I have an old painted chiffarobe - c1930? c1950?

[Warpy]

1. Possibly. You can buy a lead test kit at a hardware store.

Lead paint was used through the early 1950s because it provided a superior surface and prevented the deterioration of the oil vehicle. It was replaced by titanium oxide, less durable but non poisonous.

If it's lead paint, cart it outside and wear a good quality, well fitting mask while you roughen the surface well enough to take a coat of paint. Or use a stripping compound and strip the paint off completely, creating little dust. Do it on a tarp or newspaper because it's a messy process and the stripped off paint will be sticky.

I'd use a stripping compound, personally, get rid of as much of the old paint as possible and then prep the surface if it's too butt ugly to leave as wood. I'm guessing the old paint has chipped in some areas and only stripping it will eliminate the low spots where the chips were.