Antiquated Decorative Antiques

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Legacy of Storage: Unveiling the Significance of 17th Century Coffers

In the 17th century, a coffer was more than just a chest; it embodied personal importance and bespoke craftsmanship. These meticulously crafted chests served as commissioned pieces, tailored to individuals for safeguarding their prized possessions.

Local joiners took pride in creating these multifunctional coffers, designed not only for storage but also as versatile furniture. Some even doubled as seating or makeshift beds, reflecting their integral role in daily life. Adults and children alike had their individual coffers, showcasing their prevalence across social strata.

Constructed predominantly from robust oak, these coffers stood as testaments to durability and reliability. The hardwood, readily available and resilient, made oak coffers ideal for withstanding the rigors of storage. Crafted with hinged lids, these pieces often featured simple pegged construction or sturdy iron clout nails.

Diversity in design extended to domed-topped or ark coffers, showcasing removable lids for varied purposes. Mule chests, designed for horse equipment, added another dimension to coffer variations.

Our Chests and Coffers Collection pays homage to this rich history. If you are looking for an antique coffers, explore our collection, and let the legacy of 17th-century storage grace your space.

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The Beauty Of Antique Charcoal Drawings

The use of charcoal has been a medium of drawing since pre historic times as in recent years, evidence has emerged of charcoal being used in cave paintings. However, it gained immense popularity and has remained that way since the Renaissance period. George Seurat is said to have perfected charcoal drawings around the 19th century.

Antique charcoal drawings have a very realistic but at the same time very dramatic quality to them. We feel that they are a very wonderful way to elevate the look of any room in which they have been placed, in a very effortless manner. They add a sort of old world charm to the room in a way that other forms of art do not always do. Another reason as to why it is an ideal decorative accessory, is that charcoal is a natural material and is not hazardous to the environment. In its purest form, charcoal is made from the branches of the willow tree. Antique charcoal drawings, especially portraits are quite deep and stunningly expressive in nature. They have the uncanny ability to capture the true emotion and essence of the subject.

Antique charcoal drawings are indescribably beautiful and can add a lot of character and depth to a room. They are extremely versatile and can work well with any other colour that is present in the room. If you ever have guests over, do not be surprised to find that they will be enamoured by their beauty.

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Why Charcoal Paintings?

The use of charcoal for paintings began in the Renaissance period and it has remained popular ever since. Charcoal art makes use of charcoal powder and different kinds of charcoal compressed to form a pencil which is then used for drawing and sketching. The use of charcoal for paintings also gives a decent texture and radiant look to the body, shapes and other colours. It keeps the viewer engaged without being distracted. Using charcoal, specially for portraits is one of the most expressive forms of art. Although it may sound monotonous, charcoal actually gives very versatile effects in different kinds of artworks.

The shading effect using charcoal is known as hatching. Hatching can add life to an otherwise still painting. If you wish to decorate your house with paintings and other artwork, charcoal paintings can be a great addition. Charcoal has a soft texture and adds dramatic effects to a set up.

Another benefit of using charcoal for paintings is that it is much easier to blend as compared to other mediums. It can even be easily used to create shadows or smoky effects. It can be used as an extra soft brush too. Some pigments used for painting might fade over time, but charcoal is one medium that will not fade no matter what.

If you are looking at decorating your house with paintings and aesthetic wall décor, charcoal paintings are your answer to create an amazing interior that will keep your viewers engaged. We have some interesting options amongst our antique drawings. Do have a look!

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Why is it Important to Decorate Your Garden Well?

A lot of us might wonder why it is so important to invest time and energy in decorating the garden right. Apart from the garden being the first thing any visitor coming to your house will see, getting the garden décor right also calms the mind and brings peace.

Gardeners or people working on decorating the garden often find it extremely relaxing to put out the right garden décor at the right places and adding the perfect plants to it. It is actually more therapeutic than you might realise. Decorating the garden is not just about having the right planters or urns, it is more about which era and which décor makes you happy from within.

Plants bring positivity all around. The more plants you add, the more positive the overall environment of your house will be. Garden ornaments add meaning to your life and transform your mood too. Lot of people also use garden accessories as reminders of their blessings.

