Pre-Civil War Cherry Wardrobe

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This Pre-Civil War Cherry Wardrobe had been in the same family since new. It survived the war, but when it was it was brought up from Georgia on a flatbed truck the right door blew off, splintering on the road.

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1850 case, 1970 plywood back. The entire shaped crown missing – only nail and other faint marks, and an aged relative's childhood memories, supplied clues to the original shape.   All that remained of the right door was the right 2/3 of the panel.   The original back was found. We restored it and used it in place of the plywood replacement.   This side sat on the dirt, the beautiful patina marred by considerable decay. A full 2" was missing from the left foot.   How do you make a load-bearing graft that replaces the left foot's missing two inches.  
Two hinge mortises indicates generations of hard use in pre-closet days.   Matching quarter-sawn cherry was found by going through a nearby Mennonite sawyer's cherry stack. They had to be painstakingly hand planed - for authenticity, and to match the curve of the original door.   Once it was restored overall, the challenge now was to match the antebellum color and patina.   The new carefully selected cherry exhibits the same chatoyance (luminosity) as its 150-year-old cousin.   Right side, restored. Notice the chatoyance (luminosity) reemerge in the 150-year-old wood. Also the simple yet elegant shaping of the feet.  
Right side, restored. Notice the chatoyance (luminosity) reemerge in the 150-year-old wood. Also the simple yet elegant shaping of the feet.