Help with hand carved peacock chest?

I acquired this hand carved peacock chest recently and am stumped. I've researched for days and cannot find any information. Not even a clue!

The only markings anywhere are on the inside of the lid, and it's painted "547" with a "V" in a circle next to it.

But, in terms of color, wood, and style, does it hint at a piece from the 1800's?

Measurements are:
39 1/2" long, 17" high, and 14" deep.

The jointery is not fabulous, two are actually just butt-joints (back piece attachment to sides).

So, it does not scream high-end cabinet maker, but perhaps more "moderate woodworker and skilled carver." It may even be a piece some good husband made for his wife. I really don't know.

Anyway, if you have any information or ideas on age/maker/potential value, I would super appreciate it!!

Thank you for your help!!

 

Your pictures are difficult to see. A picture of the entire piece would be helpful without all the black around it.

If you are having trouble posting pictures, King should be along at some point and can tell you how.

 

Bummer. I tried to upload the original files, but they were too large, so I tried taking screenshots because they are smaller. Hmmm... let me think on it a minute... maybe I can save them in a different format and try again...

 

Resize your pictures.

 

From your pics it looks nice - I'de just give it a nice deep rub (maybe have to use a stiff paint brush to get it into the designs) of some Danish oil then let it soak into the wood, let it soak in, buff, and enjoy!

 

I'm working on it. Limited to my phone at the moment and all its wondrous capabilities.

Just picked up my computer from the shop, and will work on it soon.

 

Thanks, Rayo!

 

Danish oil work wonders on older pieces that you don't want to completely redo! I always hated it for new wood but then used it on older pieces that just needed some scratches get gone!! It works wonders in the proper situations!!

 

Does it have a strong odor? I've actually never used it before as I tend to create new furniture from scratch or chalk pain/refinish furniture.

I ask because last week my neighbor complained about a chemical smell from our townhouse, and instead of speaking with me, she went straight to management who has said I must cease and desist from all chemically-smelly activities.

I had picked this piece up for a friend who loves unique things, but it wasn't a good fit for her. It's not my color (but I adore the style and carvings), so I will either need to do as you suggest, and fancy her up to sell, or fully change the color to suit my style... which could be disastrous for the value if it has any. Hence my hesitation until I know more about it.

Appreciate your advice!

 

Michelle,if I lived near you Id unburden you of it! I think its beautiful. Just a guess,but could it be a middle eastern brides chest ? I really think its got some nice age to it as well. Whatever you do, dont paint it!

 

Thanks, Johnny! I really think it's beautiful, too, and peacocks are a love of mine! I've only ever restored one piece - a Drexel Mahogany Vanity that had very minor damage. So, I'm really not sure what does and does not affect value in the antique world. I usually only play with reproductions with minimal value.

Do you think, if I carefully sanded it and restrained it to a warmer early-american type stain, it would also devalue it? I could make arrangements to stain it elsewhere, I think.

I totally get the "don't paint!" advice! I agree! While it was my original plan, that quickly changed when I uncovered all of the handmade details.

I'm totally torn. I'm in love with the style, but the color... I can't even make myself like it. Which makes me think that, if changing the color would ruin it... I'd be better of finding it a new home with someone like you who would cherish it.

A middle eastern brides chest? What an interesting thought!! I'll have to look into that! Thanks!!!

I so appreciate your reply and thoughts! I'm still working on getting better pictures uploaded. It'll have to be tomorrow at this point. Thanks, Johnny.

 

Resize your photos to 1mb and I think that will be ok from your phone.
Do you have a computer too?
-
Either way use the FULL IMAGE option always.

 

There are imaging apps for phones and iPads. Many of them are freebies. Most of them have options to crop and resize pics. I have taken the liberty of editing the other 2 of your pics. There are 2 elements to consider in sizing, weight (bytes, kb, mb) and dimensions (width x height). Pics should not be over 1MB for posting. Anything from 30Kb to 100KB is usually adequate. Dimensions should not be over 600 pixels wide. Any wider pics cause trouble for viewers using iPads and phones to see the pic without scrolling back & forth.

It certainly looks like you have conquered posting pics, but need experience in editing (cropping & resizing).

--- Susan

This pic originally with the black around it was
Weight-wise: 428 KB
Dimensional-wise: 720 pixels wide X 1280 pixels high

After cropping, changing the file format from a .png file to a .jpg file, and resizing a little it is now:
Weight-wise: 38 KB
Dimensional-wise: 600 pixels wide X 342 pixels high



The following pic originally with the black around it was
Weight-wise: 480 KB
Dimensional-wise: 720 pixels wide X 1280 pixels high

After cropping, changing the file format from a .png file to a .jpg file, resizing it a little, and rotating so the foot is at the bottom, it is now:
Weight-wise: 56 KB
Dimensional-wise: 600 pixels wide X 347 pixels high

 

I do. I think I have eleventy million computers. My house is like an Oprah giveaway... you get a computer, you get a computer, YOU get a computer!!!

But, alas, I'm a persnickety lass in this one department. My fingers can only grace the perfectly spaced lighty-up keys of my baby.

I'm a writer. It's a thing.

I did actually try to reduce myself to using a substandard electronic laptopical device, but it took 90 minutes to install Adobe PDF maker (the only solution I could think of). And I lost interest before the thing rebooted.

I'll give the "resize to 1mb" option from my phone a try, but if, in the very likely even that I can't figure it out, I'll get it all fixed tomorrow.

With gratitude from your humble handmaiden.

 

Personally, I would not change the color to a lighter color.
I would use sonething like Howard's Restor-A-Finish to cover scrathes.
I think Brad recommends tung oil.

 

Oh my gosh. I downloaded a resizing app. It worked perfectly on all of one photo in a row! The other four are somehow not right, regardless that I repeated the steps exactly.

Ugh. Death.

To be continued...

 

Thank you, Cluttered! I appreciate it!! I'm open to anything at this point.

 

Just wanted you to know I did reply to your amazing comment last night, Susan, but it posted weird and I'm not sure if you got the notification. I'm grateful for all of your help and effort!

 

15 hours later, I'm a resizing success story! Thanks for the intervention, folks!

Why did it take 15 hours, you ask? My computer was gross from being in the shop for one, so needed a bubble bath and manicure. Second, the task I was working on when it coded on me was clearing up RAM because she was complaining loudly about how I'm always overburdening her and I just ask and ask and ask without removing anything she was already working on. So, once she was resurrected and all spiffy, I had to continue said task and lighten her workload. Which required two reboots and four hours. Ack.

Thus ends the saga of, "How Michelle took two days to resize five photos and upload them."

Your patience and kindness is remarkable.