Featured Can you help me identify this piece of furniture?

Got this out of my mom's estate and have no idea what it is. It looks like the bottom to an old hall tree or entry way bench. Any ideas?

 

I think entryway bench is more likely. I don't see anywhere that "hall tree" pieces would have been attached.

 

Do those top panels open ? I wonder if its a shoe shine bench?

 

Top panels do open and originally had locks but that part was modified somewhere along the way.

 

any way that's a church bench?

 

maybe for the foot end of a high bed to stow away the covers, linen etc. ?

 

Agrees, entryway bench with storage below & above seat.

 

Used to be called a deacon's bench, supposedly the prayer books got stored under the seat between use in church. Yours certainly could have been used in a place of worship, given its elaborateness, but there is no religious symbolism in all that ornateness.

However the general outlines of same were used on farms, in ordinary homes to hold boots in the hallway, as well as the more ostentacious display in the home of Mr, and Mrs. Gotrocks.

 

Thanks for that insight, very helpful!

 

Top panels do open and originally had locks

for placing vestments , garb, and other high value personal items...?

not yer ordinary hall bench.....

 

OK - so it was a "low" church!

 

Agrees

Well, as it likely went in a church or mansion it's probably a custom build, the upper storage is unusual.

 

ya, i get a lot of hits with Monks Bench too....but that style and those cubbies have yet to be found...

it's probably custom built ...

I.m thinking that's a distinct possibility .....

 

seems not very comfy to sit on. either you have the top panel in the shoulder blades or one of the knobs in the neck.

 

The base and frame seem so heavily built for what it is. What time frame is it?

 

Suspect the panels with the swirly 'grain' have been painted. The 'platform' at the top is unfinished, not meant to be seen?

Do you mean lock as in a device that requires a key to open or some kind of gizmo to keep panels closed until pulled open? What do you keep in an entry hall small enough for those compartments & needing security measures. I'm leaning toward the bedroom hypothesis because I'm better able to imagine how it would be useful in that setting.

 

I am not sure what time frame it is. Fishing in the dark on this one.

 

Yes there were locks with keys in the top panels but at some point it was modified whereby the locks were removed and pulls were installed. You can see in the back of the panels that the locks were removed. They were square and brass looking rear view and skeleton key hole on the front.