Dining and other upright chairs are among the most abundant of antiques and range in price from a few pounds to many thousands. Persistent hunting may enable you to assemble a set, one or two at a time, for a bargain price.

Among chairs with an upright back, comfortvaries a good deal. Dining chairs generally have an upholstered or caned seat and a wooden back, and may have arms — in which case they are known as arm or elbow chairs, or carvers. Upright dining chairs without any arms are also known as side chairs because they were placed around the sides of the room when not in use. Virtually identical chairs were also used as occasional chairs in the drawing room. (more…)

Early pierced baskets were heavy, magnificent pieces but these are rare. Eighteenth century examples were oval, rectangular or circular with a flat base and ornately-pierced sides, often featuring two small cabled silver handles which were later superseded by the swing type. Huguenot silversmiths were much acclaimed for their fine pierced and embossed baskets, and superb examples of their work, which clearly show why they were so admired, can be seen in various stately homes and museums.

However, some of their achievement must also be attributed to the English invention of the rolling-mill which had been improved by 1728, allowing the production of a fine gauge silver for more complicated piercing. (more…)

The use of mustard for culinary purposes goes back into antiquity, but it was a Mrs Clements who started mustard-making on a truly commercial scale in about 1720. She had the idea of producing a fine mustard flour which she made at 73 Saddler Street, Durham. Her method was simply to grind the seed in a mill and then to subject it to the various processes used in flour-making. Mrs Clements, who took good care to keep her secret to herself, met with instant success. George I liked it and the court followed him, establishing the preference for paste mustard which still exists today. Mrs Clements not only supplied outlets in London, travelling there twice yearly, but also the more important towns throughout England. Since she travelled from Durham, the fine new mustard flour became known as Durham Mustard. (more…)

Coasters are much in demand, not only by collectors, but by all who appreciate the subdued glow of old silver on the dining-table. They came into more general use from approximately 1760 and were sold individually or in sets. Often described as bottle stands, their purpose was to prevent the surface of the table from becoming scratched or marked as the wine bottle was pushed along for the replenishment of the glass. The base of the coaster was usually made of boxwood, covered beneath with green baize. The beautifully pierced and embossed sides were similar to other contemporary table pieces such as salt cellars or dish rings. After about 1770 the sides were mechanically pierced. The join between the sides and the wooden base was generally disguised by some form of ornament such as reeding. (more…)