1870s Furniture

This is a large antique Japanese medicine chest (kusuri-tansu). The overwhelming sense of volume and the disciplined repetition of its many drawers elevate it beyond the realm of ord...

Antique Victorian Era Stepback Dresser & Mirror, c. 1870s. Made from walnut with crotch walnut veneered drawer fronts. Features a wishbone swivel mirror over two gloveboxes and a ca...

Statuette depicting the Love Putto in Meissen porcelain, made in 1800. The figurine may have undergone restoration. Ø cm 10 Ø cm 6 h cm 13 Meissen porcelain is considered one of th...

19Thc Eight point star quilt in blue & white with a swag border in pristine condition.Note the flying geese borders surround the stars.This quilt was found in Virginia and we believe...

This is a beautiful antique French Louis XV Revival ormolu mounted king wood, burr walnut and floral marquetry shaped rectangular console / card table, circa 1870 in date. The shape...

Traditional Japanese Tansu chest of drawers from the 1870s. Manufactured during the late Meiji era (1868-1912). This piece of furniture exudes authenticity and character. The cabinet...

This is a fine antique personal diary repository, originating from Scotland during the Victorian period, circa 1870. This striking book form keepsake case showcases the craftsmanship...

"The Holy Bible" By Rev. John Brown, 1870s Old and new testaments. Marginal references and illustrations; An exact summary of the several books; A paraphrase on the most obscure or i...

Late 19th century sterling silver tableware decorative fruit bowl with gold wash interior by the Whiting Manufacturing Company, finely decorated with an elaborate floral design to th...

Carpet From The Aubusson Manufacture, 19th Century, Napoleon III Period - 315x286 - No. 1592 Artist: Manufacture Aubusson Period: 19th century Style: Napoleon 3rd Condition: Perf...

Alsace Folk Costume, Griesheim, Traditional Dress, c.1875 This striking chromolithograph depicts women wearing traditional costume from Griesheim in Alsace, distinguished by large b...

A large and impressive Victorian era dome top steamer trunk, circa 1870s. Features a tooled leather frame wrapped in black metal with oak banding ...

This set of nine antique porcelain small dessert dishes with a matching cookie or serving plate was made in France circa 1870. The porcelain is white with finely detailed gilt decora...

Victorian Period/Aesthetic Movement sterling silver calling card/business card case having a hinged lid and its original chain, Gorham Manufacturing Co., Providence, Rhode Island, Ca...

