English More Furniture and Collectibles

A large English carved and polychrome painted medieval ecclesiastical throne. In the English gothic manner, with finely carved tracery, it is also decorated in the Italianate taste w...

Late Sheraton English Canterbury in mahogany with four ring turned corner supports ending in brass castors. It features four downswept dividers above a single drawer.

British Campaign water proof leather traveling trunk with leather fitted interior compartment, brass banding mounts, Royal coat of arms brass plate, brass side handles, and retains t...

An extremely rare 19th Century well figured oak and brass ships wheel of exceptional quality, grand proportions and finely hand carved with rich patination, grain and finely cast bra...

Nice map of Amsterdam Drawn and engraved by J.Dower Published by Orr & Smith. C.1835 Unframed. Free shipping

A near complete set of WWII signal flags from HMS MTB 702. Can be used as a light dog coat, bibs for children, dresses, magic tricks and the like :-) HMS MTB 702HMS MTB 702 was a F...

E A Taylor attributed made by Wylie & Lochhead of Glasgow. An Arts & Crafts four-piece mahogany bedroom suite consisting of double wardrobe, dr...

This antique table top cigarette dispenser was made by the renowned Dunhill firm of England and dates to approximately 1920 and done in the period Art Deco style. The dispenser is co...

Vintage Hermes riding crop with deer antler handle. The shaft is covered in a beautifully braided leather and finished at the bottom with twine. The...

Modernism: Designing a New World 1914-1939 by Christopher Wilk. Victoria & Albert Museum, 2010. Hardcover with dust jacket. "Modernism: Designing a New World" is the first book to ex...

Architectural quartersawn English oak & American black walnut pillar end tables or nightstands. Designed and handcrafted in England using traditional furniture...

English Regency gilt stenciled figural and floral ebonized dital harp signed by maker Edward Light. Retailed at Srohl Foley place London, Early 19th century.

The World of Comets. Translated and Edited by James Glaisher. With Numerous Woodcuts and Chromolithographs, by Amedee Guillemin. 1st Ed Leather Bound hardcover, Published by Sampson ...

Revolt in the Desert by T.E. Lawrence, Published Jonathan Cape, Thirty Bedford Square, London, 1927 First English edition rebound in 3/4 brown leather with marbled boards, gilt-tool...

A stunning giltwood bergere cane bed by Maple and Co of London England, dates to circa 1900, the giltwood is bright and the cane work is perfect. The footboard is double caned, origi...

Imaginary Plan of Jerusalem by Blome after Villalpando, 1689 This impressive antique engraving presents an imaginary plan of Jerusalem by Richard Blome, published in 1689. The engra...

These nightstands are beautifully sculpted in burl wood. They have 3 shelves and a single drawer for storage. The attractive curves are definite eye catchers. They make a statement i...

Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this lovely Antique Victorian Circa 1880 Mahogany Revolving Snooker cue stand with 18 cues some stamped Sir ...

'PANORAMIC VIEW', a modern framed and mounted black and white photograph after an original 1930's skiing photograph. The frame is black with burgundy undercoat, the glazing is clarit...

English Regency library / bed steps, made in England around 1810. The three steps have gilt banded leather upholstery, the top steps opens to shallow storage, the middle includes de...

1793 Map of Saint Domingue (Haiti and DR) – Colonial Island Plan This antique map is titled “A Map of the Island of St. Domingo” and dates from circa 1793. It depicts the entire isl...

Large, Edwardian, sterling silver match - mounted, threaded crystal match striker, having a full, sterling silver match cup, Birmingham, England, 1917, J. Grinsell & Sons makers. Mea...

KELMSCOTT PRESS Orbeliani, Sulkhan-Saba. Translated by Oliver Wardrop. The Book of Wisdom and Lies; A book of Traditional Stories From Georgia in Asia Hammersmith: Kelmscott Press, ...

Sn4122 Victorian mahogany dressing table, having moulded mirror frame with cresting to top, in carved supports fitted with 2 jewellery drawers with mirror back and turned fluted colu...

