Featured Looking for info on this unusual 2-pc cabinet with Rollup mini sections.

I picked up a unique beautiful cabinet many years ago and have never seen another one even close to it. It is 2 pieces with one sitting on top of another. It is a wonderful cabinet. It was described as an oak file cabinet / bookcase with roll-down locking doors and locking lower doors. It came with 3 keys. It is held by two screws and a series of wooden blocks that support and hold the sections together. You remove the screws and rotate, not removed, to release one section from the other. Then the top of the bookcase can also be removed as well as the shelf.

The piece was first purchased from an attorney in New Tazwell, Virginia, who bought it in 1932 when he opened his law office. He was finally fully retired and was selling pieces from his office. I believe it to be all original, including the brass hardware. One of the 15 brass knobs is a tad different but it was bought that way. I found some brass knobs very close but I would replace all 15. Not sure I even want to do that since the ones on it seem original, even the different one which must have been changed at some point by the original owner. I am no expert so hope this is the 'right' way to do the measurements

Whole piece is about: 79" tall x 51" wide x 17.5" deep
Top section: 49" wide x 43" tall x 13.5" deep
Cubby section x 15 is about: 15" wide x 6.75" tall x 13" deep
Top of bottom bookcase: 51" wide x 1.25" tall x 18.75" deep
Bottom bookcase section is about: 49" wide x 28" tall x 17.5" deep

Has anyone seen anything like it? It is an amazing piece. A suggested value would be very helpful. This piece is a large piece and since we downsized 5 yrs ago it just is too big for our home. I don't want to part with it but need to.

 

Thanks. I looked to see how I could do that once I realized it but didn't find a way to edit that.

 

This one on 1stDibs is similar and they list it as a "Oak Rolling Top Secretaire" made in 1920. They are asking $6,750 but 1stDibs pricing is typically 3-6 times what pieces typically sell for at auctions, or on sites like Chairish and Etsy. There have been some similar tambour door oak file cabinets sold on Liveauctioneers, almost all without the base piece. They have sold in the $500-$1,000 range. If I had to guess I'd say yours would be in the $800-$1800 range unless you can determine the maker and it's someone noteworthy.

 

Very nice!
Just think of all the goodies it once held.

 

Perhaps its original use was in a haberdashery/clothes shop, rather than for domestic use? It would account for the metal name/label tabs.

 

Early pharmacy use, hence the locking mechanisms? Or for legal files?

 

You're not kidding either! 99.9% of 1stDibs items are phenomenally overpriced. I was offered selling space from them when I sold on Ruby Lane, but I wouldn't touch 1stDibs with a barge pole. The site is ridiculously overrated, IMO. Most intelligent collectors avoid it like the plague!

 

What a cool piece!
Leslie

 

Just to add... Many A-List celebrities and also Royalty, use Purchasing Agents to locate and then buy Antiques and desirables on their behalf. It is often 1stDibs that the agents then turn to and use as 'money' is no object. In fact, the more expensive an item is, the more attractive it is to the super-rich.

 

Yes, that's what I've heard about 1stDibs as well. That the pricing is mostly set up for interior designers working for super wealthy clients and getting a % of the total cost, so the higher the better. It's a good site for identifying pieces (though attributions are often just guesses) but useless for values. I guess if you're a dealer with them or a licensed designer, you can get access to actual sales prices.

 

It's also great if you are putting together an insurance claim!

 

But not so great when some ape on eBay bases their own price from a lovely looking picture on 1stDibs and then refuses to lower the cost.

 

Here's an example I know because I own one of these. It's a rattan mirror made in Italy for US company Rosenthal-Netter. It's often attributed to designer Franco Albini but I've never seen documentation so probably just made up. One of these sold on Chairish for $175 and the other is listed on 1stDibs for $3,470.

 

1stDibs Pricing Policy

1. Pick a number
2. Double it
3. Add a few zeros
4. Job done​