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.
Featured
Featured
Antique Victorian Mahogany Brass Bound Writing Box
Featured
Butlers Tray On Folding Stand
Featured
Antique Regency Sarcophagus Shaped Burr Elm Tea Caddy
Featured
Antique Edwardian Quality Cut Glass Decanter
Featured
A Superb Regency Flame Mahogany Wine Cooler
Featured
Antique Victorian Miniature Doulton Three Piece Tea Set
Adams Serpentine Grate
Antique Victorian Large Ornate Brass Fire Dogs And irons
Antique Victorian Set of Five Flemish Carved Oak Tavern Scene Wall Panels
A Superb Pair Of Regency Pedestals
Antique Georgian Mahogany Cellarette Wine Cooler Side Table
18Th Century Walnut Grandfather Clock
A Fine George III Whatnot Of Unusual Design
Fine Pair of Large Antique Edwardian Carved White Marble Fireplaces
Antique French Porcelain & Brass Mounted Pair of Jardinière Urns
Antique Georgian Oak Wall Hanging Candle Box
Victorian Peacock Fire Screen
Large Georgian Brass and Cut Steel Fender
Fine Hobnail Cut Edwardian Biscuit Barrel
French Hanging Tapestry
Lovely Brass Fire Screen
Inlaid Mahogany Wine Cooler by Edwards and Roberts
Carved panels 17th century
Carved Lion
Highlander tobacco figure
French Brass Peacock Fire Guard
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.