Posted 5 years ago
CDinDC
(5 items)
Found a beautiful antique dresser with three large drawers and two small drawers set back at top. No brand markings, but large drawers are marked 10, 11, 12 on bottoms - perhaps the 4th dresser in a series? #12 in photo - you don't see 2s written like that today. What style furniture is it? What timeframe - and what features give you clues? Is there a term for the way the top drawers are set back? I'm a first-time poster and recent furniture enthusiast, so I appreciate learning any key furniture terms to improve my research.
It is an American Victorian dresser. Probably dates from about the 1860s- 70s time period.
The drawers may have had a veneer on them at one point.
I have always just called the smaller drawers glove boxes.
A photo of the drawer joint should show a hand cut dovetail and may show remnants of the veneer.
Characteristics of age-- style, construction (interior/ back/ joints/ drawer bottom).
These are under appreciated now and bargains abound, so now is a great time to buy.
scott
Looks like beautiful (solid?) black walnut to me, I can't quite imagine why anyone would want to veneer over that...? :-)
Tastes of the times. More often than not, you will find mahogany veneers on the drawers with a walnut case on Victorian pieces. It gave a more uniform grain and higher quality appearance.
The bottom drawer grain drew my attention and thoughts that is MAY have been veneered at one time. Closer inspection will tell.
Here is an example of what is most often encountered:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Victorian-Walnut-Dresser-w-Mirror-Late-1800-s-Original-Condition/264269433953?hash=item3d87af8c61:g:mgAAAOSwDntcpjf9
scott