This piece came out of New England. The "H" hinges on the bottom and butterfly shelves on the top pretty much indicate this as a late 1700's piece. An 8' ceiling is good, but you probably can't sit it upright unless you have a 'vaulted' ceiling someplace. We had to sit it up in our living room and slide it through the dining room and kitchen in order to place it as you see it here. It does have individual "staves" running vertically to make up the rounded or 'barrel' back. We have owned it since 1970.