Posted 12 years ago
BHock45
(807 items)
It has been a long time since I bought a piece of furniture, maybe three or four years. Today I saw this and it was over. I've been looking for a safe. While this isn't exactly a safe it will do. It is about 3 feet high and 1 1/2 wide. It could use a little cleaning and fixing, and I think I will enjoy working on this one. I really do like it. Does anyone know exactly what it is or where/when it is from? Thanks. Happy New Years!
thank you spiritinthesky3, blunderbuss2, toolate2, and manikin for the loves. Happy New Years too!
thanks mikkochristmas11 for the love!
Very nice. I've seen very similar folk carving on pieces from Norway and Sweden, so I don't thing Spanish-Colonial is the only possibility as to the cabinet's origin. If you search Swedish folk art box you will see what I'm talking about. I believe that the roundel-like circular and semi-circular carving is representative of the Sun.
BTW - I wouldn't clean it! Any damage to the original patina/surfaces will destroy its value to folk art and antique collectors of this sort of primitive furniture.
cogito, thank you very much for the help. I find this very interesting if you have any links I would love that, otherwise I will search your suggestions. Spanish colonial was a complete guess. To clean it I was just going to use a cotton rag....no cleaners chemicals or water...what do you think? Have you seen this chair of mine? I believe it is in the similar style?? Thanks!!!
http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/49196-mystery-chair
What I find interesting are these large bolsters on the front. The three arranged vertically must be used for aesthetics, because I cannot determine a functional purpose for them. Any idea what these are called? They don't really "hold" anything together? They are on the chair linked in the above post as well.
ho2cultcha and cogito thanks for the loves!
I don't think the chair and this cabinet are related. You may want to look closely at the nails on the cabinet to see if they are manufactured or hand wrought. This can help set a range for the production era of the piece.
Hi cogito. I have some updated pictures. I want to first thank you for taking the time to help me with this find. It is very exciting now that I have further inspected it. I will post the pictures and then the links here. Thanks!
http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/78053-detail-pictures-1?in=user
http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/78056-detail-pics-2
The links above show more detail, craftsmanship, and hopefully some of the original markings. It is very hard to determine what is original here. Thanks everyone for looking and for helping.
Thanks lisa and Bellin68!
Creepy Crayon Rubbing:
http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/78061-detail-continued
I did a crayon rubbing of the top of the box to show what type of markings I was seeing. It is hard to differentiate between the wood grain and the markings, but there is something there.
I added a new picture to the right. This is the only thing I can find that looks like my cabinet. It is labeled as: EARLY 1900'S GUATEMALAN FOLK CABINET.
It is a fabulous piece -- love the warmth it has to it!
Hey trunkman. Thanks for your comment! Yeah, there is something about this piece that pulled me in. It is not too big or too small. I like that. Have a nice day and happy New Year!
thanks for the loves: walksoftly, AmberRose, birdie
really nice
The first question is; is it reproduction? One quick way to tell is to look for handling marks. The interior looks to be unwaxed, so one place you would expect there to be handling marks is on the top inside corner of the door. When opening a low cupboard door like this it would natural to grasp that corner. If this is that old, it would have been done thousands of times each time rubbing a bit of grease and dirt into the wood until it becomes polished by it. If the entire interior of the door is evenly matt, then no one has been handling it, and it can't be that old. Also look at the latch, does it look like it has ever had any kind of lock on it, is there any wear something may have been pushed in to keep it shut. Look on the corners of the feet, there should be wear from being bashed by brooms, brushes, shoes, feet, etc.. It should be normal for the edges near the bottom of the feet to be showing some wear. I hope this helps.
Love it...:-)
lovedecanters, thank you for your comment. Thanks inky I love it too!!!