Who can tell me anything about my new vintage cupboard? (pic)

[YellowPants9]

This little baby made it's way into my car boot today from the local charity shop. I love a do-er upper. It's such a curious cupboard with it's arched bit inside. It's also completely shagged Does anyone have any idea what it might have been used for originally? Some of the carvings remind me of a carved 30s sideboard. I wonder if someone's salvaged some pieces in the past & cobbled this together? That ginormous crack down the front is going to be a challenge.

What are its dimensions? It might have been one of those miniature pieces of furniture apprentices would make to demonstrate their newfound skills. I forget what the proper name for such pieces is, but you occasionally get them on Antiques Road show. But only if it is table top size, it is quite hard to tell from your photo.

Pic with a candle lightbulb on top for scale

Apprentice piece or a travelling salesman's sample?

Somehow I don't think it's an apprentice piece...check out those hinges!

Might it be Indian or North African?

Oh ok, maybe too big for an apprentice piece. How are the sides joined together? That can tell you a lot.

No idea about its history but it's beautiful! What are you going to do with it?

reminds me of an old chest from our Somerset farming relatives. Probably not v valuable, but I'd be wary of just fixing it up before you know more. Could be quite old

Looks like 1900 era Art Nouveau medicine or hanging cupboard to me - because it's got a keyhole and shelves.

I think it is 40's anglo-indian style cupboard.
Could be nice to pick out the pattern if you are going to white wash it? I was wondering what a bit of gold leaf might do...

I'd be interested to know if the legs are part of the original - they look too modern for anything older than 40's to me. The pattern is also not particularly detailed which to me suggests it isn't an antique. Might be wrong though!

This guy seems to do a lot of wood repairs - I wonder if you sent him a pick and asked politely if he would have more of a clue? Could make the difference in how you restore it .

Looks like an old chest to me . Perhaps rearranged into something else over the years .

There's a shop by me that imports debatably antique Indonesian furniture that looks a lot like that.

It's a pretty piece though, and at least buying it second hand you don't need to feel bad if it turns out to be some rare wood.

The legs do not fit with the rest of it. I could probably tell you a lot more about it if I could see it in the flesh (wood?)

How recent does the carving look? Is it worn, a bit chipped, with polish jammed into the cracks? What is the wood on the top like? If it has what are called medullary rays, it is oak, which would indicate an old bit of kit.

Before you do anything to it, take it to an antiques dealer or restorer. I think it looks interesting.

I'm no expert, but it looks a bit like my 'profusely carved' Victorian oak sideboard. The feet are the same too.

I know that mine is pretty old because my Grandad bought it in a cattle market in the 1940s, and it was old then!

It's beautiful!!

Op you said 'check the hinges' can we have a close up please?