This cabinet dates to the approx. 1885 period. From the heavy oak with its strong grain as well as the Eastlake style details carved in the crest and door seen in the fan shape designs with their spears and corner “x”s. The simple foliage swags and the delicate common brass ring pulls on the drawer speak to the period as well as the heavy scallop gallery above.

This is a fairly common country piece of furniture that could not be attributed to a maker. The original escutcheon would have had a skeleton key as you describe and a lock was added a bit later – the large screw heads are also evident of this early date from the turn of the century. The secondary wood looks to be pine which was also common of these pieces of furniture.

The style is obviously Eastlake, which is a late Victorian style. The 4 pointed stars were very popular, you see them on a lot of old San Francisco houses. The rustic character indicates it was probably rural or in a farm house and probably at the tail end of the period.

I would say your cabinet was made between 1890 – 1910.

http://antiques.about.com/od/furniture/ss/aa062706.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastlake_Movement

Dont go overboard on the tarragon and spices first time making this.