at the front and the hardware !! Very nice little Federal style stepback chest !!  Its called a gentlemans chest by some !!

[dmishler]

Hi Mart,

Wow, quick response !

Here are pics of dovetails.

[mart]

From looking at those last two pics,,,the dovetails do look consistant with 1940 or so !!  But,,you may have one of the better quality reproductions which would account for the hardware !! They have been reproducing this type furniture for many years !!  Its still a nice chest and well worth keeping !!  Is there a style number on the back ?? Sometimes there is !! Doesn't help much but it was and still is pretty common to find one !!

[frogpatch]

I agree with Mart on this one. A 19th century piece would show more age on the inside and some tool marks that indicate hand cut dovetails. Look inside all the drawers for a tag too.

[dmishler]

Frogpatch thanks for answering a question I had. I was wondering what the importance of the dovetails was.


The are no names inside the drawers or anywhere else on the chest. The only markings I can find are the numbers 1873 that are metal stamped by hand on the back.


Mart this is all new to me. I've attached a pic of the metal fasteners used to secure the frame of the chest. Would this type of hardware be found on 19th century furniture?

[Rauville]

Even though the age of the piece in question has been accurately determined I believe, that's a good question on the "corrugated fasteners". I don't recall ever seeing them used originally in a piece of 19th Century furniture. As far as I know they came about in the early 1900's, and then mostly used in the construction of wooden shipping boxes.

[dmishler]

Thanks Rauville. When I thought about the corrugated pieces I figured it was another confirmation that the chest is more recent.

My intent has always been to resell this piece.

If you were to sell this what would you be satisfied with considering the blem shown in pic #2 and the missing bail?

[mart]

When dealing with furniture always look at the details !! Had we known originally about the fasteners we would not have needed the extra pics !!  In one of my posts I said that you may find style numbers on the back,,thats another indicator of a fairly modern piece !! So many look at the front of a piece and think that because it looks like one that it is one !! Reproductions and similar furniture has been made for many years !!

[dmishler]

Thanks to the three of you for your help. You all have proven to be a great resource.

I read the post about treasure hunting/finding and have to admit my pulse picked up a bit when I saw the bail pull could have been from the 1800's. LOL

I do not want to keep this piece. Any ventures on value?

[mart]

Have you looked on ebay for a bail,,sometimes you can find them there !! Even if its a repro would be better than one missing !! You would be surprised what you can find !!  Your chest looks like a better quality repro,, I would ask $400. but $300 to $350. is more realistic in todays market !! Shine it up a bit with some Old English and it will look great !! That ding is to be expected on older furniture,,I don`t think it hurts it !! Wouldn`t for me !! Why buy an antique or vintage piece with no wear   Kind of defeats the purpose !!  You buy one so it will look old !!

[dmishler]

Thank you Mart. Yes I have found a bail pull online. The vendors description that the pull was from the 1800's is what brought me to this forum. Like I stated in the header to this thread, I figured the 1940's but then I wasn't sure.

Thank you all so much for sharing your expertise with me.

[mart]

Happy to help !!  Stick around a while,, those treasures are not an impossibility !!  Look at the post about the Federal Sheraton side table they were going to paint !!  I would have loved to find that one !!