Antique Garden planters and urns are one of the most amazing pieces from the past that you can use in the garden decor. If you are keen to give a good first impression but don’t want to invest too much monetarily until you are sure of what you want, you can keep on trying and changing with these small but meaningful garden accessories and décor.

Overall, a well maintained and well decorated garden will add to the air quality around you, uplift your mood and give you a sense of individuality while you decorate the garden by unleashing your creativity. Check out our antique garden items for your garden.

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Characteristic Features of Georgian Antiques

Georgian antiques range from the period of 18th century to mid 19th century. These antiques are much lighter and refined as compared to Gothic style furniture.

Since Georgian furniture was highly decorated and accessorized, in the early ages only the very rich and royal families could afford it. It was not intended for the common man.

Later on, these pieces of antiques became smaller and more focused towards the common man. The main focus of Georgian furniture was on fine lines and small petite structures. It usually had neutral colours. Brass was commonly used and there were carvings of egg and dart, shell and lions head patterns. Since Georgian furniture made use of mahogany, it was more durable and lasted much longer than walnut based furniture. Mahogany is also water resistant and highly resistant against pests.

Georgian furniture had a wide range of dressers, card tables, console tables, book cases and much more. They were extremely useful and long lasting, although a little on the higher side when it came to price. This was because of the extensive carving and decoration that marked the whole essence of Georgian antique furniture. Arts, literature, and architecture were all highly depicted by the extremely precise carvings and just the right amount of decoration to make the furniture durable.

Couches and chairs of the era were also made beautifully with the use of mahogany. Antique Georgian furniture is the right choice for those who want different kinds of antiques in their homes. We have some fine examples of Georgian Antiques at our antiques shop West Sussex. Do drop by to have a look at our extensive collection.

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Repurposing a Washstand

A washstand is literally the most boring thing one could think of, which is of absolutely no use once it has served its purpose of being used to attach a basin or something alike. But think out of the box. Once a washstand has served its purpose as that, it can be used for so many other things.  All you need to do is let your imagination loose. Have you had a look at this washstand in our stock? This antique regency washstand is in its original condition and we can think of a few ideas for repurposing it well! Here goes:

A washstand can be decorated and painted and a pot can be attached to make it a lovely planter. Decorated with the brightest colours to make the most boring thing into something absolutely fascinating and fun.

If you feel you don’t have the bandwidth to decorate as much to make it a planter, all you need to do is add a ply on top and fit it well and voila! Your study table is all ready to be used!

In some cases, you can also turn it into a coffee table in the same way, only instead of ply you can use granite or marble to enhance its look and your coffee will be obliged to be on such a lovely table.

There is nothing more exciting and satisfying than turning old pieces of furniture into something completely new and pretty. If a washstand loses its purpose of doing what it has always done, find something for it to do which becomes a win-win for both. Lovely floral plant décor, elite coffee table or casual study table. A washstand can easily pull off all 3 looks. And what’s more, you can paint it or decorate it to match any kind of furniture around.

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What sets Ayres Rocking Horses Apart?

There is something fascinating about old world toys and antique rocking horses are one of the most loved and alluring of the lot. A rocking horse is the kind of toy that you, your parents and your grandparents must have all had at some point in time.

Rocking horses were seen sometime during the early 17th Century. Wooden rocking horses as handcrafted creations appeared sometime during the 18th Century. The classic English Dapple Grey rocking horse was considered to be one of the most famous from amongst the available rocking horse toys.

Antique Rocking horses were popular throughout Great Britain during Georgian and Victorian times. Nowadays antique wooden rocking horses have become a part of collectors' items lists and the rare ones are very much in demand.

The Ayres and Lines Bros rocking horses were amongst the classics. Here are some of the characteristic features of the Ayres Horses:

These were first seen during the 1864s, to outbreak of First World War 1914

Shape The Ayres horses featured a finely carved shape, with lovely intricate heads. The heads often would be turned to one side.

Paintwork The heads were exquisitely painted

Eyes Ayres horses had glass eyes which were again beautifully painted and highlighted

Hair Had long horse hair usually in dapple, light grey and brown being most used colours.

Tack The saddle had real leather. The Bridles were also made out of leather which was occasionally removable.

Stand The stand was often made from pine.

These were some of the characteristic features of the Ayres Rocking Horses. Browse through our website to have a look at all the available options we have for you!