The Charles petrol lighter designed by Meyer Maximilian Levene An exceptional and rare silver-plated 'The Charles' petrol pocket lighter stamped 'The Charles Lighter', made in London England, back in the 1947. It was rafted with slim rectangular form, decorated with engine-turned casing, double entry hinged lids with innovative internal mechanical features, including a revolving flint tube to provide even wear to the flint, and a rear barrel containing spare flint chambers so that semi-automatic loading of the spare flint can be undertaken. The Charles Lighter has an extremely complicated mechanism. The flint rotates while grinded by the friction wheel. Also interesting is the revolving magazine for spare flints. A fine example of complete over-engineering. This was made only for a very short period and was patented by Meyer Maximilian Levene in 1949. Weight: 70.50 Grams, (45.19 Dwt). Measurements: 48 mm by 43 mm by 12 mm (1.89 x 1.69 x 0.77 Inches). Hallmarks: Stamped with the maker's mark and signed in full, "THE CHARLES LIGHTER MADE IN ENGLAND BRITISH & DOMINION & FOREIGN PAT GRANTED.". Literature: Stuart Schneider and Ira Pilossof, The Handbook of Vintage Cigarette Lighters...

Add vintage charm to your home library with these 19th Century English Oak Library Steps. Featuring elegant spherule finials and a rich patina, these st...

A precursor of Benjamin Franklin's famous and popular POOR RICHARD's ALMANAC Rider, Cardanus Rider's (1726) British Merlin; Adorned with many delightful Varieties and Useful Veritie...

This is a very good and complete board game of Marble Solitaire, with a hand turned hardwood board and 35 agate stone and clay marbles, which we date to t...

This is an antique master shipwright's chest. An English, ebonized mahogany tool trunk with ornate interior, dating to the Victorian period, circa 1880. ...

Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this stunning original Arts & Crafts Shapland & Petter Hall stand with hand hammered Copper panels over a Walnut frame with inset sheild mirror Please note the delivery fee listed is just a guide, it covers within the M25 only for the UK and local Europe only for international, if you would like an accurate quote please send me your postcode and I’ll provide you with the exact price A very good looking well made and decorative hat glove coat and scarf rack, this one is rare as it has the central mirror and its an earlier than usual example circa 1900 Made by Shapland & Petter, a full blub on their life and works can be found below In terms of the condition it is straight and solid, the piece sits well in any setting and looks decorative and very English country house, we have cleaned waxed and polished the timber, there is one hook slightly bent, otherwise its in fine order Dimensions Height:- 205cm Width:- 113cm Depth:- 40cm Please note all measurements are taken at the widest point, if you would like any additional or specific measurements please ask Shapland and Petter of Barnstaple Introduction This Barnstaple based company manufactured some of the finest pieces of furniture in Arts and Crafts style but very little has been written about the company or the pieces they produced. It a great shame that whilst Shapland and Petter pieces have been illustrated in books and auction catalogues they are invariably attributed to other makers such as Liberty and Co in London or Wylie and Lochhead in Glasgow. With this feature, we intend to inspire a more thorough appreciation of the work of the company; readers are invited to help with the task by sending photographs and information. Collectors and auction houses are now showing significantly more interest in Shapland and Petter pieces. The company, based in Barnstaple, England produced a very wide range of furniture in several different styles including many pieces in period reproduction and municipal style for town halls and commercial premises alongside their superb Arts and Crafts range Distinctive features of their superb Arts and Crafts style are the use of heart shaped piercing, geometric shapes with angled arches and the application of repousse copper panels. Decoration with marquetry, metal inlay, mounting of ceramic and enamel cabochons were techniques which they mastered with a combination of state of the art technology and traditional craftsmanship. Most distinctively, the pieces were extremely well made, with care and very best quality materials The growing interest in Shapland and Petter has raised many questions about the origins of the firm, and the sources of influence on their designs, some of which resemble designs by Ashbee, Ballie Scott, Voysey and Talwin Morris. Links have been assumed with Liberty and Co with the supposition Shapland and Petter worked on commissions for Liberty. There appears to be little evidence to support many of the assumptions which have developed around the company and this article is intended to help to start the discussion and to stimulate research The History of Shapland and Petter The Museum of North Devon in Barnstaple have an archive of Shapland and Petter which includes some company records and a small display of furniture and related items. The following text gives history of the company and is reproduced from the display boards in the museum with kind permission of North Devon Museums For over 100 years the Shapland and Petter factory has stood at the end of Barnstaple Long Bridge. Manufacturers of doors, door sets, and custom wood interiors, NT Shapland and Petter Ltd are still one of the towns largest employers. The company was established by Henry Shapland (b. 1823), a cabinet maker by trade. He embarked on a voyage to America in 1848, where he was inspired by an invention for a wave-moulding machine. He was only allowed to see it if he left the country immediately. Returning home with only rough notes, he reproduced the machine and in 1854 began a cabinet making business in one room at the Raleigh woolen mill in Pilton. Later the firm moved to Bear Street in Barnstaple. Henry Petter was an accountant who entered into partnership with Mr Shapland. The business progressed and in 1864 they bought the Raleigh Factory where Shapland first began his work. Success was rapid, but in 1888 the building burnt down. Immediately work began on a bigger and better factory - their present site by the Long Bridge - which included many modern inventions The two Henrys died within two years of each other - Petter in 1907 and Shapland in 1909. In 1924 Shapland and Petter merged with the Barnstaple Cabinet Company, producing North Devon's biggest industry. During the First World War Shapland and Petter's skilled craftsmen turned their hands to wooden propellers for the aircraft of the Royal Flying Corps. After the war, public tastes changed, and hand carved furniture was too expensive for many. Shapland and Petter's output now included elegant veneered pieces with smooth Art Deco lines. The company fitted out Pullman carriages and ocean liners and made hand-carved church furniture. The famous England Rugby Captain W. W. Wakefield was appointed Company Director in 1927. Throughout the depression of the late 1920's and early 1930's the company still managed to produce high quality work Furniture manufacturing continued until the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939. Many workers left to fight, while the factory worked on Air Ministry contracts for ammunition boxes. After the war came radio cabinets and laboratory and contract furniture, until eventually large quantities of doors were being produced for hospitals, hotels, schools, offices and other buildings. Examples of Shapland and Petter's work can be seen all over North Devon. In Barnstaple, the shop front at 109 High Street is a good example, and the interior of the old Lloyd's Bank, now Chamber's Brasserie, was also Shapland's work. Examples of carving by Shapland's men can be seen in two chairs and a reading desk in Barnstaple Parish Church As cabinet makers, Shapland and Petter employed up to 350 people at a time. There were designers, carvers, cabinet makers, machinists, polishers, and labourers. The company was one of the first to install American labour-saving devices and was keen to adopt the most up-to-date machinery The fire of 1888 at the Raleigh Cabinet Works was a huge loss for the company. However, it resulted in a new factory which was altogether more modern and better equipped. The new building by the river was arranged into blocks. The production line began with the saw mills and ended with the finishing rooms. There was modern machinery in every department - one of their saws was the first of its kind in Britain. Water sprinklers and electric lights were a necessity - this factory would not burn down As well as the furniture production, Shapland and Petter imported timber by sea and rail. The new factory 's facilities were exceptional Shapland and Petter were renowned for excellent design and workmanship. The carvers were highly skilled, serving seven year apprenticeships and attending classes at the Barnstaple School of Art. Ornately carved furniture required up to a hundred tools The factory produced made to order woodwork for banks, hotels, and shops; mantelpieces, paneling and staircases. They fitted out Pullman railway carriages, the London Guildhall, and Edgar Wallace 's dining room as well as houses like Tapeley Park in North Devon Much of the work involved intricate leaded glass panels, or inlaid fruitwood designs, like the white bedroom suite shown in the exhibition here. This type of work is typical of Art Nouveau 1895 to 1910, inspired by the fluid shapes of plants and flowers Many pieces were made from standard designs. There were hundreds to choose from, and a selection could be seen in local and London showrooms and in catalogues. Although mass-produced, this furniture was well-made by skilled technicians and modern machinery Arts and Crafts designs of Shapland and Petter The development of the Arts and Crafts Movement in the South West of England has not been written up in any detail though we do know of the Art Potters of Barnstaple from the excellent book of this name by Audrey Edgeler. Less is known of the Barnstaple Guild of Metal Workers. We know of the Bath Cabinet Makers and the Newlyn School of Industrial Art in Cornwall but very little has been written about the furniture makers of Barnstaple in Devon The establishment of a large cabinet making firm in Barnstaple is not remarkable in itself; there were several cabinet makers in the area. What is interesting is that this particular Barnstaple firm should become a leading maker of Arts and Crafts furniture, copying the styles of the leading Architect designers and creating their own unique style Critics may point out that as their work was commercially driven and reliant upon machines it therefore does not really qualify as Arts and Crafts. Whilst the company was highly innovative in machine technology, they also employed many craftsmen who worked with their hands in woodcarving, marquetry work, design and application of decorative copperwork and other artistic embellishment in the true Arts and Crafts tradition. Anyone who has experience of Shapland and Petter workmanship knows the level of craftsmanship invested in each piece Sources of inspiration There appears to be no evidence to link any known architect, artist or designer to the Shapland and Petter company. Their designs appear to have been created solely by their own internal design staff none of whom appear to have published or registered their work in any other context C. R. Ashbee who established the Guild of Handicrafts visited Barnstaple in 1893 and provided a twelve week course on the design and decoration of furniture. It is presumed that this visit was hosted by Shapland and Petter, and that their own staff and those from other local furniture makers attended the course. Ashbee appears to have been unimpressed by the commercial attitudes he encountered and apparently disappointed at the lack of interest in his (high minded) lectures. What is interesting however is the similarity between some of his designs and those used by Shapland and Petter, particularly in respect to inlaid floral design. Perhaps he left a lasting influence which has not yet been verified There has been some speculation on the influence of Scottish designers, particularly because of the use of Glasgow rose designs which are typical of the Glasgow School, and particularly of Talwin Morris. There are also several designs which use similar motifs to those used by Baillie Scott, the use of two doves in flight for example. More research is needed to trace possible links here. One thing that is clear is that there was a great deal of copying and selling designs in the furniture industry at the time and a nineteenth century survey on the furniture trade recorded that '' Barnstaple pays the best prices for designs ..'' Collaboration with other companies There is evidence that Shapland and Petter organised a wide network of companies to retail their products and hence many pieces have the labels of retail furnishers added. Little is known of their marketing in Europe and America but it may be that many Arts and Crafts pieces were sold abroad. Shapland and Petter had excellent access to rail and shipping lines for importing timber and presumably for exporting their finished products The extent of their collaboration with other companies is yet to be ascertained but there is evidence that their suppliers included the Della Robbia Pottery, Pilkingtons Tile...

