Project Topic: Sideboard

[sapphire]

Here's the first in what's likely to be volumes of pics.

Only just got it hauled in out of the jeep tonight.  Poor thing has been riding around with me for nearly two days.  The lighting
isn't the greatest downstairs but took some shots of the drawers and the interior on the drawer side.  Also found a signature on
the underneath of one drawer.  May just have been from a previous owner and I haven't even taken the time to try to figure out
what the name is.  Just wanted to get them up and see what kind of input I get about age (KC mentioned possible early
1900's).

Most of you would cringe (or cry) at some of what I have found......but that is another volume.   

[sapphire]

Looking into drawer side ,from above and looking up at the divisions between drawers.

[sapphire]

Evidence of peg construction.

[sapphire]

Drawer front detail.  Lion head is a separate piece of wood, no screws or nails attaching it.

[sapphire]

Signature on underside of drawer.

[talesofthesevenseas]

Neat that you have that signature, it could be fun to try to figure out if it was an owner or a manufacturer. Love the lion drawers! Looking forward to seeing your project pix!

[regularjoe2]

Thanks for all the images , sapphire !

In image # 2090 , (on what appears to be a dust panel under the top drawers) there appears to be another sig/word/name , written in pencil - it's in the lower right-ish area of the image .

Is this a 'trick of the grain' etc , or can you see it in person ?

[sapphire]

Geesh, now you got me runnin' back down to take another look  !!   

[sapphire]

Thinks it's just a grain thing going on there. In certain light it does appear to be a faint sign of what looks to be writing, but lighting from other angles just shows the grain/texture.  So while I'm down there with one of those crazy six light gooseneck floor lamps I figured I might as well crawl back under again........thank god no one was around with a camera!! 

[talesofthesevenseas]

Wow you've got good eyes RJ2!! Sapphire, try taking another photo with the flash on, right on that spot. Sometimes it will make things show up that are hard to see.

[sapphire]

OK, here's what I got (besides the smart comment from hubby as he passed the doorway). 

[waywardangler]

I think this is a local craftsman made cabinet rather than a mass manufacturer.  I am basing this on the construction techniques and different woods used.  The wide handcut dovetails tell me one age but the doweled parts tell me another.  I am thinking this is around 1900 or earlier with later repairs.  The original pics are gone so I could not look at the whole front again.  The pic with brass hinge showing and the light colored wood have me thinking that might be one replacement but I could not see where this was on the sideboard to be sure.  The sagginess may be from a poor earlier re-glue.  Those drawer fronts are just plain neat.  The penciled name I would guess is the name of who it was made for.  This will really look nice when it is straightened out like it was originally made.  I do not know how loose the joints are now but I would seriously consider taking apart what you can to clamp and reglue it correctly.  Vinegar on old glue softens it up (not epoxy or some modern glues).

[sapphire]

Thanks for pointing out those pics had disappeared wayward.  Forgot when I moved them to another album that it would make them go poof  Replaced them now.

There have been numerous repairs and 'additions'.....glue and varying ages of nails. It's going to be a major job......great idea for a 'first project' ........guess this will be a trial by fire for sure.   

The door hinges are definitely replacements, between shrinkage, warping and dried out glue seems everyone has had a crack at this.

Will get more pictures when daylight arrives and also get a better idea of what's ahead of me.  (Do I really want to know??)

[talesofthesevenseas]

Darn. Looks like we subjected you to hubby's commentary for nothing!

[sapphire]

Here's a few shots of my surface challenges.  I mentioned to tales that I am thinking about eventually staining it a mahogany or burgundy shade as I love dark wood and it would match my other furniture.  Opinions?

How about some suggestions/advice on the best way to proceed with the stripping, is pre stain conditioner useful, varathane  vs oil ??

Still can't believe someone covered this with a finish.

OK, I'm all ears