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Antique Washstands

Amongst our collection of antique dressers and cabinets, we have this classic regency Wash Stand in its original condition. Antique washstands were a common feature during the old times much like any other household items and furniture pieces. It however was an ideal household item that answered quite a few indoor plumbing issues. Although not of any functional use for its intended purpose, these washstands nowadays are used in other ways than the traditional intent. You may be able to find some cleverly used as plain home décor pieces.

What is the history surrounding this item?

The most primitive forms of these washstands were from the early 1800s and had no cabinets. The old ones were leggy stands, which were wide enough to just hold a wash basin in the cut-out. These came with a single shelf underneath the wash basin to hold a water pitcher. There were some wash stands, that had a chamber pot placed at the bottom.

As is true in the case of all furniture pieces, the washstand also evolved with time to suit the needs. As years passed, there were pieces available with a shelf comprising either a cabinet or a small table supported on three or four legs.

The Victorian era, saw these wash stands grow in size and functionality further. These came with wider plain tops along with raised backs to hold the bowl, pitcher, or any other toiletries. Some also had mirrors attached which gave them a complete vanity feel more like a modern-day bathroom mirror and sink duo.

The one we have in our collection is in absolutely its raw form and can be imaginatively used in the décor. Have a look at it! We have more interesting antique dressers and antique cupboard options in our collection too which are worth having a look at.

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A British Classic: Chesterfield Sofa

Have you had a look at this British beauty we have in store with us? The wonderful and classic, antique chesterfield sofa. This antique chesterfield sofa is covered in vintage grain sacks and restored to its wonderful form with a slight upholstery facelift. One of the most interesting features of this particular chesterfield sofa is the drop end arm for when you might want to just sit back and relax. This deep buttoned beauty will definitely sit well in your modern home with its clean look and feel.

 Here are some interesting bits of information about this iconic piece of furniture. The word ‘Chesterfield’ marks an iconic style of British furniture that is famous and well-loved all over. 

 While there are those who believed that the term was adopted, there are stories around the fourth earl of Chesterfield - Philip Stanhope (1764-1773) who commissioned the very first leather Chesterfield settee. The Stories point towards the Earl wanting a sofa for gentlemen to sit upright yet comfortably without causing their suits to wrinkle. He hence requested a local craftsman to create such a furniture piece for him. That is the story behind the origin of this iconic sofa in its elegant form. 

 'Chesterfield' also referred to the style of buttoning of the leather which is the unique feature of a chesterfield sofa.

 The iconic design typically includes the characteristic upholstery with deep buttoning and rolled arms that are of as much height as the back. This piece, like most of the pieces of those times, is absolutely elegant and has retained its characteristic charm. 

 We have this gorgeous one as a part of our collection. Do visit our website to have a look at the details and some more pictures that will give you a better idea. Apart from this we also have a wonderful variety of decorative antique and vintage seating which includes English and French sofas, antique settees, painted chairs, antique daybeds, etc in our versatile stock. If you want to customise your item to suit your decor, we have a few period seating options left unupholstered for you to have a more personal choice of fabric.

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Warhorse in Charcoal - Antique Paintings / Drawings

Antique Paintings / Drawings - 'Warhorse' in charcola and conte. On canvas.

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'Dancer' - Limited Edition Print - Antique Paintings / Drawings

Antique Paintings / Drawings - decorative print Dancer Limited edition print by Donald Hamilton Fraser (1929-2009) 53x44cms

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New stock of antique items - Infogram

Check out our new stock that includes the latest arrivals to our decorative antiques collection

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Antique Rocking Horses - A folk art rocking horse possible Hungarian C1880

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hidden item 19 feb - Antique Rocking Horses

Antique Rocking Horses - Antique charming carved folk Art Colt its stance typical of a young Horse C1900

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Swedish Rocking Horse - Antique Rocking Horses

Antique Rocking Horses - Very rare Swedish rocking horse. C1820 With original paintwork.

Swedish Rocking Horse

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Antique Mirrors - a decorative 19th century original painted mirror carved wood

A decorative 19th century original painted mirror carved wood 124 cms high 94 cms wide

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Music stand - Antique Decorative Items

Antique Decorative Items - Mahogany Music stand C1840