Anyone into antiques and able to help me date this cupboard? Pics included

[DickDastardly]

I've had this cupboard years and bought it from someone who said they'd had it passed down to them. They painted it a horrible Farrow and ball share so I can't even tell what wood it is

It's heavy: very very heavy, Almost impossible to move. The lock is original I believe

Any ideas??

And another pic

Are those the original doors?

Yes I believe so. Wish it wasn't painted! Don't know why they did that

No idea on the age but wanted to add my agreement that the paint is awful... Why is everyone painting gorgeous wooden furniture?

No idea. It was painted about a decade ago when everyone was 'shabby chic - ing' everything. I bought it because I loved the shape etc but it lives in the garage as it's too heavy to be taken up any stairs really.

My first thought was 50s/60s but then the furniture I saw in the 60s that looked like this would have been older as people kept furniture for a long time!

antiques.lovetoknow.com/Antique_Furniture_Hardware

home.howstuffworks.com/home-improvement/home-diy/projects/how-to-identify-antique-wooden-furniture-for-refinishing.htm

I think the leg style is Queen Anne, but it's been in use since then pretty constantly so that doesn't really help to date it. The lock looks fairly 20th century. It's hard to tell with it being painted, but I'm not sure I'd put it any older than 1950s.

@Galassia that's a helpful article thanks

It's definitely older than the 50s.

I'd say either late Victorian or more likely Arts and Crafts. Not Edwardian.

Is it unpainted inside? Joinery method would give clues to age if you can post photo of the interior.

Yes here's a couple from the inside ...

Looks 1940s to me?

Cant see the inside pics.

It’s not Arts & Crafts. I’d say either 1940s or late 19th “brown”, as the antiques dealers call it. Probably pitch pine, but there’s a chance it’s oak.

Those doors and legs don’t “go together” to my eyes. Also, the legs seem disproportionate to the height of the cupboard, but it could be the perspective of the photos.

I’d put it at around 1950s, with older legs screwed onto the bottom.

Agree with you, that faux distressing is awful!

Your cupboard reminds me of the this great episode -

Not really useful or relevant but it reminds me of my fuse box cupboard

Those are not the original doors. If you look at the hinges on the frame they have been cut in but on the door side they are just screwed on. The style of the legs and the molding on the bottom plinth bit suggest the original doors would have had panels. It's only with the advent of ply that sheets of wood could be used to make doors.

Buy it a drink and tell it it's got the best legs you've seen all day. Oh, sorry, you didn't mean that kind of date. (Couldn't resist. )

@bringincrazyback LOL.

I have a very similar tallboy- thought it has some more decorative details on the doors (stuck on, not carved). It was bought late 60s. Has the same hinges, very heavy. Your doors don't seem to be old enough to match the style of it considering the feet and weight- they'd be more decorative if original and old I think?

If the paint isn't sealed you may be able to wipe a bit off with warm soapy water on a rag. Hopefully they did a shit job and didn't sand it so you can see what wood is underneath. What's the inside like?

Well the plain doors look like 'utility furniture' from the 1940s to early 50s, when there was a shortage if everything due to WW2.
But the legs and handle do not match that. Also they weren't all that heavy (due to shortages!)
Not much help am I?

@Bimblybomeyelash

Looks 1940s to me?

This.

It looks like an inexpensive functional piece of storage from then.

It certainly wouldn't have any great value.

I’d say post WWII to 1950s as well. The legs are obviously reproduction not original.