Can someone help tell me what this is? An asian bird cage maybe?

[RichSimon]

What are the dimensions of door opening please?

The opening is about 10" by 10" match on both sides. The door is like a two part sliding barn door with some old handmade antique pulls. each door has a circular design and an be seen in the center of the picture. The door does not have any wear, just age so it wasn't used daily. I know I have seen a picture of a similar item somewhere.  Thank you for your interest and help.  Rich

[RichSimon]

I sure wouldn't alter it until you find out what you have for sure!

I am not going to modify it, I like the originality. I don't think the chicks will hurt it. I'll put down some cardboard and hay to protect the bottom. The chewing appear to be from mice since there is an opening just big enough for them to get through. That brings me back to the idea what another poster said about being some type of food storage. However, with the peaked roof there is a lot of unusable space. Confusing, this is why I stick with domestic antiques. I bought this since I thought it was unusual, paid $ 200 which is what I would have to pay for a rabbit hutch (for the chicks) anyway.  Rich

[mart]

If it is  what Rauville suggested and I strongly suspect that it is,,too many similarities to ignore !!  If you sold it you could buy a pretty nice modern house for your chicks if that price is suggestive of what one might bring !!  There is no telling how it has been used since it was made by owners other than the original ones !!

[cogar]

The opening is about 10" by 10" match on both sides. The door is like a two part sliding barn door with some old handmade antique pulls.

Without "latches" on the doors ....... I wouldn't think it was made for keeping a pet animal in ...... unless it was a dumb (non-door-opening) rooster or hen.

With doors on both side, maybe it was a "decorative" pie or food cabinet for a restaurant to display their "goodies".

That would explain the "peaked" roof, ......... to keep things from being stacked on top of it.

[RichSimon]

The opening is about 10" by 10" match on both sides. The door is like a two part sliding barn door with some old handmade antique pulls.

Without "latches" on the doors ....... I wouldn't think it was made for keeping a pet animal in ...... unless it was a dumb (non-door-opening) rooster or hen.

With doors on both side, maybe it was a "decorative" pie or food cabinet for a restaurant to display their "goodies".

That would explain the "peaked" roof, ......... to keep things from being stacked on top of it.

D:

The latch is on the outside of both doors. Makes sense about the roof, sort of liked a domed travelling trunk, nothing can be stored on top.

[mart]

What ever it is,, it was a good find !!

[KC]

If you look at most family shrines, kamidana, spirit houses, etc...they have peaked roofs. 

[cogar]

D:

The latch is on the outside of both doors. Makes sense about the roof, sort of liked a domed travelling trunk, nothing can be stored on top.

I guess that I should have .... just assumed ...... that iffen it had "sliding" doors then it musta surely had "latches" on the doors because all "sliding" doors have latches.

[SophieMarie]

I was leaning toward a decorative bread/pie safe for a restaurant because there are two sliding doors on front and back.  A French panettiere used spindles in the design as such.  In a home they were either hung on a wall or placed on a table.  Obviously, yours is more rustic but just trying to convey the idea. 

The other option I considered would be decorative partition lighting.  However, I'm not sure how much lighting would be visible from front or back.  Unless, you were to keep the doors open!