Thrift store find

what was this furniture used for?
Any estimate of its age?

I purchased this at a thrift store in southern Louisiana. It doesn’t have any notable markings. The hardware appears to be brass . There is empty notches on the top. It appears to have held something maybe glass? It appears a clear coat stain was added to the outside. The inside of the cabinet is dull. https://imgur.com/a/0LJPimT

 

??? Email the photo to yourself, size Medium, and then upload. All I see above is a red X.

 

maybe a wash stand?
@verybrad
@Ghopper1924

 

looks ad hoc to me

 

The inside latch has “the automaton” stamped next to Pat. NO 014776. I’m not sure if that is for the whole design or just the lock mechanism

 

looks like a box for old phonographs

 

I'm thinking make-do. Someone had an old door and its latch and needed a piece of furniture to hold...something. Back in the 30s/40s it was just an old door, so they reused it. I wouldn't be surprised if it held 78s and a turntable.

 

With “the automaton” marking and the general shape and little top splash piece, it reminds me of those old fortune telling cabinets with moving puppet at top. The lack of cut outs for mechanisms probably discounts that though.

 

Thanks everyone for sharing your thoughts. There was something housed inside the top frame. whatever it was filled it almost completely judging from imprint lines along the front edge. I’m guessing it may have been a affordable clock, as it looks very plain compared to what google shows off.

 

Size? Homemade nightstand using old furniture parts.

 

30x12

https://imgur.com/gallery/fN5D7HL
https://imgur.com/gallery/ZlKPw92

 

Agree. Homemade!