What kind of wood? Pine? It reminds me of Ethan Allen. Modern plug cuts, mortise cuts etc. Once you have a mortise chisel setup on a drill press the rest is an easy way to build.

Did you find any markings? This piece could have been built in a home shop or a school shop. It may be soft wood and the maker chose square nails because those hold better than round nails, particularly in soft woods. Square nails may have been chosen to give it a 'period' look, and then it could have been made when square nails were more common.

I bought some 'cut nails' last year to repair an antique shelf clock. I tired to match the original nails as closely as possible. Old style nails are available at reasonable cost from a nail maker in Connecticut who is using antique equipment to produce the nails. Blacking the nails make those look old. Square nails are sometimes used for installing wood plank floors due to their superior holding power.

I once thought that one could use old style nails to date construction, but now that I know that old style nails can be purchased, I now am more cautious. Old style nails must show signs of age as well, although old nails are good indicators of periods if the nails are truly old.

Enjoy your find. It is interesting.

I agree with Colleen, 60's or 70's made in a home workshop. I had a neighbor who made 'mission-style' heavy wood furniture back in 1969.

You would char the pine with a torch, then wire brush, the softer grain was removed leaving the texture.

Casey

Nic, I always laugh when Americans talk about old things. I walked through a church door at Saint Mere Eglese that was 1150 years old. I do not think age alone is very interesting to most common furniture unless it is 1700s americana, even a lot of 1800s work has to be style influenced by a desired maker or artisian house.

I would find collections from the earliest "settlers" to be really interesting.

It reminds me very much of the 70s as well. That rustic look was very 'in'...

Our best friends had one like that in the late 70's. He made it himself and we spent many a late night in their garage enjoying the homemade bar.