Featured Victorian shoe closet or some other original purpose?

Wow, what a beautiful piece of furniture. Love it but would also like to see the inside.

 

No photo of back either which is kinda important.

 

Thank you for my education, Ghopper!

 

That IS interesting, looks American but not at all a typical form... a melding of an armoire and a pier glass. The only way to tell if it is an innovative original is to look for modifications in the structural elements. And it "feels" to my eye that a pediment would be in order.

 

Sorry for the delayed response everyone and thank you for the information everyone. Ok, so the story is that someone has removed the shelves from the interior. At this point, I am currently working from home (hello Covid - 19) and am not exactly with the furniture. However, I have called the staff who are at the auction house to get some pictures. I also have them looking at the top and taking pics of that as well. Stand by! Hopefully, I have more information in less than an hour!! thank you, thank you!

 

It is very clear that you are extremely knowledgeable about antique furniture. We always strive to give forth the best information possible to our bidders so thank you for sharing what you know. I have the folks at the auction house working on more pictures now!

 

I hope these help!

 

Thanks for the kind words, and thanks for the photos! Right off the bat it looks like this was a coat closet, the top has been removed and replaced, and there was, in fact, a crest with dowels matching the holes on top. I don't suppose they somehow kept the crest.....

 

Unfortunately not. This is how we received it from the consignor

 

We were a bit bummed the shelves had been removed too.

 

Cluttered...you did well...maybe I was too impatient....I looked for it but couldn't find it!!! Does that site start EVERYTHING at $20.!!!!!!!?????

 

Not clear from the pics, but what I am reading is that there was one shelf near the top for hats or whatever, supported by battens below where hooks were attached for hanging garments. I don't see any ghost evidence of it ever having had shelves all the way down. I don't think a rod for "hangers" would have been common in this period and most wardrobes in that era are not deep enough to accommodate modern hanger widths anyway. Easy to replace if a person is semi-handy with a hammer and saw. Thank you for following up, many auction operators don't bother to answer or to revise descriptions when an enquiry is made. I am impressed!

 

Yes, everything starts at $20 to begin

 

Thanks Darkwing! We really want to do right by our bidders!

 

So here's the kind of crest I was describing, resting on top of this bookcase:

 

Gorgeous bookcase @Ghopper1924!!

Is this a personal possession?

 

Thanks Ber!

Yes it is. Actually, it's been in MsGhopper's family since the (U.S.) Civil War.

 

lota world leaders in the book case....someone is well read !!!!
There's even a book about the current President.....at the very top left !!!

 

AWESOME!!!!!!! And BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!