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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Rare Pair of Antique George III Outstanding Quality Mahogany Inlaid Wine Urns on Original Pedestal Cupboards
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Antique 19th Century French Set of Four Copper Pans
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Pair of Antique Victorian Quality Cut Glass Decanters
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Unusual Large Set of 4 Antique Victorian Quality Engraved Glasses
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Antique George III Quality Mahogany Inlaid Post Box
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Antique Victorian Staffordshire Flatback Figure
Antique Edwardian Silver Plated Gallery Tea Tray
Antique Edwardian Silver Plated Engraved Tea Tray with Pierced Gallery
Pair of turned wig stands
Antique Edwardian Silver Plated Salver Tray
A Fine George III Mahogany Wine Cooler
Brass Art Deco Coal Bin
Unusual Antique Victorian Quality Rosewood Inlaid Writing Box
Pair of Antique Victorian Quality Brass Fire Dogs
Antique George III Quality Mahogany Freestanding Canterbury
Pair of Antique Edwardian Quality Silver Plated and Cut Glass Claret Jugs
Antique Pair of Brass Scales Bartlett & Sons.
Large Fine Quality Antique Victorian Burr Walnut Canterbury
Quality Antique 19th Century Victorian Inlaid Walnut Four Tier Corner Whatnot
Antique Pair of Dutch Walnut and Kingwood Pedestal Torcheres
An Unusual William IV Mahogany Canterbury
Antique Georgian Copper Log Bin Coal Bucket Fireside Bucket Planter
Georgian mahogany candle box
Very Good Breakfront Dresser Base
Rare eagle counterweight from an American printing press
Victorian Black Forest carved bear hallstand
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.