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 Regency Quality Mahogany Inlaid Tea Caddy
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Antique Victorian Mahogany Brass Bound Writing Box
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Antique Victorian Quality Rosewood Teapoy
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Unusual large Antique Edwardian Japanese Carved Linden Wood Bear
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Antique Victorian Staffordshire Flatback Figure
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An Unusual William IV Mahogany Canterbury
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
Antique Regency Rosewood Brass Inlaid Tea Caddy with Original Mixing Bowl
Large Antique Chinese Elm Harvest Basket with Handle
Very Good Brass Log Bin
Highly Decorative Inlaid Satinwood Kidney Shaped Tray
Good Set Mahogany Library Steps
Fine Oak Hanging Hall Robe
Antique Edwardian Four Piece Silver Plated Tea and Coffee Set
Antique Victorian Silver Plated Drinks Serving Tray with Handles
Ebony writing slope
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.