Southwest Virginia Cherry Pie Safe

[Rboyd]

Hello,

I have a cherry pie safe from around middle 1800's from Valley of Virginia. Its cherry with turned front legs and nice fly not hand punched tins. Any idea what the value is.

[mart]

Need to see the dovetails on the drawers please !!  Does not look to be that old !!

[Rboyd]

Bottom of Drawer

[Rboyd]

Drawer

[jacon4]

Nice safe, are the tins original? they look newer or maybe just painted? The bottom of drawer shows hand plane marks so i would guess mid 19th century 1840-1850 ish, the feet are Sheraton. The Museum of the Shenandoah Valley recently did a study/exhibition of food safes and some can get quite pricey, 100k +
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/559783428667100870/

I would guess $500-$1000 for yours, hard to really see much detail in pics

There was a post here about exhibition a while back
http://www.antique-shop.com/forums/index.php?topic=17107.msg120899#msg120899

[Rboyd]

The tins are painted. But the safe is very nice.

[cogar]

Need to see the dovetails on the drawers please !!  Does not look to be that old !!

I have to agree with that assessment.

I see no wear at all on the drawer runners or slides.

[mart]

Need to see the dovetails on the drawers please !!  Does not look to be that old !!

I have to agree with that assessment.

I see no wear at all on the drawer runners or slides.

It would be hard to use this safe without some signs of wear !!  Tins are throwing me too !!  I wonder if this is a 20th century repro made as it would have been during that time period ??
Is there a history on this safe ?? 

[Rboyd]

It came from a wealthy in the valley of va and not used often. It was made from cherry cut from the farm around 1845. It's has drawer ware but not much. Also has squareish head nails.

[mart]

Can you take a closer pic of the tins on the doors ??

[cogar]

Can you take a closer pic of the tins on the doors ??

Right on, Mart, the "punched" design in the tins should be compared to one another.

If they are all identical, meaning a "one for one" hole match ...... if they are laid one upon the other, ...... that means they were "machine" punched ....... and the construction date has to be adjusted accordingly.

Unless of course, one has proof that the original tins were replaced with "new" tins in the 20th Century.

Here is just two (2) of the many vendors that provide "replacement" tins for pie safes and pie cupboards.

http://www.thetinbin.com/Punched-Tin-Panels_c_94.html

http://www.vandykes.com/pie-safe-hardware/c/1648/
 

[mart]

Not only that Cogar,, can you find holes in the design ??  Looks like the design was just pressed into the tin but not through it !!
The purpose of the holes was to provide ventilation so baked items would cool !!  Without the holes the heat after baking would be kept inside and pie crust would go soggy rather quickly !!  Still think this is a repro !! I see no shrinkage in the dovetails and the wood has no patina consistent with that mid 19th century date !!

[cogar]

Excellent craftsmanship and a variety of items to choose from, ……. to wit:

http://www.amishoutletstore.com/shop/furniture/dining-room/amish-pie-safejelly-cupboards/

[Rboyd]

The safe has hand punched tins. The all have very small holes in them. The safe was cleaned up and the tins painted in the 20s.

[mart]

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/289637819760931805

Typical Shenandoah valley pie safe !!  With the same pattern tins !!  Even if this safe was not used at all the wood  would still age and develop a similar patina to the jelly cupboard !!  It is unavoidable !!  Still say repro !!  Sorry !!