Antique Miscellaneous

Some of the most interesting antiques are the ones that don't fit neatly into any single category. This is where you'll find walking canes, scientific instruments, globes, architectural salvage, garden antiques, kitchenalia, treen, metalware and all manner of decorative curiosities.

These are the pieces that catch your eye, start conversations and make a home uniquely personal. Browse our miscellaneous collection for unexpected treasures from dealers across the UK.

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Antique Georgian Oak Wall Hanging Candle Box

A charming George III oak wall hanging candle box dating to circa 1790. Candle boxes were an import...

Victorian Peacock Fire Screen

A very nice Victorian brass folding peacock fire screen. in very nice overall condition. 24" high36...

Large Georgian Brass and Cut Steel Fender

A wonderful rare Georgian brass and cut steel fender of large proportions, in very good overall cond...

Fine Hobnail Cut Edwardian Biscuit Barrel

Superb quality hobnail cut u shaped Edwardian biscuit barrel, engraved silver plate stand, lids and...

French Hanging Tapestry

A very good French lined  hanging tapestry, in very good order throughout. 35" high54" wide FREE D...

Lovely Brass Fire Screen

Very nice Victorian brass fire screen wiith coloured leaded glass, and central hand painted robin, i...

Inlaid Mahogany Wine Cooler by Edwards and Roberts

A very good quality sarcophagus shaped inlaid mahogany wine cooler by Edwards and Roberts, gilt bron...

Carved panels 17th century

Here we have the 2 Johns        John the Baptist and John the Evangelist. Carved from oak in the 17t...

Carved Lion

A superb and unusual carving of a lion. It has a very naive head and face with large eyes.17th or ea...

Highlander tobacco figure

A Highlander snuff taker usually found posted outside the local tobacconist shop. Late 18th century....

French Brass Peacock Fire Guard

A decorative early 20th century French brass peacock fire guard with pierced retractable fan and Asi...

Antique Regency Rosewood Brass Inlaid Tea Caddy with Original Mixing Bowl

A superb antique Regency rosewood tea caddy, beautifully veneered in the finest figured rosewood and...

Large Antique Chinese Elm Harvest Basket with Handle

A large antique Chinese harvest basket, dating from the late 19th or early 20th century and construc...

Very Good Brass Log Bin

Good oval  brass rivetted log bin, standing on bird feet with lion ring handles. 12" high16" wide14...

Highly Decorative Inlaid Satinwood Kidney Shaped Tray

This Highly Decorative Inlaid Satinwood Kidney Shaped Tray has a profusion of intricately detailed m...

Good Set Mahogany Library Steps

A good set of of mahogany library steps, leather steps, turned post with brass ball top. 46" high21...

Fine Oak Hanging Hall Robe

Super mandrel oak Art Noveau  hanging hall robe, seven hanging hooks, hat shelf above, in excellent...

Antique Edwardian Four Piece Silver Plated Tea and Coffee Set

An antique Edwardian silver plated four-piece tea and coffee service comprising a coffee pot, teapot...

Ebony writing slope

❌sold❌Constructed throughout with solid ebony and bone decoration to the inside and the outer surf...

Antique Edwardian Silver Plated Gallery Tea Tray

A beautiful antique Edwardian silver plated tea tray dating from around 1905. Elegantly proportioned...

The Joy of the Unexpected

The miscellaneous section of any antiques dealer's stock is often the most rewarding to browse. It's where you find the pieces that were made for a specific purpose that may no longer exist, objects whose beauty lies in their form rather than their function, and curiosities that simply demand to be picked up and examined.

Treen, the collective term for small wooden objects, is a particularly rich area. Butter moulds, snuff boxes, loving cups, carved animals and needle cases were all made by hand, often as one-off pieces, and have an immediate tactile appeal. Fruitwood, boxwood and lignum vitae are the most commonly used timbers.

Decorating with Antique Curiosities

Collections of small antiques displayed together create far more visual impact than any single item. Group objects by material, colour or theme: a collection of brass candlesticks, a shelf of treen, a display of antique scales and weights. The effect is personal, layered and infinitely more interesting than anything a interior designer might specify from a catalogue.

Architectural antiques such as corbels, finials, door knockers and iron boot scrapers can be used both inside and outside the home. A pair of reclaimed stone finials flanking a garden path, or an antique iron boot scraper by the front door, adds character that cannot be bought new.

Building a Collection

Many passionate collectors started with a single interesting object bought on impulse. Follow your instincts: if something appeals to you, it probably appeals to others too, and good quality unusual antiques tend to hold their value well. Buy the best you can afford and enjoy the hunt.

Frequently Asked Questions

Treen is the collective term for small domestic objects made from wood. The word comes from the Old English for "of a tree." Examples include bowls, platters, spoons, boxes, goblets and numerous other items made by hand from various timbers. Treen collecting is a well-established field with a dedicated following.

Scientific instruments can be very collectible. Brass telescopes, microscopes, sextants, compasses and drawing instruments from the 18th and 19th centuries are all sought after. Pieces by known makers such as Dollond, Negretti & Zambra, or Elliott Brothers command the highest prices.

Check the condition and completeness of the piece. Ironwork should be examined for cracks and excessive rust. Stone and marble items should be checked for repairs or hidden damage. Provenance, while not always available, adds interest and can increase value.