Old Wardrobe

So I posted a painting in the art section explaining that we cleared out a high end antiques dealer in Austin's storage room. Anyways this was another piece that my partner picked up. It has some issues. My husband is going to try and remount the doors but he told me that it isn't going to be easy cause it looks like they have been coming off for a long time now. Anyways, I have no idea how old this might be but it does have a bit of character to it. It doesn't look like the usual antique furniture that I have seen in this area. It is veneer and that has chipped in some places.

Not sure of age or anything about it so of course I figured I would post it here and wait for Brad to tell me all about what it is. LOL! ;-) LOL!

I do know that the owner said she purchased it at an antiques show a long while back and had paid around $350 for it. Although she said she doesn't care what it brings at auction because the space was more important to her at this time. She is my favorite type of consignor. She has no emotional attachment to her items what so ever.

 

It is early 19th century Empire style. I would typically think this to be French but this very similar one is attributed as American in the style of Meeks. What does the bottom look like on yours?



http://joanbogart.com/classical-furniture232

 

looks like somethings missing.....

 

That was my first thought as well but the doors are off and resting on the floor, blocking the bottom of the case from view.

 

Thanks Brad. I knew you would know. LOL! It's older than I thought. I mean it is obviously not new but I didn't realize how old it may be. LOL! Let me tell you those doors are heavy. I stomped my toe on one trying to move it over to get a picture of the legs and I am none so happy about it. Anyways, I attached a pic of the feet. There is also another gilt decorative piece along the bottom sorry I couldn't get a good picture of that. My husband is concerned about getting the doors back on. Because they are so heavy and the wood that they should attach too has been drilled on more than once. He said he doesn't think it is the first or even the fifth time they have been off by looking at it and he has doubts about being able to get them back on. He is no wood worker but still. The area where they need to attach is weak. After picking one up I see his concern you would think they were made of marble with the weight.

 

Let me see if I can get the doors moved over and get a good pic of the bottom.

 

Ok here are some more pics. It looks worse in these pics than it does in real life but it is rough. It needs a lot of TLC. That goes with out saying.

 

Thanks for the extra pics. It could go either way as to being French or American. Looks like the hinges have been moved a couple times. If necessary, the frame could be reinforced and the hinges can be moved again. There is not much in cabinetry that can not be repaired. I would just try to attach them and let the buyers know that the hinges may require reinforcement.

 

Thanks so much Brad that is what we will do. So glad to have someone as knowledgeable as you to turn to. Really thank you so much for your expertise.

 

This might not be an option, but what about selling with the doors off? It has kind of an interesting look with that yellow painted interior. I could see someone re-purposing this as a make shift closet or something else without the doors. (Include the doors of course, but leave additional labor to the buyer.) Of course depends on your clientele.

 

Hi,
Just a hint. When I have repaired hinge holes like that I used golf tees. Glueing them in the old holes and screwing the door hinges to the tees worked miracles.
greg

 

I think the goddess in brass above the doors is Artemis. She rode in a chariot that was pulled by four deer.
http://www.theoi.com/Olympios/Artemis.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artemis

 

Thank God a use for anything golf related.
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I have used groups of round and flat toothpicks glued in since I then had different surfaces held all around their surfaces by the glue to grab and not just one to crack.
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I have also drilled out the holes and glued in dowels. Then drilled them to accept the shank size of the screw not the threads.

 

What a great tip. Thank you.