Posted 14 years ago
Dave68
(10 items)
I hope you know more about this than I do. I believe it has been cut down, but beyond that I would love to know more - where it was most likely made, type of wood, style of inlay - really anyhing that is revealing about its history. I know it is at least 90 years old for that's when my parents found it abandoned in their first Dayton, Ohio residence. In the 80's, an American primitives antiques dealer friend of mine thought it might have been made in Kentucky.
I'm not sure what makes you think it was cut down? Does the top not seem to match? The legs are not very heavy. I think if it was too much taller, it would be out of proportion. Are the flowers/vases inlaid or painted? Could you post a pic showing the side of a drawer, showing the joinery and secondary wood? It does look like a southern piece. if you could determine the secondary wood, it might tell you more. Southern furniture tends to use long leaf pine, while much of the northern stuff used poplar. It's very nice!
Many thanks, upstatenycollector, for your comments. You sound knowledgable! Yea! The decoration is inlaid. I have added a photo of a drawer side. I'm afraid I wouldn't know long leaf pine from cat food. As for the top, I dunno, maybe because it is warped a little I thought it might have been cut down. And maybe my antiques friend said so years ago.
I do do some woodworking as a hobby. Those are hand-cut dovetails on the drawer side. And if you notice, the bottom of the drawer is a different color than the side. I really couldn't tell without looking at it what kind of wood it is from the pic. It liike like they used the same wood for the drawer side as the front. Perhaps Mahogany? I would try to get it to an appraisal fair to see exactly what you have there. It's very nice, I hope you enjoy it for a long time!
AMAZING, beautiful piece that dates from the early 19th century.
The wood looks to be walnut.
I love the inlay work-- I recently saw an 18th century KY piece with similar vine/ chalice work. That one was a little more refined than this one.
I have also seen OH furniture with similar inlays.
Yours looks like more of a country cabinet maker copying a style he saw/ admired.
scott