George Trollope and Sons. Exhibited at the Paris Universal Exhibition in 1878 winning a Gold Medal for Excellence. The set forms the four sides of a complete panelled room that was exhibited as a boudoir room or petit salon at the Paris Exhibition 1878 . The main feature and centrepiece of this boudoir room is the Rosso Antico marble fireplace surmounted by an open display niche carved in cedar wood. Each side of the room is composed of various panels and are as follows: One side with a grand Rosso Antico marble fireplace flanked by two doorways. One side with French doors originally opening onto a balcony, flanked by two large bookshelves. One side with a window flanked by two mirrors. The opposite side with three large mirrors. The complete room measures: 21 ft / 6.4 m wide, 17 ft / 5.18 m deep, and 12 ft / 3.65 m high. It could also be used in a number of different combinations to suit various room layouts. The mirrors could be replaced with windows or further bookcases. Each side is decorated with various sizes of finely carved panels and holds ornate Corinthian style columns surmounted with cherubim's on the capitals. Three cherubs are formed at the top of each corner with three columns, at the column bases there are circular carved pedestals to display statues. Published & illustrated in the ‘Illustrated Catalogue of the Paris International Exhibition’. The main part of this room, the Rosso Antico marble fireplace is surmounted by a large open display niche carved in cedar wood are illustrated with a line drawing in the Paris Universal Exhibition catalogue on page 209. The whereabouts of the seminaked caryatids and the marble bust of Alexander Pope are unknown. The bust of Alexander Pope was copied from the original one in Westminster Abbey, London. The Corinthian columns now flanking the niche above the fireplace are also in cedar wood having the identical carved fluting to the rest of the room and were made to replace the caryatid figures. Those Corinthian columns are period to the room and can only have been made shortly after it arrived back to London and before it was reassembled and fitted into the house built by George Trollope and Sons in the 1880's, and where we removed it all from. George Trollope made clever use of Alexander Pope's early 18th-century poetical successes in Great Britain and France by using ‘The Rape of Lock’, a mock-heroic narrative poem Pope wrote in 1712 about Petre who cut off a lock of Arabella’s hair without her permission, as the theme of the boudoir room or petit salon at the 1878 Paris Exhibition. In the original exhibition display of the room set, tapestries depicting the Rape of Lock were hung where the mirrors are now positioned. Alexander Pope's The Rape of the Lock is a humorous indictment of the vanities and idleness of 18th-century high society. Basing his poem on an actual incident among two families of his acquaintance, Pope intended his verses to quench hot tempers and to encourage his friends to laugh at their own foolishness. The poem is an outstanding example in the English language of the genre of mock-epic. The 'epic' was considered one of the most serious of literary forms; it had been applied, in the classical period, to the trivialities of love and war. Pope’s mock-epic is not to mock the form itself, but to mock his society in its very failure to rise to epic standards, exposing its pettiness by casting it against the grandeur of the traditional epic subjects and the bravery and fortitude of epic heroes: Pope’s mock-heroic treatment in The Rape of the Lock underlines the ridiculousness of a society in which values have lost all proportion, and the trivial is handled with the gravity and solemnity that ought to be accorded to truly important issues. The 18th-century society in this poem fails to distinguish between things that are important and things that are not. The poem mocks the men it portrays by representing them as unworthy of a heroic culture. Therefore the mock-epic follows the epic in that its main concerns are serious and moral. The point that the theme must now be satirical rather than earnest is symptomatic of how far the culture has fallen. Retaining the original exhibition label The back of the panelling still retains two original labels printed with the 'Union Jack' and printed adjacent to it, 'The Secretary Royal British Commission for the Universal Exhibition 1878 Champ de Mars Paris'. Adjacent to that and below, printed and written in ink vertically: Exhibitor: (and signed in ink) George Trollope & Sons. Address: (written in ink) Halkin Street West. London. Allotment in Block: (written in ink) a2. In the printed floor plan 'a2 square' is in the very first line to the right of the floor plan and handwritten in ink with a 'diamond shape' also written with '101' within it. This pin points where George Trollope's stand was located. With thousands of items being displayed at the Exhibition, this label would have been the floor plan for the craftsmen, so they knew the correct place to install the boudoir room or petit salon. The firm continued expanding house building and interior decoration side of the business and by 1849 was also trading as an estate agency, letting and controlling property for the Grosvenor Estates. A separate branch of cabinet-makers, bearing the family name, was opened at West Halkin Street, London. becoming known as 'The Museum of Decorative Arts' (looked after by George Robinson). Here Trollope and Sons also sold high-class antique furniture made by other makers. In 1851, the firm became formally known as George Trollope and Sons. West Halkin Street, London. The address was recorded in the listing for the firm in The Furniture Gazette Directory, 1876 & 1877. Period Press Coverage & Art Critic Review. everal newspapers also thoroughly describe George Trollope and Son's stand including the different tapestries that were hung where the mirrors are now, illustrating the poem 'The Rape of Lock', by Alexander Pope. Marius Vachon, a French Art Critic and journalist, who wrote for the journal ‘La France’ published an extensive review of the Trollope and Sons stand in a book called Les Merveilles de l'Exposition de 1878 (The Wonders of the 1878 Exhibition). Note: In the World Fairs translation it states door frame, Marius Vachon had originally written ‘chambranle’ in French, 'chambranle' loosely translates to a frame around something, and should read in its correct context: ‘fireplace in rosso antico’. We have taken the extract below written by Marius Vachon in its translated form from: Les Merveilles de l'Exposition de 1878, (The Wonders of the 1878 Exhibition). This puts into perspective the importance of this fine quality room interior when he viewed it at the exhibition in 1878: Marius Vachon: English furniture is very curious to observe; irreproachable from the point of view of execution, the furniture of our neighbours always reaches the last degree of respectability and comfort. One thing to be