19th Century English Rosewood Portfolio Stand

This stately period table was made in England in the first half of the 19th century and was created in the style of Thomas Hope. The top is solid rosewood with a brass inlay border. ...

A large 19th century English cast iron scale, circa 1840, marked Birmingham, England and features scrolling decorative and organic elements. It was purchased in the U.S. and would ha...

This extraordinary octagonal center table has a specimen marble chess table-top with Pietra Dura semi-precious stones. The late Regency specimen mar...

A tilt-top tea table from Barbados that sits on a urn-shaped pedestal with four, reeded sabre legs ending in brass claw toes, circa 1810.

A matching pair of early 19th century Jamaican Regency mahogany occasional tables, circa 1830, featuring turned pedestal base on tripod base. West Indies...

This West Indies center table has an English influence. This piece is published in " West Indian Antique Furniture of the Lesser Antilles...

19th Century Regency mahogany book stand with brass gallery sides with scrolled lifting handles, raised on four flat bun feet.

A masterpiece of both cabinetmaking and mechanical engineering, this one-of-a-kind expanding table was crafted by the renowned cabinetmaker Samuel Hawkins of London for the Great Exhibition of 1851. Diminutive in size, the fascinating table was designed as a model to demonstrate Hawkins’ innovative patent screw movement to visitors of the Exhibition – six million people in total over five months. It was exhibited again a century later at the Victoria & Albert Museum during the Festival of Britain, an event intended “to symbolise two main qualities of the national character: realism and strength on the one hand, and, on the other, independence and imagination” (Catalogue of the Exhibition, 1951, p.117). To this day, the miniature masterpiece demonstrates the quest of English furniture makers to combine technical innovation with superb craftsmanship. Displaying exceptional ingenuity, Hawkins’ wind-out screw mechanism allowed one to extend the table’s base to accommodate concentric leaves with the simple crank of a handle. It is based on the inventive expanding table originally designed by Robert Jupe in 1835, which used a swivel mechanism to separate sections of the tabletop and allow for segmented leaves to be inserted. Hawkins’ tabletop, on the other hand, extends outwards directly from the center in order to accommodate additional leaves around its diameter. This unique design allowed the mechanism to also smoothly operate on rectangular tables, which could be wound out from the middle to allow for more table space. Hawkins was not alone in his endeavor to combine the technical merits of engineering and mechanics with the most artful pursuit of cabinetmaking. The first half of the 19th century saw a prolific increase in the popularity of applying new ideas to traditional furniture principles, which allowed furniture to serve many purposes. The resulting “patent” furniture was practical and refined, though few were as innovative as Hawkins’ prodigious design. Carved with the year of the Exhibition on the beautifully designed pedestal base, the table is a testament to the significance of this innovation. The model is mentioned in detail in the catalog of the Great Exhibition of 1851, the first international exhibition of industry, manufacturing, and science. Held at London’s dazzling Crystal Palace, its visitors were treated to exhibits from around the globe, including feats of engineering, innovations in industry, and marvels of design. Queen Victoria herself was a frequent visitor, along with her husband, Prince Albert, and others including Charlotte...

English Victorian smoking stand on rectangular oak carved base with metal figures and horse drawn fire engine & various smoking accessories.  

19th c. English William IV Wig Stand With Wig. Faded warm rosewood wig stand with an early horsehair wig (1790 - 1810) on a linen canvas head form. The height of the wig adjusts wi...

19th c. English Knife Sharpener in Oak and Pine

A French ebonized duet stand made in the 1800’s. This antique was built for duet performances with back to back sheet music stands and adjustable brass candle holders. The functional...