Asked on Dec 11, 2013
Antique Furniture Find Hoping to Get Help With This One
+50
I bought this antique furniture piece from a friends great grandmother, so can anyone tell me what it is called?? i know they normally sell for alot but she told me she only wanted $50 for it. about how old it is or what to look for on it to have more information to see how old it is?? there is some numbers on back of it stamped in white 4672 1/2
48 answers
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I do not know anything about your furniture piece, but had to say I love, love, your wink sign !
Shirley
on Dec 11, 2013
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i believe it is an antique armoire. Once upon a time there were drawers on the left. and that metal thing on the top right would hold hangers when pulled out. Great piece.
Jill B
on Dec 11, 2013
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@ Shirley she have me the wink sign also and I love it also thanks.. @jill I thought it was an armoire just was not sure since it had the closet inside and it has the drawers in it also found some old marbles in it that had never been open with price still on them
Trent-Tonya Sharp
on Dec 11, 2013
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It is a chifforobe used to store clothing in the drawers and the other side to hang clothes. I believe they were first made around 1900. I remember seeing them in children's rooms back in the 50's, painted and with decals. Yours should clean up nicely.
Claudia
on Dec 11, 2013
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1930's. I would wait until summer, take it outside, and then put about 2-3 coats of white primer on the entire inside and the entire outside. Then, I would pick a couple of fun colors and paint the entire thing. I would store towels, toilet paper, paper towels, or my Christmas ornaments and décor inside of it. Could also be put on a deck, great for gardening tool storage items. If you use it that way.... adding some hand-painted small flowers on the outside, or cute small floral decals adds interest. Put a great plant on top, or various small pots with pretty flowers, and voila!!..... what a creative addition to your deck! It definitely needs a new look though.
Patty C
on Dec 11, 2013
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A chifforobe.......:) cool! I have one and called it an armoire!
Jill B
on Dec 11, 2013
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yes a armoire chifforobe..i googled it an that is it and wow what a deal i got they sell from a couple hundred to a thousand but i will not sell i plan on repurposing it soon thanks hometalk friends
Trent-Tonya Sharp
on Dec 11, 2013
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It is a chifforobe, my Grandmother had one very similar to this one.
Joan White
on Dec 12, 2013
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It is a chifforobe..I have one very similar
Kristy R
on Dec 12, 2013
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The difference between armoire and a cheffonier or chiffonier: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-and-family-articles/closets-and-their-history-936334.html
Brenda Wiggins
on Dec 12, 2013
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Back in the day they did not build closets in homes, they also didn't have all the clothes we had so this Is what they used . The drawers were for underwear, socks, etc. I have my grandmothers and she called it a chiffarobe. Probably 1920 or 30.
Marilyn Hendrix
on Dec 12, 2013
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back in the day you paid taxes on number on rooms a closet was a ROOM thus the chifforobe great one
Barbara Brewer
on Dec 12, 2013
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thanks everyone i am so glad to be on hometalk and get the help and response we all do for each other
Trent-Tonya Sharp
on Dec 12, 2013
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Looks like an old wardrobe to me. You hang clothes in the tall area and fold socks, underwear etc. In the drawers.
Wilma Mcphail
on Dec 12, 2013
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this is a gentle mans wardrobe. Woman's would have been taller. Hat on top shelf.
Carol Ann McDaniel
on Dec 12, 2013
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My husband has one from his great grandmother, we have left it alone, just use good oil polish on it and it looks beautiful.... Have some one make drawers for it and it will be a great piece for you.
Lisa Grametbauer Vincent
on Dec 12, 2013
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Used in place of closets.. My grandmother had one closet in her 2 bedroom house.
Ginnie
on Dec 12, 2013
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This is indeed a chifforobe which I would think from the size of it was more a "Gentleman's Wardrobe". Great find. I would give it a good cleaning and then touch up with some stain and put on several coats of varnish. Since it is lower than most of these chests, it could be used in almost any room.
Jeanette S
on Dec 12, 2013
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I love old furniture. I wouldn't touch a thing. Be aware if you do paint it, it may lose some value but if it's not in great condition then that doesn't matter. You could get so creative with this.
Matina V
on Dec 12, 2013
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chifferobe, wardrobe, clothes press, I have heard all 3 words applied to this piece, all of my grandmothers had them for their houses had no closets but they all had large pantries!
Mssmatch
on Dec 12, 2013
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i would definately clean it with furniture cleaner. the recipe is on this site...it works wonders...it will take off all the finger prints and grime...then touch up with stain and wax it with the soft wax from this site....the wax and cleaner will work miracles with that piece...it did for me...
Penny
on Dec 12, 2013
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I agree with Penny, and after you have done this it will be beautiful, even if it's not perfect that is the beauty of the old stuff, I have one very similar to yours and it has a few places on it but I wouldn't change a thing about.
Patty
on Dec 12, 2013
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the kelvinator with the round motor on top?
