Antique English Victorian Three Crystal Bottle Tantalus, 19th Century

This is a fabulous antique Victorian games compendium and tantalus, circa 1880 in date. It consists of three cut crystal liquor bottles with stoppers, a pair of engraved shot glass...

This is a wonderful Derbyshire Ashford pietra dura obelisk, inlaid with lillies, circa 1880 in date. The obelisk is beautifully inlaid with a Pi...

This is a superb antique Victorian golden oak cased three decanter tantalus with decorative silver plated cut brass gothic revival mounts and carry handles to the sides, the decanter...

This is a superb antique Victorian coromandel, brass mounted and cased three decanter tantalus and games compendium, Circa 1880 in date. It was skillfully crafted in rare coromandel with cut brass mounts, three cut crystal glass decanters with stoppers, a mirrored back and a twin lidded compartment with a Bramah lock, opening to reveal a compartment containing five glasses. There is a secret base drawer with playing cards, cribbage board, dice and chips. It can be opened by pressing the disguised brass button which is just in front of the central decanter. It is a decorative piece which is also very practical, and would make a lovely gift. It is complete with the original working Bramah lock and key, which locks everything. Condition: In excellent condition having been beautifully cleaned polished and waxed in our workshops, please see photos for confirmation. Dimensions in cm: Height 33 cm x Width 38 cm x Depth 11 cm Dimensions in inches: Height 1 foot, 1 inch x Width 1 foot, 3 inches x Depth 4 inches Coromandel wood or Calamander wood is a valuable wood from India, Sri Lanka and South East Asia. It is of a hazel-brown color, with black stripes (or the other way about), very heavy and hard. It is also known as Macassar Ebony or variegated ebony and is closely related to genuine ebony, but is obtained from different species in the same genus; one of these is Diospyros quaesita Thwaites, from Sri Lanka. The name Calamander comes from the local sinhalese name, 'kalu-medhiriya', which means dark chamber; referring to the characteristic ebony black wood. Coromandel wood has been logged to extinction over the last 2 to 3 hundred years and is no longer available for new work in any quantity. Furniture in coromandel is so expensive and so well looked after that even recycling it is an unlikely source. A substitute, Macassar Ebony, has similar characteristics and to the untrained eye is nearly the same but it lacks the depth of colour seen in genuine Coromandel. Bramah is London's oldest security company. Established at 124 Piccadilly, London in 1784, and today based in Marylebone, London and Romford, Essex. Bramah made their first lock in 1784 and the patent was awarded in 1787. The designer was Joseph Bramah. Joseph Bramah was a leading inventor of the industrial revolution, patenting over 18 new ideas, including a new valve for the water closet (toilet), the hydraulic pump, a fountain pen, and a fire engine. Bramah also introduced a beer hand pump for use at the bar, to prevent fluid loss when barmen went downstairs to pour a new jug! Due to the quality of his manufacturing, his name became a by-word amongst British Engineers for engineering excellence and many of his inventions are on display in the Science Museum in London. You can find one of his original toilets still working in Osborne House, Queen Victoria's home on the Isle of Wight. The Bramah lock was unique and advanced property and valuables protection enormously. Indeed it was 50 years ahead of any Chubb lock...

This is a wonderful antique Victorian ormolu and malachite mounted inkwell, circa 1870 in date. The ormolu inkwell has a decorative inset turquoise cabochon gemstone with a chain ...

This is a wonderful and highly decorative antique Victorian ormolu mounted coromandel four piece desk set by the renowned London maker of luxury items, Betjemann & Sons, cira 1860 in...

An English Victorian black and gilt decorated mother-of-pearl and papier mâché stationary letter / card holder or desk stand with stunning, exceptionally executed city scape hand pai...

19th century Crystal Apothecary bottle with stopper.

A charming Victorian era English silver plate desk stand, born in the late 19th century, having two glass inkwell pots, candlestick, recessed pen wells, gadrooned border, ebonized ca...

This is a large antique ink well. An English, crystal glass, desk ink well dating to the mid-19th century, circa 1850. Larger than most at 13 cm, 5 i...

19th Century Cut Crystal Apothecary Bottle with Stopper.

An English Victorian period crystal inkwell from the 19th century, with gilded children. Created in England during the 19th century, this inkwell captures our attention with its unus...