This beautiful antique Holy Book was printed in England circa 1870. The impressive Victorian family Bible, titled "The National Comprehensive Family Bible", was edited by Rev. John E...

A very rare 19th century cast iron equine hitching post in the form of a jock-ey. The jockey is classically dressed in the 19th century riding attire, com-prising of a black riding hat, red jacket and cream jodhpurs. The jockey is poised on a moulded blue plinth...

An English iron umbrella stand from the 20th century depicting a dog obediently sitting in front of a tree. Embrace the whimsical charm of this 20th-century English iron umbrella sta...

Mechanical vesta matches box designed by Asprey & Company. This is a very rare and unusual mechanical vesta-box for matches, created in London England by Asprey & Company Limited, back in the 1925. The pocket vesta-box was crafted during the art deco period in solid .925/.999 sterling silver with yellow gold accents and decorated with engine turned guilloche patterns. It is fitted with two lids connected by an eight-barrels hinge and a concealed mechanical sliding lock. This box show excellent craftsmanship and is in great condition. A highly collectable piece. Country: London, England. Period: Art Deco, 1925-1926. Materials: Sterling silver, yellow gold and iron. Weight: 45.40 Grams, (29.10 Dwt). Measurements: 55 mm by 44 mm by 9 mm (2.17 x 1.74 x 0.35 Inches). Hallmarks Stamped with British crown marks, the lion's face mark for the city of London, the maker's mark A&Co Ltd., the mark for the assay and warranty of the .925 silver, the gothic letter L for the years 1925-1926 and signed in full as follows, "ASPREY LONDON MADE IN ENGLAND A&CO LTD "L" ASPREY'S PATENT NO-21914". Asprey The company was established in England in Mitcham, Surrey, in 1781. Founded as a silk printing business by William Asprey, it soon became a luxury emporium. In 1841, William Asprey's elder son Charles went into partnership with a stationer located on London's Bond Street. In 1847, the family broke with this partner and moved into 167 New Bond Street, the premises Asprey occupies today. From its central London location, Asprey advertised 'articles of exclusive design and high quality, whether for personal adornment or personal accompaniment and to endow with richness and beauty the table and homes of people of refinement and discernment.' An early specialty was dressing cases. Asprey crafted traditional cases and designs, mostly in leather, suitable for the new style of travel ushered in by railways. As the business grew, the company acquired manufacturing facilities and hired silversmith, goldsmith, jewelers and watchmakers. In the 1920's, commissions poured in from around the world, from American millionaire J. P. Morgan to potentates such as the Maharaja of Patiala, who commissioned a huge teak travelling trunk for each of his wives, in which each trunk was fitted with solid silver washing and bathing utensils with waterspouts of ornate tiger head and lined with blue velvet. Asprey cigarette cases...

English bronze thunder mug signal cannon with decorative central ring, original side handle, lower fuse port, and resting on circular ringed base. Late 18t...