noticed is that for large pieces of furniture, the English upholsterer is transformed into a sort of architect; everything he makes takes on a monumental aspect. The first object that catches the eye when one enters the furniture class is the beautiful boudoir-salon exhibited by Mr. Trollope. The boudoir (or petit salon), of carved cedar wood, is an attempt to reproduce the style which prevailed in England during the first decade of Queen Anne's reign, and all the details have been studied, but not copied, from examples of decorative work of the time. The fireplace is in "rosso antico" movement, and the ceiling is in portable plaster. The panels painted on canvas represent scenes from the heroic-comic poem "The Abduction of the Hairpin," (The Rape of Lock) written by Alexander Pope in 1712, the eighth year of Queen Anne's reign, in which the customs and mores of the time are satirized in a pleasing manner. The apotheosis of the Loop and its sidereal transformations will form the decoration of the ceiling. In these illustrations of Pope's charming poem, the costumes and accessories have been taken from models of the time; and the bust of the poet, copied from his tomb in Westminster Abbey, occupies the niche in the centre of the mantelpiece. M. Marius Vachon, the period writer of the above continues with: Now we shall mention at random the magnificent dining table of Messrs. Johnston and Co., their oak mantelpiece, their boudoir table; Mr. Watt's drawing-room mantelpiece stepped in the old style and imitating the Japanese; Mr. James Shoolbred's great The Decorative Arts Society on Trollope and Sons The boudoir or petit salon is mentioned again in the Decorative Arts Society: Trollope did not exhibit such highly rated objects at the 1878 Paris Exhibition as at previous exhibitions; items included a large mirror frame carved in limewood in Renaissance style and a satinwood cabinet in Adam revival style, with a similar armchair (illus. Meyer (2006), p. 242) and probably two rooms; one was a boudoir in cedar wood in Queen Anne style and the other was a boudoir decorated by the firm in the theme of Pope’s The Rape of Lock. In the above extract, it is quite clear that the two rooms mentioned are in fact the very same room, because the fireplace and niche are illustrated in The Paris Universal Exhibition catalogue on page 209 and Marius Vachon describes the rest of the room set in the above… Trollope and Sons exhibition pieces listed and described by Meyer in an article he wrote for: The Decorative Arts Society 1850 to present, Journal 25 in 2001., where he points out the importance of George Trollope and Sons and mentions a table by Trollope exhibited at the 1867 exhibition that sold for £40,000 in 1996. He also mentions a cabinet exhibited by Trollope at the International Exhibition of 1862 that sold at Sotheby's in 1997 for £150,000. Interest was not as strong in the 1990's as it is today for rare exhibition pieces, high quality items were abundant back then, it was a golden era when the most beautiful works of art just kept coming onto the market. But there are exceptions as in this instance, when a unique, gold medal-winning exhibition work of art comes onto the market for the very first time. Meyer continued researching and writing about the great exhibitions and released his book in 2006, 'The Great Exhibitions, London, New York, Paris and Philadelphia 1851- 1900, where he mentions only in passing, The Boudoir Room or Petite Salon exhibited by Trollope, he even states that an image was not reproduced and that Trollope's exhibits in 1878 were not up to the quality and class of the items Trollope exhibited in London in 1862 and Paris in 1868. This is probably because Meyer didn't know of the line drawing illustrating the Roso Antico Fireplace, Niche and Panelling reproduced in The Illustrated Catalogue of the Paris International Exhibition 1878 shown in the above which Geering recently uncovered. John Meyer continues in the DAS journal: Undoubtedly they (Trollope) are a firm worthy of further research as they were right at the forefront of the furniture business in London from 1860 to 1880. Our research shows that the Petite Boudoir was awarded the gold medal for excellence in 1878 (see Journal La Liberté 23-10-1878 with the list of all medals attributed), something George Trollope and Sons did not achieve at the London 1862 and the Paris 1867 exhibitions. Jonathan Meyer joined Bonham's in 1977. He was Director at Sotheby's in charge of 19th Century Furniture from 1994 to June 2007. He was also chairman of the Fine Arts Faculty for The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors. In the original description from the article in Les Merveilles de l’exposition de 1878, M. Marius Vachon states: The first object that catches the eye when one enters the (English) furniture class is the beautiful boudoir-salon exhibited by Mr. Trollope. Suggesting, it was in his opinion the very best on display in the English section, and being awarded the gold medal for excellence can only add weight to this. Adjacent to the original label that was printed by The Secretary - Royal British Commission for the Universal Exhibition 1878 in stencil ‘TO BE KEPT’, i.e. ‘to be returned’. This confirms why it came back to London. We removed the Boudoir Room or Petite Salon from a Trollope house, part of a grand high-class housing estate in London which around the time of the exhibition Trollope and Sons were in the process of building, and where the room set was installed directly after it returned from the exhibition in 1878 until now. Worthy of note is the machines that did the carving for the Boudoir Room or Petite Salon and also did all of the decorative carving (most of which was linenfold carving) for the Houses of Parliament, London. This machine, the engraving and description of which we copy from Engineering, was specially designed by its inventor, Mr. Jordan, for assisting in the production of the vast amount of carved decorations required for the walls and ceilings of the Houses of Parliament, London, and it was so employed during the entire progress of the work. The late Sir Charles Barry was so well satisfied with it, that he frequently declared it would have been impossible to have accomplished the work without it. The Department of Woods and Forests employed five of the machines at the Government Works, Thames Bank, for several years; and the machines have now passed into the hands of Messrs. George Trollope and Son, and are still used in the same building. They also exhibited the new technique of xylatechnography and sgraffito, methods of impressing coloured design into soft wood and engraving veneer to reveal the base wood. The newspaper, La Liberte October, 23rd 1878 listing the medal winners of the Paris 1878 exhibition. Third column, ''GROUPE III MOBILIER ET ACCESSOIRES'', (GROUP III FURNITURE AND ACCESSORIES). Medailles d'or. (Gold Medals) where G Trollope et fils (G Trollope and Sons...

