Painted Pine American Country Step-Back Cupboard, Late 19th–Early 20th C.

A vernacular American country step-back cupboard built as a single one-piece unit, executed in vertical board-and-batten construction throughout the exterior and interior — a hallmark of local farmhouse cabinetry from the late 19th to early 20th century. The softwood, most likely pine, carries an overall white-to-off-white painted surface with earlier paint layers showing through at the wear points, exactly the kind of authentic, unrestored patina that collectors favor over stripped or repainted examples. The upper section presents open display shelving with three fixed shelves flanked by vertical board dividers; the lower section houses two doors on pressed-steel butterfly hinges with an applied metal hasp latch, enclosing a single interior shelf.

Cupboards of this form served as standard utility furniture in New Mexico and territorial households from the 1880s through the 1930s, frequently built by local carpenters from available softwood. Re.

CONDITION

Good and very sturdy. Finish wear and paint loss in some areas, with earlier paint layers exposed at high-wear points — original surface, not refinished. The latch is fully functional and the structure is solid throughout.

DIMENSIONS / SPECIFICATIONS

• Overall: 67" H × 42" W × 20 3/4" D
• Top Shelves: 10.5", 11", 12"
• Bottom Shelves: 11 1/2", 14"
• Construction: Solid wood, paneled back, one-piece
• Hardware: Pressed-steel butterfly hinges, hasp latch (painted over)
• Marks: Unmarked