Large, Art Deco, sterling silver-mounted threaded crystal match striker, London, 1931, Henry Perkins and Sons - makers. Measures 2 3/4 inches high x 3 1/2 inches in diameter. Dark sp...

A very unusual and rare Georgian antique steel cased tuning fork dating from around 1800. A wonderful piece of musical interest and history the tuning fork...

Ball desk petrol lighter designed by Alfred Dunhill This is a rare antique desk liquid-petrol lighter, created in London England by the luxury brand of Alfred Dunhill, back in the 1929. The unusual lighter is the iconic ball shaped model named Unique with the Dunhill lift arm retailed in Paris France. The lighter has been assembled and carefully crafted in the shape of a ball in solid sterling silver with plain surfaces. This lighter show very nice condition with minimal traces of use and beautiful guilloche. Recently cleaned and serviced, not polished just to preserve the antique patina. History This classic petrol lift arm lighter...

Archibald Knox Liberty Tudric Pewter tea set and tray, circa 1905.Teapot, cream jug, sugar and tray, each with relief whiplash curved Celtic ornament in...

Very stylish Art Deco walnut chest of drawers originating from England and dating to the 1930's. It has stunning walnut veneers and great original Art Deco handles in chrome and black bakelite. Great stepped design to the stepped ebonized plinth...

A pair of English Regency period bedside chests from circa 1820 with graduating drawers. These exquisite English Regency period bedside chests, dating back to around 1820, are a test...

European signal cannon from the late 18th-19th century. An antique piece made and used in Europe, circa 1800. This kind of small scale toys were made to be used in the navy of some ...

Most likely by Gillows of Lancaster. Excellent timber. Three shelves each with molded edges and carved volute brackets and panelled ends, raised on flattened ball feet with casters. ...

This 19th-century English leather suitcase is a charming relic of refined travel in a bygone era. Crafted from supple leather, its surface shows wear and patina that highlight its ag...

A handcrafted thick saddle leather vintage British fire , powder bucket with handle and canvas interior . A matching strap handle with grommets attach it to the container which can b...

Margit Wittig's triptych blackened metal screen/ room divider features hand-crafted sculptural elements. These pieces can rotate allowing the collector to create varying levels of op...

This is a very early and prosthetic arm. Looks like it has been made in England, but i´m not sure. The wooden carved hand is jointed, realistic and ve...

Antique Hickory Golf Club, James Sherlock. A good quality socket head, persimmon and hickory Driver by local golfer James George Sherlock, Hunstanton, Oxford. The original hickory sh...

A striking pair of custom made vintage pillows in a bold malachite green pattern, dating to the 1980s. The fabric is rich in tone and texture, is all cotton and remains in exceptiona...

English Georgian mahogany four-poster bed with a carved molded inset headboard, tapered head post, serpentine gadrooned and upholstered tester with a centered carved urn & swags, dec...

Aesop (S. Croxall transl.) The Fables of Aesop; With a Life of the Author; and Embellished with one Hundred & twelve Plates London: John Stockdale, 1793. FIRST EDITION - 2 vol., La...

A rare knife sharpener from the late 18th century. English, iron and wood, by "Warren's Rotary." Minor defects. Dimensions: 44 x 54 x 25 cm Good condition

Shapland and Petter. An Arts and Crafts oak bedside cabinet with stylized floral inlaid decoration in the form of Albalone flower heads.

This chrome table lighter was made by the renowned Alfred Dunhill Company of England and dates to 1960 and done in the period Mid-Century Modern style. The lighter is made in the lik...

A fine rare example of an 18 inch diameter terrestrial globe on mahogany stand with brass meridian and paper horizon ring depicting months and zodiac signs, The round title cartouche...

Very unique and unusual metamorphic bench / library steps with cabriole legs.. It appears to be a bench covered in tobacco brown leather with nail he...

Vintage style photography, framed alpine ski photograph, Opps!. 'OPPS!', a modern framed and mounted black and white photographic image after an original 1930s skiing photograph. Th...

A pair of large walnut hand-crafted nightstands or end tables. Constructed from finest American black walnut with the inner dovetailed jointed drawer carcass in English quartersawn O...

Geo III Mahogany fold-over card table with cluster-leg and concertina action c1780. The hinged Leather lined and gilt tooled top opens and is supported by hinged, concertina-action r...

Folds into a stick. Wood core covered in brown leather with brass tacks. Hook latch to keep it closed. When closed its 91 inches high. Rungs are 9.25 inches wide.