antique jelly cupboard

by | Aug 28, 2019 | All Things Home, Antiques, Favorite Finds, My House | 37 comments

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This antique punched-tin pie safe has always been one of those pieces I just didn’t want to let go.  I purchased it a few years ago from an antique store in Maryland with the intention to sell it, but I decided to keep it for myself.  I put it in the family room in our last house and we stored movies and games inside.  When we moved to Minnesota, I wasn’t sure where I would put this piece or how it would work in our new house, but I just wasn’t ready to let go.

We hauled it over 1,000 miles and, as I suspected, I struggled with where to put it in our new house.  Not only did I struggle with where to put it, but I struggled with how these tall ceilings and new finishes made the piece look grubby instead of chipping and charming.  It just didn’t feel right in this house.

I ended up using it in our foyer and I’m glad I did because I learned that it was the perfect size and that we really needed a cabinet there for backpacks, hats, gloves, etc.  Sometimes using what you have helps you learn what you need.  It enables you to use experience to make a better decision for the long-term.  I find if I dive right in to find something to fill a hole, I am more likely to miss the mark or settle.

I had a very clear picture of what I wanted and I’ve been looking for it for over a year.  I finally found it at Gold Rush.  Initially, I admired this antique jelly cupboard, but I didn’t think about it for my foyer.  As soon as I opened up the doors, though, I had this image in my mind of putting backpacks and lunch boxes inside.  I turned to my friend, “Cheri!  I think this piece is perfect for my foyer!!”  I had three hesitations though…  One – Was the tone of the wood too orange?  Two – Would it be too wide for my space?  Three – It was a bit more than I wanted to pay.  I was hoping I could buy something that would be a pretty even trade when I sold the pie safe.  This piece was more.

I decided the tone of the wood would work with the stairs and railing and I trusted my eyeball estimation of the width.  I was pretty sure it would fit and look good.

The last one was the sticking point and kept me pondering for several minutes.  The vendor dropped the price by $100, bringing it down to a price point that wasn’t an even trade, but it was doable.  And it was still dramatically less than any comparable new piece of solid wood furniture.  I also felt like this is a piece we’ll own for decades.

With our breaths held, Jeff, Cheri, and I moved the cabinet into position and it fit with just a couple of inches to spare.  My eyeballing skills proved their worth.  The wood tone also looks beautiful and warm against the cool walls and slate floor.  It adds the richness that corner needed.

Interestingly enough, this piece was purchased from Pennsylvania!  It had been owned by a woman who had a massive antique collection and the pieces, including this one, were sold after she died.  She had used this piece in her office, so she installed a pencil sharpener inside on one of the shelves.  I’m planning to remove it and mount it somewhere in my office.

The piece has been painted, stripped, and refinished, at various times in its history, so I feel like I have the freedom to refinish it or paint it again if I ever want to.  For now, it’s just right.

It’s also very sturdy and the doors are in perfect working order.  I have a tendency to fall in love with problem pieces, but this one doesn’t require any fixing, adjustments, or improvements.  I could tap dance on top of it.

I found it just in time to fill it with backpacks and lunch boxes for back to school.

Also, I was able to find a buyer for the pie safe through craigslist!  I wasn’t sure how a primitive piece like that would move around here, but a former primitives antique dealer spotted it and scooped it up, so the bulk of the cost of the jelly cupboard was offset by that sale.

When I listed the pie safe, though, I learned about a new craigslist scam.  Within 30 minutes of listing it, I received 4-5 texts from different people asking if the piece was still available and then following up by asking if I would confirm I was real by sending them a Google verification code.  It smelled scammy, so I said they could just call me and we could talk and they will hear that I’m real.  Well, that wasn’t enough.  They needed the code right now and that was the only way I can prove I’m real.  So, of course, I didn’t send them the barrage of codes that were texted to me.  Apparently, they are trying to use your phone number to open a new craigslist seller account and they need a Google verification code to do it.  They will then sell any manner of spammy and potentially illegal stuff using your verified phone number.

