New Today Child's Bureau & Cricket Table.

Amongst the new bits to arrive at the shop this afternoon are this unusual Georgian child's oak bureau and an attractive small oak side table. Also a good pine cricket table with shelf and original painted finish.

Prince of Wales Investiture Chairs.

A modern Welsh classic for today's blog. These chairs were produced for the investiture of the Prince of Wales at Caernarfon castle on July 1st 1969. Some four and a half thousand were produced for the ceremony following which they were sold, guests having first refusal. The remainder went to the general public and it seems quite a few remained here in North Wales. In vermillion stained beech and bent plywood, the three feathers motif is impressed onto the back rest to prevent wear to the gilding.
Below is some original film of the ceremony, fast forward to 2 mins 25 sec to see some very famous backsides on these same chairs!

Antique Leopard Skins by Van Ingen & Van Ingen of Mysore. c.1942.

Two superb leopard skins shot by one Colonel Johnathan Le Jeune of the Bombay Sappers & Miners (also The Rajputana Rifles) in the early 1940's and preserved and mounted onto black felt by the celebrated Indian taxidermists Van Ingen & Van Ingen of Mysore. The larger of the two skins measures 7 feet from nose to tail. Both are in excellent condition with the paws retaining their fearsome claws. Presented with the skins is a fascinating typed letter from Col. Le Jeune recounting the shooting of both animals in Sirohi and Pachmarhi regions of northern and central India.

New Stock

Photographs of two more nice bits of stock to have emerged from the workshop this afternoon. A good size mid 19th.c mahogany two drawer chiffonier sideboard c.1860. Also a Sutherland table from the same period with excellent Burr walnut veneers and original casters.

Sensational Oak Dining Table. c.1880.

Restored, repolished and out on the shop floor this morning is our sensational late Victorian 12 seater extending oak dining table c.1880. Of fantastic proportions and quality with a good carved leg and original casters. Fully extended it measures 124" in length with 3 removable leaves, each 20" wide. The table closes on a corkscrew mechanism to a minimum length of 64" x 55" wide.
In superb condition, beautifully polished to enhance the quality of the timber used.
£4,995.
Shown here with a harlequin set of 12 late Victorian high back oak dining chairs. £3,250.

1938 & 1939 Women's Boat Race Oars.

We always like to have a few unusual objects here in the shop and today has seen the arrival of a pair of real oddities. Two 12 foot long oars used by Oxford in the 1938 and 1939 women's university boat race. Handsomely decorated in gold on the black blade of each oar with the university crest, the date and the names (and weights!) of the eight crew and cox of the boat. It seems Oxford were victorious in 1939 as that year's oar proudly records they beat London University by two and a half lengths and Cambridge by four lengths. Success in 1939 might have been down to the improved design of oar's shaft which is triangular in cross-section and remarkably lightweight.

Pine Box Settle.

New for today is this very useful mid 19th.c. small pine box settle. With a lift up lid hiding plenty of storage - ideal for all those shoes which clutter up the hall.
Dimensions: width 54", height 46", depth 21".
£595.

Arts & Crafts Hall Stand.

New this afternoon this late Victorian red walnut arts and crafts hall stand with tulip motif, original mirror, hooks and handles. With a label from Trapnell & Ganes of Cardiff.

Oak Roll Top Desk c.1900.

New arrivals this afternoon here a the warehouse include this splendid late 19th.c oak roll top desk. With original tamboured roll in excellent condition and a fine interior with various sized pigeon holes and small drawers. With chamfered oak panels to the sides and back, two banks of drawers in the pedestals which lock automatically when the roll is down. Complete with original lock and key.

Late Georgian Oak Cupboard c.1800.

New for the blog this morning is this George III oak clothes press c.1800. With good shaped door panels, quarter column detail to either side, oak panelled sides and original feet. The top section is deigned for clothes and features rows of original wooded hooks from which garments would be hung. The base section has two short and one long drawer, below two dummy drawer fronts, ideal for folded linens. Although designed for the bedroom they make wonderful storage cupboards for kitchens, dining or living rooms and can be easily adapted with the addition of shelves in the top section without disturbing the original hooks, or damaging the fabric of the cupboard.
Dimensions: width 55" x depth 21" x height 78".
£1495.

The Elephant(s) in the room.

Roaming wild here in the shop this afternoon is this family group of Elephant Ashanti stools, c.1930, led by their matriarch who carries an inlaid coffee table on her back. Traditionally these stools, carved from solid blocks of hardwood, come from Ghana in West Africa, home to the Ashanti people to whom the stool is a sacred object.
Table £295. Stools £135 each.

Gentleman's Wardrobe c.1850.

Fresh on the floor this morning after being repolished in our workshop, this wonderful mid 19th.c mahogany gentleman's wardrobe. Fantastic flame mahogany veneers, a good cornice, pillar sides and two deep drawers with unusual ring handles.
Dimensions: width 58", depth 24", height 92".
£1695.

Queen Anne Sofa.

This morning's new arrivals include this Edwardian three seater Queen Anne style wingback sofa. With a good carved walnut leg, well shaped back and arm, feather cushions, and well worn velvet upholstery.
Length 78", height 44", depth 36".

Antiques Are Green

The antiques trade has been recycling longer than any type of business I can think of but we haven't always made the effort to promote our green credentials. Hopefully this is changing now and we are delighted to back Nigel Worboy's Antiques are Green campaign which aims to raise customer's awareness of the environmentally friendly aspects of buying a recycled object rather a new one. To visit the campaign's website and read more about this often overlooked aspect of the trade click here.

Knole Sofa. Original Upholstery.

This venerable old Knole sofa is a new arrival here in the shop this afternoon. Complete with its stunning original terracotta silk and velvet upholstery and extravagant tasseled ties. The name Knole comes from Knole house in Kent where what is believed to be the early 17th.c prototype resides. The high sides were ideal protection from draughts and prying eyes and drop down to form a daybed.
Dimensions: width 65" x depth 31" x height 39"

Clarice Cliff Canadian Wigwam Teapot c.1950.

This rare novelty teapot by the great British art deco designer Clarice Cliff is new in stock today. In the form of a Native American wigwam (or should that be tea-pee), the spout is a chief in feathered headdress and the handle is a totem pole. The designs for this unusual piece were produced by Cliff in the late 1930's but wartime restrictions meant production didn't commence until the late 1940's. They were produced for the Canadian market (notice the maple leaf) where they were sold as souvenirs, several making their way back to the UK. This is a splendid example in fabulous condition with no chips or cracks and clearly stamped on the base.

Warren Williams Watercolours.

New this morning this attractive pair of original watercolours by the acclaimed North Wales artist Warren Williams (1863-1941). Williams lived and worked in Conwy and was a founder member of the Royal Cambrian Acadamy. His images of the North Welsh landscape are highly prized. These are framed and glazed so apologies for the reflections in the glass. Each is clearly signed and measures 20" x 13", framed to an overall size of 29" x 22".

Regency Mahogany Teapoy c.1810.

If ever there was a piece of furniture to reflect the status of tea in Britain in the late 18th and early 19th century it must be the 'teapoy'. Essentially a box in which small containers of different types of tea would be kept, it was raised on a pedestal or column base to give it the stature of a piece of fine furniture in its own rite. The name apparently derives from an Indian word describing any three legged table, the 'tea' syllable leading to its erroneous appropriation to describe these remarkable containers for the noble beverage!
This one dates from the early years of the 19th. century and features an inlaid top and unusual wire work panels on the sides. Unfortunately it has lost its original liners.
£595.