Mssmatch
on Dec 12, 2013
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It looks smaller then a regular Chiffarobe...maybe a child's? It would be a really good wood...chalk paint or a good sanding and a stain?
Terra Gazelle
on Dec 12, 2013
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thanks for all the help keep it coming we have plans to repurpes it this summer i cant wait
Trent-Tonya Sharp
on Dec 12, 2013
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oh I have one of those n I just love mine it is a wardrobe
Beverly Coffaro
on Dec 12, 2013
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I have a cedar two door Wardrobe...It has the paper of where it was made in the back./..1920 New Orleans.
Terra Gazelle
on Dec 12, 2013
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It is a very old chiffarobe..In the old days houses werent built with closets and these were the closets..The first ones were small like this due to smaller spaces and smaller wardrobes.
Gail lichtsinn
on Dec 12, 2013
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Cute! I agree it's called a chiffarobe. I think it's from the 30's- called depression era. It used to have drawers on the left. Since it's missing original parts and has been damaged by the metal hasp on the door it isn't worth much money. Paint away if you like!
Kathleen M
on Dec 13, 2013
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maybe a pie safe?
Jacqueline Dechant-Irby
on Dec 13, 2013
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o, it was the GE with the compressor on top, got them mixed up, have had many fridges...LOL
Mssmatch
on Dec 13, 2013
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Yes it is definitely for clothes we have always called them an Amoire, I think this is for a child. I love Cottage decorating now so I would probably paint it white and wax it to fill in the cracks and crevices to put enfices on them.. But yet you can just clean it and wax it.. It would be beautiful either way great find for 50. for sure!!
Sandra Trulson
on Dec 13, 2013
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checked them out....they were all before my time, but i remember seeing them in old movies...lol
Penny
on Dec 13, 2013
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I believe it's called a chiffarobe if it has drawers but since those are gone...it is now an armoire LOL!
Kathleen M
on Dec 14, 2013
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I would not paint it. it's beautiful .
Carol
on Dec 14, 2013
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This is a Chifferobe...very vintage (1900+) and abused. Consider it your personal accessories/jewelry butler cabinet. Clean and paint it; hang a mirror on the inside of the door and keep scarves on the pull-out rod...maybe belts/purses could hang on the sides. Then you can add some neat hooks or glass knobs on the insides of the top unit (on the left) and hang jewelry there. This used to be a place to keep a hat. The other 3 sections had drawers, but you might be able to find some baskets that would fit and slide. Other uses might include a crafts center or it could be modified for a child's room or nursery. Enjoy your great vintage find!
Dianne
on Dec 14, 2013
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I have heard them called free standing closet, armoires, wardrobes and chiffarobe. My family all had them, but their homes where built without closets. These replaces the chest of drawers and built in closets in their home. It is beautiful.
Teresa Schroepfer
on Dec 14, 2013
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I agree with the chiffarobe designation.
Bonnie D
on Dec 15, 2013
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This looks like what my mom said was a Chiffarobe...a child's closet. I think she said she had one for me. I wish she had saved it.
Diana Matthews-Cox
on Nov 08, 2014
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I have one of these...it is a child's closet!!
Cynthia Cook
on Jan 07, 2015
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Here in NZ we call these Manrobes
Ivana Gaffikin
on Jan 18, 2015
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I would make this into a bar cabinet. It would be perfect!
Carri
on Mar 27, 2015
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It is a chiffarobe, No one said the size, but it looks small. I saw one on line for 398.00. It has the shelf with the four drawers under it and the pull out bar for hanging clothes just like yours has. Its in pretty good condition though. here's a picture of it..I think with effort you can fix yours up..but I agree it would be nice as a bar or a coffee station. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Vintage-Wardrobe-Armoire-Chifferobe-Dresser-Closet-Original-Old-Finish-/361087401549
Terra Gazelle
on Mar 28, 2015
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It was called a gentleman's chest. His suits got hung up on the rod. The top shelf was for his hat. the two deeper drawer type shelves held his undies and starched shirts and the bottom shelf was for the shoes.
Heliane Ripley
on Apr 05, 2015
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Our family has one of these and we call it a jelly cabinet.
Ginny
on Apr 05, 2015
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It is also called an armoire. Early houses didn't have closets so these were used instead. Worth more than $50 but value would depend on the type of wood used. I believe the numbers indicate the model by the manufacturer.
Jan Shwetz
on Jun 25, 2015
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Chifferobe, (a term mostly used in the South) is most likely the name of this little guy and was definitely used to store cloths. I suspect because of its size, most likely used in a hotel during the early 20th (1908) century. My guess is, it is at least 100 years old. The "orange peel" you see on the surface is due to shellac (varnish) being used. You will need to investigate how to remove shellac because it is nothing like the finishes we use today.
Pat Ruge
on Apr 16, 2016
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I love it. If you are gonna keep it original Ill pass along my go to product. Its called The Victorian House Finish Rejuvenator. I use it on all my flea market finds. Keep up the good hunting. www.thevictorianhouseproducts.com
Doris Jean Miller
on Feb 07, 2017
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