*RARE* Antique Early 20th Century Mahogany Telephone Cabinet with Stand

This unique Telephone Cabinet with Stand is made of dark-finished solid oak, and stands 46 1/2" high, measures 14" deep and 18" wide. The piece was designed so that the telephone, which would have been a shared line and the only one in the household, could be closed inside the cabinet. The fact that this stand has the top cabinet which hid the phone from sight indicates that during the time this phone stand with cabinet was produced, the phone was not yet used as a decorative household item (which would happen towards the end of the 1950s).

 The phone cabinet is accented with a serpentine molding and a simple layered medallion cornice, giving this piece an elegantly austere and rustic design associated with the early 20th century Arts & Crafts/ Mission style. The interior of the cabinet door has a sticker with the local numbers for the police and fire department; this is an additional indicator that this piece predates the established nation-wide use of 9-1-1, which occurred in the 1960s. 

There is an adhesive mark on the inside of the cabinet door, revealing that additional telephone information was attached for easy access. The cabinet is framed by two slightly more angular matching serpentine corner moldings, which makes the cabinet appear to flow into the stand as a single unit with smooth lines. The pull-down drawer on the stand has a white porcelain handle, which opens up the spacious compartment that would have contained a directory and note taking materials.  The stand has carved turned legs and a squared off base stretcher that connects them; the stretcher would have provided the necessary reinforcement to support the weight of the heavy telephone.

This rare find is in great condition, and it is a must-have for any vintage technology enthusiast or antique furniture collector. 


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Item code: 062015 LLB