This is a gorgeous antique Davenport desk which is crafted from beautiful burr walnut, circa 1870 in date. The desk has a rear stationery compartment which encloses a divided interi...

Vibrant Victorian Butterfly Lithographs: Delicate Portraits by Frederic C. Moore This remarkable pair of lithographs, created by Frederic C. Moo...

Rare antique boot-lever with multi-purpose tools, typical of the Victorian era, from the second half of the 19th century and intended for cavalry officers or traveling gentlemen. Cl...

This is a superb antique edition of 'The Fables' by Jean de La Fontaine, translated into English verse by Walter Thornbury and illustrated throughout by Gustave Doré. A fine, intact ...

A wonderful antique 24 karat gold Egyptian Revival brooch set with an ancient 1500 B.C.E Egyptian faience pottery scarab, by the famous 19th century Italian jeweler Cesare Tombini, c...

Majolica oyster plate Sarreguemines, circa 1870. 6 Shells and space for the lemon on the center. Older model.

A finely decorated Chinese Export Rose Medallion porcelain plate dating to the Qing Dynasty, circa 1875. Hand painted in vivid enamels, the plate is richly detailed with alternating ...

Torricellian mercury barometer, French manufacture from the second half of the 19th century, made of mahogany veneer wood with cedar wood edge threading complete with rare thermomet...

A stunning large antique French wood Vernis Martin five panel display cabinet in the Louis XV manner and of extravagantly shaped Bombe form, circa 1870 in date, with exquisite hand painted decoration and exquisite ormolu mounts. It has five decorative Vernis Martin panels with beautiful hand painted decoration, the central panel depicting a courting couple and the others with classical figures in pastoral country scenes. The central panel bears the artists signature, Le Brun. The large central clear serpentine glazed door opening to a large capacious cupboard below, flanked by clear glazed serpentine panels, with further shaped glass on the sides. It is smothered in gorgeous gilded ormolu mounts, the shaped apron with foliate mounts and sabots, standing on cabriole legs. The mirror backed interior is fitted with glass shelves, the lower shelf lined with golden velvet, to display your collection of china or silver beautifully. This magnificent piece is in excellent condition and the quality and attention to detail throughout is second to none. Add a touch of unparalleled style to your home. Condition: In really excellent original condition having only been beautifully cleaned, polished and waxed in our workshops, please see photos for confirmation. Dimensions in cm: height 193 x width 115 x depth 50 Dimensions in inches: height 6 foot, 4 inches x width 3 foot, 9 inches x depth 1 foot, 8 inches Vernis Martin is a lustrous lacquer substitute widely used in the 18th century to decorate furniture and such personal articles as brisé fans...

