Featured Antique Armoire Help

Hi guys!
I've had this in my home for a long time, it came with it. I'm unsure of where it comes from, but it's a beautiful piece. I was hoping if someone maybe recognized where/when its from?

 

Reminds me of late 17th century dutch baroque cabinets, cushion cupboard or "kussenkast", beautiful!

http://www.artnet.com/Magazine/features/garrett/garrett2-14-00.asp

 

wow....that's impressive....

 

Absolutely lovely.
How old is your home? Has it had any remodeling done.
I think it was originally built into a wall as a linen press. It matches your ceiling. Or is that just pure luck?

 

"It matches your ceiling."


Clutteredcloset, a most astute observation.

(And I mean "astute" as in "an ability to notice and understand things clearly : mentally sharp or clever" Merriam-Webster Dictionary)

 

Very similar to the second one in the link provided by Opoe. Does appear to be an old cabinet, though whether as old as the one in the link, remains to be seen. It has been modified for use as a modern entertainment center. This greatly depletes any value it has as an antique.

 

no wonder it looks so weird inside......like a TV stand , & stereo housing..!

 

Very true, I know it last got sold for 70k when the previous owner bought the house. Don't have much detail about it though other than that.

 

Anything selling for 70 K , has got to have some provenance ...!

 

Absolutely beautiful, Michelle, I love it.
I'm with opoe, this is a Dutch kussenkast.
I am not convinced it is a 17th century one, a lot of older styles were copied in the 19th century. The handles on the sides are not a 17th century feature, but no doubt useful. The 19th century ones are by no means fakes, just following the historic revival taste of the time, with very good craftsmanship.
It looks like the black wood is ebonized, made to look like ebony, I can see a lighter rim on one of the feet where the colour has worn a bit. Another sign that it is likely to be 19th century. I would expect a 17th century kussenkast of this quality to have real ebony.
If you ever want to have the back restored, this is the inside of a Dutch kussenkast:

 

Love it too!
Nothing to add, except that I also love the wall paper (if it is paper! Or is it leather?).

 

Yep, I am goin with AJ on this one, not period. It seems more likely a 19th century victorian version of a Dutch Kast. I hate to keep beating this horse as it's long since dead! but, i don't see any riven oak on this piece and, if period (17th century) there would be.

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR ALL! a brand new year, a brand new deal, prosperity for everyone!

 

Some of the companies that converted old pieces for entertainment centers in the 90s charged extravagant money for the finished product. I personally saw old French armoires converted and selling in the 10-20K range, so why not 70K if you have a unique product and the clientele willing to pay it?

 

Here is a pic of a mid 17th century kast from a dealer in the Netherlands, province zeeland. Oak with rosewood inlay
https://www.artlistings.com/Furnitu...yJTVCZGVhbGVyJTVEJTVCMCU1RD05MzM0JnBhZ2U9Mg==




Note the riven oak in this last pic

 

Many folks are not aware but once upon a time (1624-1686) New York City was a colony of the Netherlands and known as New Amsterdam. Point being there are A LOT of dutch peeps here in america, maybe more dutch people here than in the Netherlands!
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/new-amsterdam-becomes-new-york

Here is a pic of a late 17th century american dutch Kast probably built in New Amsterdam (aka NYC) at the MET.
https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/1988.21/

 

approx. 5 million descendants of the dutch in america, nope, there are still more dutchies in the netherlands, 17 million, 5 presidents had or have dutch ancestry, van Buren obviously, both Roosevelts and apparently also both Bushes...
another nice example of a kussenkast(1680):

 

Only 5 million? That surprises me. My own 9th Great Grandparents came over in the 1630's to Beverwyck (the area now known as Albany and Schenectady, New York.) My son and grandson are not only descended from them, but also on his father's side from Dutch immigrant ancestors of New Amsterdam. I think a lot of people just haven't realized the connection. It was easy for me to know since my mother's father was a direct male descendant of that couple. On the other hand, my son's father had no idea until I started working on his tree.

 

Yeah, that number seems low to me too. In addition to the 17th century dutch in new york, lets not forget about Pennsylvania & Virginia in the 18th & 19th centuries. In any event, no matter the number the fact is there are a bunch of dutch people in america.

 

@abcmichelle, that is MASSIVE, and GORGEOUS!!!!!!!