English Coat Racks and Stands

Stunning Nouveau coat racks made in bent walnut wood. Two pieces available. This charming coat racks were designed by the mastery of Michael Thonet and produced in the early 1900s in...

19th Century English Oak Hall Tree with multiple spindles for hanging coats and hats. The tree has a mirror as well a hinged compartment for storage. It also has a drip pan with an u...

Antique Victorian quality mahogany towel rail having five quality mahogany towel rails supported by shaped turned mahogany ends standing on shaped ...

An English, Aesthetic Period cast iron hall tree by John and Thomas Cox of Birmingham. This design was registered on October 6, 1884. This Victorian hall tree features a mirror, shel...

The patina, the form, the function and the overall presentation of this antique Aesthetic Movement mahogany hall tree make it worth a second and third look. It has all the elegance ...

Antique English Edwardian Towel Rail C.1910 A handsome example. presented in good condition commensurate with age. Please message for a shipping quote.

Antique Victorian quality mahogany towel rail having five quality mahogany turned rails supported by barley twist columns standing on cabriole legs...

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...

E W Godwin style of, a fine quality Anglo-Japanese oak hallstand with upper panels depicting songbirds perched in a cherry blossoms, a central bevelled mi...

Early 20th century carved towel rail circa 1910. Good quality towel rail made from mahogany and pine.  Decorative carved shells to the top with further carvings to the supports.  3 ...

A top quality Arts and Crafts oak Hallstand by Shapland and Petter with bevelled mirror flanked by a circular copper disc with hat and coat hooks, stylised cut-outs and stylised flor...

K0306 Very stylish English Victorian cast iron hall stand / coat stand in the manner of Christopher Dresser, having elaborate pierced decoration with flowers, scrolls, leaf motifs an...

Elegant wall hung shoe horn in patinated brass set with the a swan among bulrush at the top. It was made by C&A in Birmingham England circa 1900-20. Measurements: L: 21/10 cm. W: 5 cm.

Circa 1900-1910 Warm oak patina hand made barley twist cane stand with simple lines, six sectionals and original metal drip pans. Compact size and e...

A good Arts and Crafts oak Hall stand by Shapland and Petter with a seat to the left and a mirror and glove drawer to the right, the lower section with Shaplands typical square shape...

Quality 19th Century Victorian antique carved mahogany hall stand with a superb carved top, shaped mirror to the centre, original brass hooks, one drawer, shaped stick stand, suppo...

Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale 1 of 2 Dolce & Gabbana retail shop display rails from Bond Street London Please note the delivery fee liste...

Falkirk iron Foundry. In the style of Dr C Dresser. An Aesthetic Movement painted cast iron hall stand, the upper part with six hooks above a stick stand with removable tray, lozeng...

Shapland and Petter. An Arts & Crafts oak hall cupboard in the style of M.H. Baillie Scott, of tapering Architectural form. The flaring cornice with an open upper hat cupboard, flank...

Dr C. Dresser style of, An Aesthetic Movement Gothic style oak hall stand with central arched mirror, flanked by open sides and six turned button ended coat hooks to the outer edges, with mitred plank details above a lift up seat with storage...

19th century oak hall stand from England. The top has a lovely crown molding, over a hand carved central panel, flanked by carved sides, which have three brass hooks on each side fo...

A fine English gentleman's valet or suit and coat stand clothing rack, featuring a curved bar top over a tie bar and resting on a slatted base.

This is a large antique Victorian hall umbrella, hat and coat stand, circa 1860 in date. The hall stand is made of solid mahogany and features a demi-lune shaped pediment and a sc...

Sn5450 Stylish Victorian oak coat stand / hall stand, having centre support with four shaped branches and ten original hanging hooks above shaped umbrella holder and turned uprights ...

We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning vintage, hand made with heavy solid Chrome frame coat & hat stand finished with hand stitched brown leather A very decorative and ...

Unusual antique Edwardian quality walnut hall stand having the original mirror back with a quality pierced carving, 4 original coat/hat hooks above a demi lune shaped marble top supp...

K0540 Elegant Victorian umbrella stand in brass with six divisions flanked by decorative finials and cast iron drip tray. This antique umbrella stand retains its original lacquer, pa...

Falkirk. An aesthetic movement cast iron stick stand with flowing finial, a semi-circular stick retainer flanked by coronets with a wonderful pai...

Antique English clothes rail - Late 19th century Clothes rack - Antique - Dressing-room Brass and polished steel wardrobe, clothes rack connected to two uprights resting on two feet ...

