Could someone help me age this chest of drawers please?

I saw this chest today and the tag states that they believe it to be 19th Century - it's mahogany and satinwood. I have never seen a piece with feet like this so I am a little apprehensive about it.

Any advice greatly received

Many thanks.

 

I have no opinion on the age of the piece, but the spade foot is appropriate to the rest of the period/design (Federal Period). The Furniture Wizards should be along to give you more information!

 

Show us the outside of the side of a drawer front.
Labels? Stamps?

 

Here is a bit of information on spade feet.
Scroll down to about the 26th pic in the "Feet" section -"SPade foot."
http://www.buffaloah.com/f/glos/legs/legs.html#Feet

I believe Sheraton and Hepplewhite, both of the Federalist Period, used spade feet in their furniture. Chippendale did also, but am pretty sure this is not done in the Chippendale style. It looks Sheraton in style, but then again might be Hepplewhite. Do wait for the real furniture gurus to come along for a definite style and age.

--- Susan

 

I can't help with identification, but just wanted to say welcome to Antiquers!

 

Beautiful piece! It's helpful to show the outside of one of the drawers to show how the wood is joined together. The spacing and design of how the side of the drawer connects with the front or back will give clues as to its age. Welcome to the board! ... Dave

 

Wot Iz Wiv Dis Federalist Stuff. Weeze Did Not Call It That.

Chippendale, Sheraton and Hepplewhite were all 18th C English furniture designers who produced wonderful catalogues which people copied and still copied. Queen Anne, Georgian, whatever. Depending on the precise date, either may be apt.

If this pretty thing is original, to me, it looks late 18th/ealry 19th but more detail is needed.

 

Just out of curiosity, Davey. Since there's nothing in windymiller's OP that indicates where he or she is (spelling, place names, "car boot sale" etc.) and no location is given in his/her profile (at least not the one that shows when I click on the user's ID), how would a person answering the query know to eliminate vocabulary from the answerer's own homeland? Not being argumentative here, just wondering whether there's something I missed.

 

I would have used the term Georgian if I had known the poster was in the UK - we don't use it often here in the States considering it was George we dumped to form the Federation! Curious to know how to tell where is poster is located as well!

 

Talk about obscure! I see a bunch of wires but no socket.

I knew you had the magic powers on the IP, but since Bear started it, I wondered whether that was just her being British. And there's nothing wrong with that at all!

 

I kind of wish everyone would include their location in their public profile. At least country, anyway.

 

I understand you have different electrical stuff, but that just looked like part of the white baseboard - tiny!

Give an old lady a break.

 

Davey has some serious powers of observation,surprised me more than once ! I think the chest is later,mainly because it looks so pristine .No nicks or scratches that all furniture seems to get no matter how careful you try to be. Its so...crisp ?

 

Johnny, you'd be amazed at the condition of some old furniture here. I've seen 16th C stuff that was pristine.

 

Thank you so much for all your replies . I am indeed in England - Surrey. I am going to pop back to the shop next weekend and if it is still there, I will take some pics of the drawers and post those. It is a lovely piece but I feel suspicious of it for some reason. I am not convinced it is that old. the handles are definitely not original.

 

I thought you were. Handles might be OK, have a look inside the drawer. How much are they after?

 

Just by looking at the photo, I would say it looks like a later reproduction. Even if the furniture has been well looked after you would expect to see wear around the drawers from being pulled in and out, especially on the lower edges of both drawers and frame. Also underneath the drawers and the runners. Also look at the joinery, are there dovetails? If so, for this period they would be hand cut, not machined. Machined dovetails started to be used around mid 19th century. So if they are very regular and all the same size and shape, the piece was not made in the 18th century.
Even if it is repro, it is still very nice and has value, it could still be antique. The Victorians loved copying loads of earlier styles!