Maple Chest - Age?

I picked this up a few days ago from a thrift store in Texas and was wondering about its age. It appears to have hand-cut dovetails, though only the two lower drawers have visible scribe lines. I've included a picture of a nail removed from one of the drawer stops. Based on these details it should be pre-1890 right? There are no marks other than some numbers on the drawers. Any tips on narrowing down the age or where it was made? Thanks.

 

Guesses 1890 is very close, Eastlake small dresser or nightstand, it might be missing a backsplash.
Although you would expect to see Knapp joints on drawer boxes, perhaps a smaller manufacturer that decided to "wait" before investing in that dovetail machinery. No machine "spoon" carving either which was common then so maybe the maker was hoping the whole steam power thingy would just GO AWAY!

 

Here is a similar example at Harp that sold in Nov 2020 for $495.
https://www.harpgallery.com/shop/item34683.html

 

Thinking it may even be slightly later ca. 1900-1910. Nail holes and the ghost of braces make it look like the now-absent backsplash was attached to the body of the piece; odd that the top projects outward in back.

A nice piece, but I'd think that in most markets $500 would be the top optimistic price for this.

 

Agreed, I have seen them on Etsy for $100-$150. for similar examples.
Harp is a showroom type retail place that restores almost all their stuff (pretty good at it from what I hear), almost a separate biz and caters to people who want to place their piece RIGHT NOW! and not mess around with a project type piece.
Harp is very successful at what they do and, they get top dollar.

 

Thank you for the responses, gentlemen. I was thinking $250 on a good day, so it sounds like I was in the ballpark. Looking on liveauctioneers it's amazing how low similar ones have sold for. Many nicer examples for under $100. Makes me wish I had a bunch of old houses to furnish.

 

Think this could be a couple decades older than 1890, with newer Victorian drawer pulls. Either way, nothing to get too excited about.

 

Thanks verybrad. I was wondering about the stamped metal pulls. Does this particular design tell you anything?

 

Looks Art Nouveau to me, ca. 1900-1910.

 

Knows Texas had particular issues with furniture earlier in the 19th century as either they didn't make it there or was of such poor quality most was imported, don't know if that was sorted out by 1900 or not.
Where is @marthahill , she's from Texas and might know, probably sitting on her stump!

 

https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/furniture

Here is the history of Texas made furniture ! I am off the stump !
I will add that in 40+ years I have never seen a documented piece of Texas made furniture and I live in North East Texas !
Look at the second pic Jacon,, are those staples I see ?

 

It's a miracle? BAM!
Was tagging you because this little chest was purchased in a Texas thrift. I am guessing it wasn't made in Tex. and probably imported, however, considering the approx. date of 1900, it's odd to have hand-cut dovetails. Another oddity is the drawer fronts which are a plain "raised panel" style and more akin to modern cabinets.
The only decoration that this chest has that relates it to the Eastlake style(leaving pulls aside) are the vertical incised lines on the left & right stiles.

 

No, I don't see any staples, just the drawer dovetails, click it to enlarge.

 

Ohh !! Now I see what you mean ! Easier to see with enlargement ! I reverse my previous comments ! OK !!~ I am with you ! Just don`t think its a Texas piece !
Remind me to clean my glasses when I get off the stump !

 

Well, even odder unless chest was not imported and made out west somewhere. If imported from the mid-west furniture factories, the dovetails would be machine cut and those drawer fronts would not likely be plain raised panel.
I count 3 hand-cut dovetails on 2nd pic

 

OMG! the old woman has fallen off her stump & knocked herself out!

 

Another oddity? the chest sides on OP chest are solid wood and not panel construction which would be typical of 1900 Eastlake, similar to Harp nightstand above.

 

I think this chest is probably 1850 or even earlier. The ends are solid and not paneled and the construction of the back is also earlier. I restored a walnut chest a few year ago which had a similar back. The base also strikes me as earlier. As others have said the brasses have been replaced. This would have been made by local cabinet maker. It looks like it may have been originally painted which is quite likely for maple furniture. Not hugely valuable.

 

Ha ! Not quite but sure need a new computer ! Some of these pics are just not as sharp as they should be! May have to retire this old gal !

 

LOL, are you still on dial-up & using WIN 95?
You realize that operating system is over 20 years old now and is itself considered an "Antique" in the online world?
Agreed, an UPDATE is urgently needed in stump-ville!

Believe it or not, I hear about 3% of Americans still use dial-up, I think Martha is one of them, I don't know how she does it! Remember this?