Can anyone identify this wood please?

Gray_Malkin

I’m getting different opinions from various sources.. AI says it either oak, mahogany or pine!

Section62

Gray_Malkin said:

I’m getting different opinions from various sources.. AI says it either oak, mahogany or pine!

Not mahogany or pine, could be oak (especially the lid) but I'd lean towards possibly walnut for the side.

Is the inside bare wood?

Gray_Malkin

Section62 said:

Gray_Malkin said:

I’m getting different opinions from various sources.. AI says it either oak, mahogany or pine!

Not mahogany or pine, could be oak (especially the lid) but I'd lean towards possibly walnut for the side.

Is the inside bare wood?

Thanks for that.  The inside is bare wood but very dark (it’s quite old and dirty). I’m leaning towards oak too….

twopenny

A lot of the dirt can be cleaned off.
I've used lightly soaped water, a small sponge and paper towels. You need lots of clean water to keep rinsing the sponge.
May need several goes.
When dry then use linseed oil and turps to gently clean more off.

I've inherited my great and great grandparents furniture and found black dirt accumulated inside and under drawer runners etc. 
It's a job for a wet winter day with the telly on 🙂

ijustlovesavingmoney

My husband who worked with wood all his working life (now retired) thinks this could be American Walnut, 

Gray_Malkin

ijustlovesavingmoney said:

My husband who worked with wood all his working life (now retired) thinks this could be American Walnut, 

Thanks!  That’s three votes for walnut now 👍

Section62

twopenny said:

A lot of the dirt can be cleaned off.
I've used lightly soaped water, a small sponge and paper towels. You need lots of clean water to keep rinsing the sponge.
May need several goes.
When dry then use linseed oil and turps to gently clean more off.

I've inherited my great and great grandparents furniture and found black dirt accumulated inside and under drawer runners etc. 
It's a job for a wet winter day with the telly on 🙂

It isn't clear how old/valuable the chest is - the metal banding looks a bit faux so it might be modern - but if it is old/valuable then cleaning could significantly reduce its value as the current trend is for appreciating the dirt/patina left as it is.

Gray_Malkin

1. Thanks all.  I bought the chest last week in a little antique shop for £49.  It doesn’t owe me anything, but I just wondered what the wood was.  I wouldn’t like to spoil it, but it probably wouldn’t be a problem ☺️