So, just be aware.  Don’t ever send a verification code to anyone else unless it’s your husband and he’s trying to buy something on Amazon and it always texts you a code to confirm he can use the account, even though he’s used it for years.  Jeff and I just love it when that happens.  (Can you hear my sarcasm?)

Anyway, I’m sure you noticed Sebastian getting in on this photo shoot.  He waltzed over as soon as I started taking pictures.  Maybe he’s catching on…

PS – Today is the last day to bid on the current grouping of oil paintings for sale!  Just a head’s up if you’re interested.  You can find my paintings HERE and I have active listings in the animals and landscape categories.

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    37 Comments

    1. Sheila

      I love the new cupboard! The color of the wood is lovely and the proportions are perfect. Congratulations on the new addition. Oh and thanks for the advice on Craigslist scam. Will take that to heart!

    2. Kate

      Great piece. It’s a good scale and really anchors the foyer.

    3. Marilyn Lundberg

      I absolutely love painted furniture. But this is one piece that so beautiful as is, I can’t imagine that paint could improve it. You are the expert though, so I could be wrong1

    4. Lisa P

      Perfect size, so pretty, and great storage. And since you have an advanced education in musical theatre, you COULD tap dance on top of it ??

    5. Kathie

      It’s just lovely Marian. I love the colour & beautiful shape. It looks so solid & beautifully made. A perfect fit in every way. I resonated with your point that sometimes using what you have helps to know what you need more precisely. I’ve had that experience many times especially as I tend to learn by a lot of trial & error! I loved the chippy cabinet but totally understand your quandary. I had the same experience when we moved to a new home. Some things just didn’t work here how they had in our previous home. Someone will find that cabinet and it will be perfect for them just as the new cabinet is a perfect fit for you now. I can hear The Lion King playing “The Circle of Life”! Lol! It was worth the wait to find the right piece. Enjoy it.

    6. Margery Heyl

      The pencil sharpener is beautiful too. What a great bonus! It will be an awesome addition to your studio and I bet it will work really well too.

    7. Brenda

      Sebastian looks great! ( in front of your new jelly cabinet) All kidding aside, You scored some awesome pieces! Congratulations!

    8. Maureen

      Beautiful fit, sweet pup! Great you almost broke even. I have that ” if something comes in, something must go” thinking. Keeps me in check!

    9. Margie

      Beautiful mellow color and size. Do you think the gallery on top is an add-on to original piece?

    10. miki

      Loooooove the jelly cupboard WAYYYYY better AND Sebastian is SOOOOOO handsome!

    11. Maureen

      OMG I LOVE IT. I mean I love everything you do but this is just it! Perfect. I also love so much of your painted furniture but this one looks great in there warming it up with the wood tone. And it brings out the brown in Sebastian’s eyes.

    12. Julie Norred

      Love the new cabinet…and I LOVE Sebastian! Such a natural model!! 🙂

    13. Eileen

      Sebastian looks like a model; he certainly is acting the part!!! Beautiful dog, by the way.

    14. Olivia

      I might be in the minority. I liked the old one better. The new one looks so big. Both are nice, I just prefer the first one.

    15. Corinne

      I love the piece and it looks like it will be perfect in the space!
      On another note, my husband and I were able to link our Amazon accounts so that we both have access to the benefits of having a Prime account without my having to sign in to his acount. I honestly don’t know how it is done, but you might look into that. It may save you and your husband a few of those annoying verification texts!

    16. Sharon W

      Sometimes it all works out beautifully. And I love your dog because he looks like the one we had when I was a kid. I also love a dog that’s like a cat and our current dog fits the bill. ??

    17. Rita C at Panoply

      That cupboard is so handsome, but no more than Sebastian is. Oh my. he’s photogenic and really good looking!

