Posted 10 years ago
Dave853
(9 items)
This 1890-1910 Bakers Cabinet pre dates the Hoosier cabinet and was a very important item used in the American household. Features cutting board, 4 spice box drawers, 3 cutlery drawers, 3 possum belly drawers, a condiment shelf, 2 storage cabinets, a plate holder all with the original hardware.
I found it hiding in an Antique store posing as a display for a bunch of junk. It looked tired and wore out and at first, I ignored it. On my third review, I looked beneath someone else’s failure to complete the restoration and thought it had real value. There were no missing parts, little damage and outside of someone replacing the bottom of one of the possum bellies, it was in remarkable shape. There were four coats of paint and the original manufacturers varnish which had to come off but someone and already removed about 70% of it.
The only issue to me was it is Maple and I don’t like Maple. I thought if I could get it for under $100, I could restore it and sell it $1000. I got it for $115, put 50 hours of labor into and decided to just keep it. A lady stopped at my house the day I took the finished photo and offered me $850, but I declined her offer without even countering. Where else are you going to get a Bakers Cabinet for this price?
44” Wide by 66” High by 25” Deep.
Gorgeous job restoring love it !
So what will be the first thing you make to bake? It deserves pride of place. Well spotted, well done, enjoy it now.
Sincerely,
Lisa
Thanks Lisa. I made Russian Tea cookies, a favorite recipe of my Grandmothers and they were soooo gooood!!
Someone just asked me if the hardware was original to this cabinet. I believe so do to the staining and impressions made by the metal on the wood. I removed and cleaned all metal parts with naval jelly rust remover and 0000 steel wool and a brass brush. Rinsed well with clean clear water and hand dried and waxed each piece. They have now turned to a lovely gray color. The pitting is there, bit the rust is gone.
I'm hoping to get a high-resolution image of your restored Possum Belly cabinet, for use in a book (we'd pay a re-sue fee). If that's possible, please email me: fitz@lostartpress.com
Very nice job Dave. We found one almost identical to yours. Ours only has one lower possum belly, the left side has a door. Oh, your hardware is original. It looks just like ours. Even the metal drawer pulls, same. We have not put a finish on it yet. Which type would you recommend?
Schandel Wood. Thanks for the compliment. I only use one finish and that is Formby's Low gloss Tung oil. Min-wax makes a good quality Tung oil, but it is a higher gloss finish