Many aspects of the walnut cabinet supported a 16th century date. By analyzing design elements, it was determined that a 19th-century cabinetmaker was approximating the styles of an earlier era. Sixteenth century walnut was finished with a hard, bronzed patina; the ochre wash of this piece was covering up the fact that the top rail and center post were replacements. The hardware does not reflect 16th-century taste. It was probably intended to be a fake by its 19th-century builder. -- AATA