    18. Maureen Provost Ryan

      Marian, Congratulations on having found such a perfect and important decorative piece of furniture for your front hall. It looks great and will be fun for you and the boys to use. So nice! Thanks for always inspiring my creative journey in so many ways; we are Kindred Spirits across the miles!

    19. Susan

      This is a beautiful cupboard! It’s gorgeous just the way it is and looks perfect in that spot.
      Also, thanks for the heads up on the google verification/craigslist scam.

    20. Jenny

      It’s perfect. Love the legs and bottom apron. ?

    21. Dori Johns

      Wow, that piece is a real treasure. Beautiful wood tones and the gorgeous scalloped top and curvy base are so unique and just plain lovely. I think Sebastian is standing guard so you can’t tap dance on top of it. 😉

    22. Cindy

      I see I’m in the minority regarding the size of your new piece… I even thought the old one was too large. When I saw that you were replacing it, I thought “good, something the right size” but… no. I can see that it does “fit” but when you look at it from different angles it just seems to jut out and just use up too much space. My opinion only, so if you’re happy, then enjoy! It will be handy to keep things in!

    23. Diane

      The new cupboard is stunning! Love it in that location and for the purpose you purchased it.

    24. Kristin M

      Sebastian looks just gorgeous. The cabinet looks terrific as is but, if you start feeling it looks too orange, I lightly sanded and then used this great product call Miss Mustard Seed White Wax on some older pine cabinets and it toned down the orange quite a bit.

      • Marian Parsons

        Ha! That sounds like an amazing product. I wonder where I can get some! 🙂

    25. Deborah Raney

      Beautiful piece and just what that corner needed. But I’m most excited about that pencil sharpener!!! I can’t wait to see where you put it. What a cool bonus! 🙂

    26. Karen

      That is a beautiful piece. Perfect in that space. Sebastian is beautiful and so regal.

    27. Joan

      Your new cupboard is beautiful and Sebastian is a cutie!

    28. Julie | Home On The Hill

      So this is not the jelly cupboard you featured in your Gold Rush post but a different one it seems?

      Sebastian reminds me of my new pup Riley – expect my boy never sits still long enough to be in a furniture photo shoot! LOL

      • Marian Parsons

        Nope, it’s the same one. I took a picture of another jelly cupboard at the event, but I didn’t buy it.

    29. Jessica

      The piece is perfect, love it when that happens! Sebastian is a precious fur baby!

    30. Michele M.

      Your pootch is so cute. what a darling!!!!

      I was so so stupid and fell for that CL scam – about a millisecond after I did it I was like OMG what did I just do????
      I haven’t noticed it affected me but I am still kicking myself – glad you are way smarter than I! It was way out of character for me to do that. / rolls eyes, hangs head in shame…..

      I did really love your pie safe in that spot – but this looks like a good investment for you. I am glad you are happy!

    31. Janine

      Beautiful, and love the natural wood. I too, love painted furniture, but sometimes the warmth of the wood tone is what a space needs. Just perfect!

    32. Marlene Stephenson

      Nice cabinet and color, looks great in your foyer. Sebastian looks nice there too, he’s cute.

    33. Krista

      I actually like either piece in that spot. Each one is pretty and unique in its own way. I admire how you always sell one piece when you buy a new piece…that’s a good habit. The pencil sharpener is really unique too. And Sebastian is such a pretty pup!

    34. KATHY B

      Beautiful, it looks terrific in that spot!!!..Great on “eyeballing” the space size!!!Thanks for the info on the Craigslist scam, my husband would be sending them the info, i can be a little moe cautious!!

    35. Mary Fitzpatrick

      Marion, I have a very similar cupboard (mine has two drawers above the doors) that I’m planning to sell. I love it but my husband really hates it. Any suggestions on how to do that? I have no idea what it may be worth. It was left behind in an old farmhouse that we lived in beck in the 70s and we’ve had it since. Thanks in advance to anyone who may be able to help!

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