Stunning monumental 46 piece concrete bookcase by Willy Guhl. Made up of 2 different sized hand-made concrete cubes.36 big size and 10 small size, Completely modular and able to be ...

Wonderful burr walnut writing box or slope Fabulous colour and figure in the wood Fine brass hardware Expertly restored Original brass topped inkwells Working secret drawers* R...

A charming 19th century Country French oak bonnetière, embodying the quiet romance of provincial living. Originally intended for the storage of bonnets and linens, the bonnetière evo...

Antique Japanese History book Meiji era, circa 1878 Woodblock print book Book dimensions: 182 mm x 121 mm There are damages because it is antique item as we show on the photos.

19th Century green Majolica tureen with stand signed Sarreguemines Majolica, circa 1870 With grapes leaves. Height / 7.5", diameter / 8 inches.  

Tellurium or representative and demonstrative mechanical model of the solar system composed of the Sun, Mercury, Venus, Earth, Moon and Mars, realized by the Prague geographer and ...

A rare set of 10 Swedish pine wall shelves originating from the Royal Library building in Humlegården, Stockholm. The library, designed by architect Gustaf Dahl and completed in 1877...

A charismatic 19th century Henry II side or desk chair, circa 1870s. Drawing inspiration from Spanish and Renaissance Revival. Made from mahogany w...

Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Period Rosewood Bed Frame embodies the refined neoclassical taste that flourished during the Second Empire. Under Napoleon III, French decorative arts experienced a renewed admiration for classical symmetry, imperial symbolism, and luxurious materials~elements beautifully expressed in this distinguished example. The arched headboard rises with architectural clarity, crowned by a carved crest accented with plume finials—an imperial motif evocative of the grandeur and ceremony associated with the period. Fluted corner posts reinforce the neoclassical structure, while the balanced proportions of the headboard and footboard create a harmonious, dignified silhouette. Crafted in rosewood, a precious and highly prized exotic wood favored in the second half of the 19th century, the bed displays a remarkable depth of tone and beautifully figured grain. The surface retains an exceptional patina developed over time, lending authenticity and warmth that only a true antique French bed can offer. Full size in scale, this Napoleon III bed makes a commanding yet graceful statement in a bedroom setting. Placed against paneled walls, beside a marble fireplace, or layered with fine textiles, it evokes the romantic elegance of a well-appointed French interior. The neoclassical lines, imperial details, and rich rosewood surface together create a piece that is both historically grounded and visually compelling. A superb antique French rosewood bed...

Majolica oyster plate Sarreguemines, circa 1870. 6 Shells and space for the lemon on the center. Older model.

Very Rare and Elegant Antique Baccarat Glass Paperweight with complex Millefiori, made in France probably during the 1870s. (Not signed) Beauti...

A rare set of Daniel Defoe's works published in 1878 by George Bell & son's in London. George Bell & Sons was a reputable publisher in the 19th century, known for producing ...

Pierre-Jules Mène - Bronze hunting dog France Bronze around 1870 Dimensions: H × W × D: 21 × 30 × 13 cm Description: Antique bronze sculpture of a short-haired hunting dog carryin...

Traditional Japanese Tansu chest of drawers from the 1870s. Manufactured during the late Meiji era (1868-1912). This piece of furniture exudes authenticity and character. The cabinet...

Lovely botanical print Chromo-lithograph Original color Published, circa 1870 Unframed. Chipped top left corner Free shipping

These elegant 19th-century French Louis XV style armchairs (fauteuils) represent a classic marriage of Rococo grace and timeless craftsmanship. While currently presenting an authenti...

