Featured Looking for help on era, origin country & wood care...

I bought this sideboard recently at a local auction in South East Coast USA and antique furniture is not (yet) an area I know much about so I was hoping for some helpful furniture friends while I continue my own research.

Looking for opinions time period, country of origin, and wood type (I'm assuming the inside drawers are a different wood). It came from an historic boutique hotel in a port city but who knows if it was original to the place, or a stylist buying antiques.

54" w x 30" h x 20" d No marks that I've found.




Carving detail on drawer.

Carving detail on drawer.

Right side, top.

Left side, top.

Dovetails.

Bottom of drawer.

Back of knob.

Drawer guides.


Legs.

I'm also interested what our wood specialist friends would recommend for care. I'm not looking to do anything major to it, but it does have damage to the leg (I have the missing frieze piece). Recommend maybe a matched stain for the damage and a particular wax? The top is obviously had a rough life but I'm fine with it if it would be ill advised to touch it. I have framing wood glue for the missing frieze block, but it there a particular type I should be using? It's staying with me and I love a good worn in look so even if I did nothing to it, I'd be very happy.

Thanks for any help. I appreciate y'all.

 

This a wonderful Jacobean revival sideboard

 

used like a member of the family !

 

I see oak, but others may be able to give you more info, especially on the secondary woods used.
A wonderful piece.

 

It is oak and likely English in origin. Secondary wood is also oak (Maybe with a bit of ash thrown in). Believe it to be a 19th century revival piece. A little Howard's Restor-A-Finish would do wonders with this.

 

So that's a vote for English? Did a quick look and didn't see the same elements yet, but I'll definitely look into that style more. My one English Furniture book is all the much fancier, well-heeled designers and nothing as rustic so no help at all.

Thank you! I thought it was oak, but I'm a completely dummy on woods and willing to admit it lol.

Okay! I thought the interior wood had a different grain but I know nothing. Another vote for English which makes me feel confident on y'alls assessment. British Gent on reddit said it looked like the Northern English pieces in his family from 18th C. but reddit is.....reddit. Always good to get more opinions.

Also THANK YOU for suggesting Howard's. I knew I had heard of a really good material to use on antique furniture, and that it started with an H....and then my brain decided to flush the rest.

I got curious about the nails and if that held any additional info so I took some close ups. They look hand made to my newb eye, and I'm trying to learn, so...are they? Would they be on a 19th c piece? Do they help date it at all?



Thanks to everybody. Y'all are the best.

 

Any good wood glue is fine. Just be sure to clean off any old glue on the joined surfaces first (down to bare wood as much as possible). You will need to clamp this and/or attach with finish nails to get a proper bond. If you use finish nails, pre-drill holes the same size or just slightly smaller diameter than the nail you use. Countersink it and fill the holes afterward.

The Howard's comes in colors so no need for a stain. You can apply it all over and may need to coat bare areas more than once. This is the fastest possible fix to spruce this up. If you don't like the way the top turns out, you could wipe the top with lacquer thinner to remove any oxidized finish and spread any existing finish more evenly. This is a gunky process that removes finish and I recommend working quickly so that your rag does not stick. Alternately, you can always strip and sand it for a more uniform look. I generally do not recommend sanding antiques, as it removes patina that can't be replicated. Sometimes it comes down to losing patina or living with a stain you don't like. Use a paste wax once you are happy with the look for additional protection and depth of finish.

 

BRAD YOU ARE AWESOME! You are so kind to help me out with this amount of detail and I really appreciate it. I will reference this for certain. I also don't believe in sanding antiques. If I wanted them to look new, what's the point in buying something old? Yeah, it's got some unfortunate water (?) marks from the hotel thinking it was great for cocktail hour, but I made peace with that and they don't really bother me. The patina is texture and history.

 

Post photos of it once you finish with it please

 

Oh no that means I have to do it soon, right? Well I've got the time, since everyone's on strike in my industry, but damn I found so many exciting projects at the same time! Guess I'm getting that Howard's this weekend.

 

Don't worry, take your time. But when you're ready, we'd like to see it. We love follow ups.

 

Haa best not show y'all the other 2 furniture pieces I picked up that also need attention and opinions. Right after the Halloween wall hanging I'm making, the mid-century lamp I'm re-wiring, the 1950s dress I just ordered the missing button for, and the small sculpture I'm working on...and that's just the stuff I touched today. No pressure, no pressure...

But I agree, I love a good Glow Up before n after too so I'll keep y'all in mind.

 

Welcome to the club! I have a drawer full of jewelry that needs repair and necklaces that need restringing. I plan on it being a winter project, then suddenly it's spring and gets put off another year

 

My boxes filled with repairs and projects have become projects themselves.

 

Oh god that's too real. I'm usually pretty good about most of it, but then I go back to work 60+ hrs/wk and my downtime becomes laundry, adulting upkeep, and spending time with the husband. Luckily he has his own projects so sometimes we decide to do them in the same room for motivation lol.

Marie I had to reorganize my art supplies and found my small jewelry kit. Yep, glass Mardi Gras beads that broke and I meant to restring inside. Add it to the list.

 

What a gorgeous piece! It reminds me of my Jacobean Revival sideboard in my dining room, but this looks even older.

Brad, that’s a great recommendation. I was wondering why you didn’t suggest any of the Kramer’s Best Antique products…I am not an expert in this at all, but I’ve seen the products on display at various antique stores. Is Howard’s the best go to for old wood furniture like this? I ask because I have a number of old wood pieces that could use some TLC. I’m always worried about getting the wrong product.

 

I am not familiar with Kramer's. Maybe regional?

 

From Missouri:

https://www.kramerize.com/