P0300 Very attractive set of five twisted rope and ceramic coat hooks now on figured mahogany backing with carved foliage motifs to each end. Fitted with wall fixing and ready to pla...

Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale 1 of 5 Dolce & Gabbana retail shop display rails from Bond Street London Please note the delivery fee liste...

Of great scale, with turned supports and central hanging brass rail, on casters.

With brass carrying handle, boot holder and trestle support.

An exceptional antique Victorian cast-iron hall stand by Coalbrookdale. With black Kilkenny marble top, coat hooks, stick stands, removable umbrella drip trays and original mirror. ...

We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning antique circa 1900 solid pine bathroom towel rail with nicely antiqued finish 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 good looking well made and decorative towel...

K529 Unusual Arts and Crafts brass umbrella stand with five divisions flanked by decorative finials, cast iron base and removable drip tray. This...

Christopher Dresser for Coalbrookdale, Cast Iron Aesthetic Movement Hall Stand, English Registration Number 214965, Date of Registration: October 17, 1868 A rare and architecturally...

Marvelous Victorian coat rack fully made in walnut. This stunning and unique piece was made in England between the end of the 19th Century and the start of the 20th Century. The uni...

Early 20th century carved mahogany stand circa 1920. Good quality stand, ideal for a vase of flowers in the hallway or entrance. Shaped top with an 11″ x 11″ area. Supported by a t...

Perfect folding wall coat rack ideal for places of transit or small spaces since it can be folded if it is not being used 19th Century foldable wood wall coat rack,. Foldable wi...

Rare and interesting wood and brass wall coat-hanger. English Art & Crafts work. Circa 1890

K0310 Elegant set of four Victorian brass and ceramic coat and hat hooks of very decorative design on ebonised solid oak backing with moulded top edge. Cleaned, polished and ready to...

K0297 Very stylish long set of five and four, Victorian brass and ceramic coat hooks on grey painted pine with moulded edge. Fitted with two wall fixings, all in home ready conditio...

A very fine 1920's original half section well figured bentwood hat and coat stand of exceptional quality. This fabulous piece is beautifully carved, richly patinated with fine grain...

19th century English mahogany hall stand with wonderful shape and carved details. This piece has a lovely profile as well, and would be show-stoppi...

England, circa 1960 An amusing pop art coat hanger in the form of a pencil, with orange hooks, all supported on a circular plinth base. Height 183.00...

Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this lovely, English made Sterling Silver mounted Walking stick coat rack A very good looking well made an...

K0312 Set of two brass and ceramic set of four very decorative Victorian coat hooks now on solid mahogany ebonised backing. Cleaned, polished and ready to place at home. H3 1/4" W...

K0311 Brass and ceramic set of four very decorative Victorian coat hooks now on solid mahogany ebonised backing. Cleaned, polished and ready to place at home. H3 1/4" W24 3/4" D3 ...

A beautiful old English industrial coat hook. This large coat rack is made in solid oak with three large sized double hooks which are made in iron. Eac...

English brass and copper figural foliage medallion embossed umbrella / cane stand, 19th century.

Robbins and Co attributed to Henry Jeckyll An Anglo-Japanese Cast Iron Stick Stand Barnard Bishop and Barnard co-produced with Robbins.           

K0300 Stylish and practical antique coat hooks with five very decorative, twisted rope hooks with ceramic ends now on William IV figured mahogany ba...

19th century English hall stand made from oak. It is a lovely scalloped and shaped piece with five hooks for coats or hats and has a large umbrella ...

Each with chenille embroidered panel within a reverse glass border, adjustable, raise on a tripod base with lions head carvings. Scroll feet.

Late 19th Century Victorian hall stand of magnificent proportions simulated bamboo mahogany hall stand. Flanked by tapering bamboo columns surmounted by elaborate finials there are s...

K0308 Attractive set of three brass coat and hat hooks on solid mahogany backing. Cleaned, polished and fitted with wall fittings this antique coat rack is in home ready condition. c...

0589 Rare Art Deco demi lune umbrella stand of narrow proportions with five divisions, decorative finials and a drip tray. This antique stand was cleane...

Antique Wood Carved Oak wall hanging coat rack 19th Century Eagle Oval Mirror Carved Face Hat Rack Hand Carved Entryway Hooks 1880s Beautiful...

K0313 Superb 19th century set of two polished and fluted brass with black ceramic ends hat and coat hooks on solid mahogany backing with moulded edge. This antique coat rack is in ho...