Featured Another Houston Chest

Back in Houston for a couple of days so it’s time for another chest. Looks to be Victorian, maybe mid to late 19th century?What type of wood is this?

By the way, the “Frankenstein” chest I posted previously is still available. It dropped to $120 on 9/11 and still no takers.

 

the wood is strange to me............

 

Very strange indeed.

 

Although newer than the frankenstein desk/chest, it is in much better un-frankensteined condition. This has what looks like original paint and wood pulls, and yes, your date is correct, mid to late 19th century.

Can't tell what type of wood due to the grain painting, though it is probably walnut with pine secondary wood which was used in this style of chest at that time. Paint is meant to look like rosewood probably?

James Conrad says no-one on this forum likes painted furniture, but speaking for myself we actually all DO like painted furniture, as long as it is old and probably original paint like this.

 

I was wondering about grain painting. Glad I wasn't alone.

 

The Frankenstein Chest LIVES ON!
Not a clue about wood species, looks like grain painted in photos.

 

Thanks for the replies. I know nothing about grain painted furniture so I didn’t even consider that.

 

The date would be ca. 1860. I've never seen walnut grain painted like this. I suppose it's supposed to resemble....Zebra wood?

 

It was last popular all during the 19th C - 1900 or so here in the states, not only furniture but house interior wood trim & doors. Kind of a lost art these days.

 

Could be. And I thought parts, like these glovebox sides, looked like Macassar ebony.

 

When I recognized this as having been grain painted, I believed rosewood was the most likely option, as I said above. Bear in mind that rosewood was being heavily harvested and used in furniture in the second half of the 19th century, so I still that is the most likely possibility. Even then rosewood was expensive compared to native US woods, so upgrading with paint to look like an expensive imported wood would make sense. (pic from https://www.core77.com/posts/25477/An-Introduction-to-Wood-Species-Part-8-Rosewood)

 

Fascinating.

Debora

 

It's odd to see grain painting on a piece made this late, but you never knew what those Victorians would get up to. It looks like it was meant to be walnut but someone got a bright idea.