Interesting. The pictures look like 1900-1930s romanticized "California Mexican" prints. It's a fireplace filler in the "Spanish Colonial" style ... but might alsobe from the 1960s/70s revival of those things.

Can you get a better focused picture of the label? That's the key toIDing this thing

Why do you say plywood? Can you see for sure that's what it is?
Looks very Deco to me...Don;'t think it's as late at 1960...or has been poorly taken care of.
Is that cracking intentional? Can you tell? Or a product of poor care.
It's very charming...I hope the condition is better than it appears to me....would be a shame to have it fall to pieces.
Linda C

Lazygardens - I do actually live in California :) As far as the label goes, it's really faded and that's about as good as it gets. I took some more pictures.

Lindac - It looks like plywood to me. I attached a picture. Also the cracking is intentional, in my opinion. It has definitely been taken care of poorly. Everyone who comes over seems to really like it, so I think it's still beautiful. I tend to favor modern (post-modern to be exact) furniture more, and am tempted to give it to someone who will take better care of it.

This is a close up of the front. It actually feels like leather to me.

Tried to take some more label pictures

The back also has a strange crackly appearance to it, too.

This is the back, and there's nails (I'm assuming from the decorative ones in the front)

And this is why I think it's plywood

Wow....for sure ply wood....and judging by the hanger...not a fire place filler but a tryptich.
No clue what the surface is....
Very interesting and charming...hope you keep it.
Linda C

Wow....for sure ply wood....and judging by the hanger...not a fire place filler but a tryptich.
No clue what the surface is....
Very interesting and charming...hope you keep it.
Linda C

Actually, the hanger hasn't always been there. It was added to hang it on the wall,... it's super heavy.. so I'm not sure how long it lasted on the wall. and by added I mean it runs through the hinges.

Does that backing look like split leather to anyone else? When you take a piece of skin and peel it into two pieces it kinda looks like that after it ages. When fresh it has a fuzzy look and feel to it somewhat like raw paper. I'm probably not explaining the right. I can't quite come up with the description I'm looking for.

Pris
Personally, I'm not sure what you're referring to. The description did make me cringe though *shiver* :) Sounds like hannibal lecter made the piece.

We're not talking human skin here. Think cow hide. Look at the edges in the last two pics. They look frayed like torn paper.

It does look sorta like split leather, but of course hard to tell (and I'm sure hard to photograph). It could also be fuzzy from damage (dermestids come to mind). If the back wasn't painted and sealed like the front, it would definitely be more open to wear and tear and insect nibbling.

I like it. Not my style either, but if that's your house in the background, the colors are perfect. ;)

But it's a big thing to have around if you don't love it. Need my address? Just kidding!