In Britain

Very few earthenware figures were produced in Britain - or elsewhere in Europe - before about 1700, but early to mid- 18th-century white, salt-glazed stoneware pieces are now among the most sought-after items of ceramic art. Some are freestanding and single, while others are grouped on a pew. Pew-groups in good condition rarely fetch less than £60, 000. (more…)

Caddy spoons have long been avidly collected, and certainly the numerous styles and designs in which they were made vary enough to suit most tastes. They were produced in large numbers from approximately the last decade or so of the eighteenth century. Early tea canisters which had round, domed caps did not need a caddy spoon since, as has been mentioned, the cap was often used to measure the tea into the pot. When these small caps were superseded by larger lids, some sort of small ladle or spoon was required for the job. Gradually a small spoon with a short stem evolved and was kept in the canister with the tea. The bowl of the spoon was commonly in the shape of a shell, originating possibly from the fact that large sea-shells intended for use as ladles had often been packed in tea-chests by the Chinese. The caddy spoon as we know it did not appear in any great quantity before approximately 1790, but by the end of the century thousands were being produced in Birmingham, where silversmiths specialised in small objects. This trend continued for the following 50 years or more. (more…)

A very interesting collection of knife rests can be built up, particularly if the collector seeks them in other materials in addition to sterling silver. The added advantage is that the general cost of establishing such a collection is lessened. Such a collection can then be sold at a later stage and the money re-invested in something more costly.

Basically the knife rest is a simple rod with a support at either end which keeps the rod clear of the table and enables it to support carving implements. The interest of knife rests lies mainly in the amazing diversity of ideas, many of which are novel, that brightened up this ordinary object. Animals were well-favoured as the supports and included elephants, camels, lions, monkeys, owls and so on. Others may be delicate, in the form of butterflies, or rather impressive, featuring peacocks or unicorns. Sometimes the supports are not disguised at all, perhaps merely decorated a little. Thistles, flowers or gnarled branches might grace others. Knife rests became more general in the nineteenth century. (more…)

WORKBOXES AND GLOVE BOXES

Moving on to the larger affairs, there are, of course, all the workboxes, with their fascinating array of ivory, bone or mother-of-pearl accessories : everyone should have one of these if only to get a glimpse of what the needlewoman used in other days. Then there are glove boxes, some covered with fancy paper and frills, others painted like the powder boxes. Oval ones, for bands of ribbon, are I believe called band or “brides boxes” and were filled with ribbons. With all these boxes it is very necessary to inspect the hinges—superfluous advice, one would have thought, but many a pretty box has been brought home, only for it to be found that the weak hinge could not be repaired. (more…)

All the way down through history people have needed boxes of one sort or another. Exquisite little gold, silver or enamel ones have been made for them to carry their cachous or essences, and large wooden ones toput their Bibles and deeds in: richly embroidered ones have served for their silks and ribbons, magnificently decorated ones for the jewels, and coarse leaden ones for their tobacco and snuff.

This section looks at some of the many boxes you see in antique shops. Of course, nobody would ever want to collect all these different boxes unless they were equipping a museum, nor even would they probably want just to collect “boxes“. But on their way round they may easily come across some particular type of box they hadn’t considered before, and would like to find out more about. (more…)

When talking about cameos we had a look at the large conch shell, with its cameo carved out of the layers of the shell.

Another kind of shell is used for all that charming shell ware our forebears liked so much. Perhaps the most popular was mother-of pearl, the lining of pearl mussel shells, and everyone will surely have somewhere in a drawer some fruit knives and forks with handles of this shimmering material. There were also tiny pocket knives for the handbag, buttons (see page 61), fansticks, and one often sees in antique shops whole heaps of those mother-of- pearl counters used for playing games in Victorian evenings. Some were square, some oblong, others were fish-shaped and sometimes you will find them carved with the owner’s initials. Needle cases and thread winders in mother- of-pearl were mentioned under “Workboxes”. Bouquet holders, spectacle cases, album covers all used mother-of-pearl. But perhaps the most attractive pearl ware are the many trinket boxes and jewel caskets, sometimes in combination with tortoiseshell, sometimes inlaid into papier Bache, very often just plain, but skilfully arranged in panels of different shades. (more…)