Théodore Deck (1823-1891) A 19th French Japonisme Cache-Pot, circa 1875 A Polychrome Enameled Faience Round-Shaped Cachepot and Jardinière Hand-painted design in the Japonisme Aesthe...

Fabulous and freshly painted mid victorian cast iron garden bench Strong and stable as the day it was made with a cross x stretcher between the 4 legs Ornate with precise castings of...

Circa 1870s English Gothic Revival writing slope desk box. A letter box is flanked by the original brass collared & hinged inkwells in brass surrounds (the hinges now a bit loose fro...

Figurehead in carved oak depicting a female figure whose body has the shape of a siren, symbol of fertility and protection, with female features in the upper part and fish tail inste...

This is a beautiful oil on canvas painting of the view of the The Grand Canal in Venice by the renowned British artist Alfred Pollentine (1836-1890) and signed lower right and verso, 'A Pollentine, circa 1870 in date. This beautiful landscape captures a striking view of the Grand Canal, it features a busy canal scene with gondoliers in the foreground, in the distance the facades of Santa Maria della Salute complete the painting. Housed in it's original and beautiful gilt gallery frame. Several examples of his work have sold at top auction...

This masterful object is a flower jardiniere from the Napoleon III era, crafted in France in the 1870s using special, valuable materials. The basic shape is curved and flowing, and ...

This is a beautiful antique gilded ormolu serpentine shaped jewellery casket, Circa 1870 in date. The top, front, sides and back are beautifully cast and tooled in gilt bronze. The ...

French Majolica Leaves Pitcher Sarreguemines, circa 1870

This is a very early stone ware glazed piggy bank from New England. This is a handmade piggy bank in very good condition.

A stylish Napoleon III cigar cabinet, crafted with ebonized wood, brass inlays, and a distinctive medallion at the top, this late 1800s piece reflects the refined style of the Napole...

This is an antique Gothic revival sewing case. A Scottish, walnut and brass work box, dating to the Victorian period, circa 1870. Delightful Gothic overtones from the revered Scottish revival period Displays a desirable aged patina and in good original order Select walnut stocks present fine grain interest Warm caramel and biscuit hues dance across the fine casework Lid adorned with superb brass quarterfoil plate and four corner mounts Later silver plated shield engraved with a monogram and the year 1887 Fascia hosts a shaped lock escutcheon with inset working lock — key present Striking silk cotton interior lining finished in a rich scarlet hue The interior catches the eye with a buttoned finish, hosting cobalt blue sequins Trio of pouches to the lower section for hosting glass bottles or several cotton reels This is a superb antique sewing case...

A refined French crucifix from the late 19th century. The cross is crafted from beautifully polished wood, veneered in faux tortoiseshell, creating a warm and elegant effect. Mounted...

19th century Italian Dante armchair. Beautiful walnut Savonarola armchair with ornately carved decoration throughout. This stately x-base legged chair has rich velvet upholstery, golden fringe and tasseled seats. It is as functional as it is comfortable. Making a fine statement in any area of your home, the walnut folding chair...

A superb pair of antique etched glass globe decanters, circa 1870 in date. The fine glass has been beautifully etched with a fine leaf pattern. This lovely pair can serve decorativ...

France, 1870 Massive worn oak console table with turned legs and lower surface. 101”L x 28”d x 34”h Ref. TABLE1516 $ 16,000

An Antique English Regency style dining room table with a rectangular top. The table is made of mahogany veneer, the top has a nice warm look and feel. Rests on a pedestal base with ...

Scottish Primrose and Alpine Thyme hand coloured botanical print 1874 This beautifully hand coloured botanical print from 1874 features two alpine flowering plants, Primula scotica ...

A Scottish 19th century Victorian pencil veined Carrara marble fireplace surround. A classic Scottish design in a prominent well figured marble. A squ...

In the style of A W N Pugin probably made by Gillows. A large cavernous good quality Gothic Revival oak and burr oak bookcase. The upper section with subtle carved floral details and...

Antique Country French Desk or Dining Room Table from the 1800's. We acquired our Antique Desk from a noted Interior Designer so we unfortunately do not know much of the Antique Fren...