Help, please! Potential history of this piece / how to restore
by
Ryn
+6
My brother had a client who had this down in his basement for eons (paint tins and other basement crap had been stored on top, resulting in several leaks/rings :S ) and he wanted to get rid of it. Lucky us, eh? We will have to try and repair the damage caused by the leaking tins, but other than that I'd like to keep it as "true to form" as possible. It has square nails, a bevelled mirror and inside, on one of the drawer rails, somebody wrote "50 Broadview ?? Rail" in pencil. The BF is torn between it being maple or cherry (Thank you to Loretta who cast a vote for maple & offered her thoughts over on the Hometalk FB page!). Thanks in advance for any light you can shed on this piece!
9 answers
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This looks like a piece of furniture that was in my grandparents home. If I remember correctly theirs was made in the early 1930's. Are the drawers on the right fairly deep? If so this was a man's dresser. He would keep his hat in one of the drawers. The bottom two would have been for shirts and other attire of the period. To get the rings our use baking soda with a couple of drops of vinagar and a soft toothbrush (like the child version). It will take some elbow grease but you won't damage the wood. After you get the ring out be sure to use a good polish to seal and re-freshen the wood. Hope this helps.
Ann Edmondson
on Sep 22, 2014
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I am stripping an oak desk similar to yours. I love this piece of yours and glad to see it. Thanks, I think some things should be left alone!! but an off white color?? or light green?LOL
Barbara P
on Sep 23, 2014
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Too cool. Please don't paint. I'd remove the paint stains. Looks a bit light for cherry. I'd just restain top to match, give it a good drink of oil, and polish.
Marion Nesbitt
on Sep 23, 2014
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I think that small square cupboard on the top side section is a hat box. The old standing closets had these. I love this piece. I would clean it good, and keep it natural.
Jeanette S
on Sep 23, 2014
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Thank you for the helpful tips and the history, Ann! Yes, the boxes on the right are quite deep - and I do have the knob to go back on.
Ryn
on Sep 23, 2014
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Thanks to everyone for their input! (I'm a newbie learning how this community "operates" :) ) This piece will stay natural for sure (although I like your idea to Barbara P LOL). She will shine again given the guidance you've shared. Thanks a mil!
Ryn
on Sep 23, 2014
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Hi Ryn ,I am new to this site, also!! I am trying to read every Blog on this site. This summer I stayed up all night and reading "HOMETALK"!! I am so lucky to have found this site...at 60, I want to change the whole house!! Welcome!
Barbara P
on Oct 05, 2014
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Your piece of furniture is called a bonnet chest. The large deep compartment on the right is where a bonnet or hat was stored. Without a closer view of the grain of the wood, I would say it's made of oak, which is what these pieces were typically made of. Probably dates to about the very late 1800s.
Swan Road Designs
on Jan 06, 2015
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@Ryn what a stroke of look to have this given to you. The damage you speak of is not evident in the photo, but don't despair it is likely an easy fix requiring a bit of elbow grease. I once rescued an old dresser from the side of the road with paint spilled all over not to mention other stuff and it turned out great. As for how to use this piece I can see it as an asset in an entryway/mudroom, kitchen or diningroom. Depending on where you use it will determine how you finish it. It can be sanded and refinshed or it can be painted, but I am a fan of keeping true to its form. Again depending on the where you use it you might want to replace the hardware, decide if you want modern or something older like enamel pulls and knobs. Do update us with pics of what you do. Thanks for posting.
Gail Salminen
on Jan 14, 2015
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