Help with this furniture piece

[detritusofourlives]

Greetings! I found this yesterday but I’m not quite sure what it is. It’s National Furniture Co. piece. I think it might be a dresser organizer or something, but I can’t find anything like it in my research.  It measures 29” wide, 6 1/2” tall, and 9 1/2” deep. It has a drawer and then these things on top that are very puzzling. Any help greatly appreciated. I was able to find information about the company online but I’m not sure how to research because I don’t know what it is. TIA!

(cross posted)

 

 

 

[pickapaper]

@detritusofourlives 

Do you think those pieces on the top are original to the piece or does it look like they might have been added on?

My first thought when I looked at it was some kind of display for weapons such as swords, arrows, etc.  but that is probably way off.

[mmadigan]

"Do you think those pieces on the top are original to the piece or does it look like they might have been added on?"

I thought the same thing this morning when I was the post but I was thinking rifles. I could not make them fit in my mind,  then I thought pool cues.

I envisioned it fasten to a wall with display on top and the drawer to store items, such as ammunition or pool balls.

[sonomabarn67]

I'm in Meraca and that is our favorite sports combo-pool and ammo😉🤔.

I had a similar thought though.

Anyway. I've seen rigs like that for small flags. Check church/society regalia jobber-catalogs. Just a thought.

[sonomabarn67]

Show a pic of the bottom and the label.

[roccotacodad54]

   I think the parts on top are origional. There seems to be part(s) of the item missing. I am not familiar with the maker but have studied the works of various cabinet makers.

   It looks to me like something was meant to rotate in the rounded indents and the angular notches are stops of some sort to adjust the angle of maybe an easel or some sort of viewing/working surface. The drawer is probably to keep accruments or supplies to aid or execute whatever the purpose of this item is part of.

   I don't think it's a portable secretary/writing desk sort of thing but something different.

   Maybe there was a mirror that went on top and one could have changed the angle?

   It appears to be very well made unlike most modern items. The wood looks to be well selected as to grain orientation to insure longevity in it's construction.

   In your research of the maker have you found an approximate date this was made?

[pickapaper]

@detritusofourlives 

I think @roccotacodad54 may be on to something.  I googled "vintage tilting dresser mirror" and found a few similar type pieces consisting of one drawer with a mirror on top, made to sit on top of a dresser or chest.  Those pieces mostly have swivel mirrors whereas yours could just be a different design with a "more modern" adjustable mirror format.  

[policequilts]

I think that piece sits on a dresser.

Those two pieces on top may hold canes.

I remember the neighbor had a "two piece" dresser. The top had a drawer for "dainties" and a tilt up mirror.

She left the mirror down and had some bottles of perfume on it.

[mmadigan]

Here is a three drawer dresser with an added piece containing a smaller drawer and mirror made by National.

https://live.dumoart.com/online-auctions/dumouchelles/national-furniture-co-georgian-style-mahogany-...

Disregard the above, after returning home from an early meeting and looking at the piece I realized what I said was wrong.  It appears to be two different pieces when I did a closer look at drawer sizes.

[sonomabarn67]

The reason I asked for a photo of the label was, is that there may be info on there that would let you know the date it was made. Looking at Madigan's post where they show a label tells us they were in business in 1963, the year Zip codes were introduced. Your piece may have that same info...or not.

[lacemaker3]

My first thought when I saw this, was that it was a lovely mid-20th-century tabletop lecturn or easel.

Kind of like this one, only the lecturn bits are missing. It doesn't look like they were ever permanently attached. This one has a single piece in the middle, with notches to allow the angle to adjust, where @detritusofourlives's one has two pieces with notches.

[policequilts]

Nice thinking.

Maybe it's part of a book holder.  ( especially for a Bible )

Interesting thinking.

[detritusofourlives]

They are definitely original to the piece! 

[detritusofourlives]

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@detritusofourlives wrote:

Greetings! I found this yesterday but I’m not quite sure what it is. It’s National Furniture Co. piece. I think it might be a dresser organizer or something, but I can’t find anything like it in my research.  It measures 29” wide, 6 1/2” tall, and 9 1/2” deep. It has a drawer and then these things on top that are very puzzling. Any help greatly appreciated. I was able to find information about the company online but I’m not sure how to research because I don’t know what it is. TIA!

(cross posted)

 

 

 

---

[detritusofourlives]

I’m so sorry, I did not mean to disappear after posting! I wasn’t receiving notifications for some reason.

It is very well made. I will post a picture of the label and the bottom when I’m home again.

You all have been so generous with your suggestions, thank you. I did think about pool sticks/weapons/fishing rods, but that doesn’t seem quite right either. I’m leaning toward a dresser top organizer with a mirror, but that mirror would have been quite large. Also an odd size for a type of lectern. I haven’t had time, but I’m hoping I’ll be able to maybe find old catalogs online. The drawer does have dovetail construction, and I’ll take a closer look at other elements.

thank you!!