Furniture in London

This is a fantastic antique French horse head silver topped walking stick, with .925 silver import mark, late 19th century in date. The striking stick features an ornate silver croo...

This is an impressive antique George III flame mahogany breakfront secretaire wardrobe, circa 1780 in date.   The wardrobe has strong architectural lines and features an elegant moul...

Elegant mid-century style ceiling suspended mirror with a high quality handcrafted bronze patina full frame inspired by the celebrated work of Italian designer Gio Ponti. Designed an...

Elegant mid-century style ceiling suspended mirror with a high quality handcrafted solid brass full frame inspired by the celebrated work of Italian designer Gio Ponti. The detailing...

A beautiful pair of tall table lamps blown Murano clear glass with gold inclusions, hand worked Romboidal lines on the glass surface two spheres with a central oval part.

A superb antique French Art Nouveau silver handled walking stick, Circa 1880 in date. It features astunning  silver crook handle embossed with floral garlands with a decorative inse...

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...

The Uhura III pendant is designed by Andrew in the Mid-Century modern style and made exclusively for Andrew Kornat Designs by an historic Spanish Lighting manufacturer with over 100 ...

This is a beautiful antique sterling silver bird's head handle ladie's walking cane bearing silver hallmarks for London 1914. The silver handle features a crook handle modelled as a...

A superb heavy tribal bracelet from the Horn of Africa, attributed to the Ethiopian, Somali, or Nubian regions. Crafted from high-grade silver, this substantial piece is richly decor...

A very smart wall mounted iron and sand cast Saint Gobain glass console table. The glass is sand cast and dates from the 1930’s ( minor chip to one corner) the black iron painted bra...

Elegant mid century style mirror with a minimalist bronze patina brass frame. Made in London, UK. This mirror is fully customisable. A very elegant, minimalist mirror that exudes ti...

A lovely example of a small French 1950’s Jacques Biny articulating wall light. Some paint loss on the shade and minor de t to the back of the light where the shade moves on the bras...

A Fine Japanese Satsuma Vase with Bijin, Peacock, and Chrysanthemums. Attributed to Kinkozan Workshop, Kyoto, Meiji period (late 19th century) Of pear-shaped form with a flared f...

Solid English Ash 'Sawtooth' dining chair with a radical and robust signature design by James Torble. As dining chairs are typically viewed from behind - these have a magnificent sawtooth relief cut into the back of them. The chair features precisely hand-cut visible construction joints and a smooth curved concave back rest. A substantial handcrafted chair that is built to last. Also available in white oak and black walnut. International shipping quotes upon request. Please contact us for any further information. James designs and makes furniture that is fun to live with, while being sensitive to the demands of natural timber. He takes design inspiration from a wide range of sources, from English pub...

This monumental early George IV antique library writing table is crafted from beautiful Gonçalo Alves  and dates from Circa 1820. The rectangular top features a moulded edge with th...

Large Antique Indonesian Kris Dagger – Ethnographic collectible weapons A striking and authentic large antique Indonesian Kris (keris) dagger, dating to the early 20th century. This traditional Southeast Asian weapon features a dramatic curved zigzag (luk) blade, expertly forged and finely detailed, symbolizing power and spiritual energy. The blade is paired with a carved Horn hilt and shaped wooden sheath, showcasing classic Indonesian...

Vintage MATL Matilde Poulat Gemstone Inlaid Silver Cross – Taxco Mexico, 1950s A stunning and collectible vintage silver cross pendant by renowned Mexican silversmith Matilde Poulat...

Let your room bloom with ARTEMIS, our wildly beautiful floral print. In muted neutrals against a plaster pink backdrop, our Jacobean-inspired wildflowers unfurl amongst climbing vine...

Modern Orbis Vorso™ wall attached round mirror with a rotating feature and a bronze patina brass finish frame. Designed and made in London, UK. The two arms are designed to fix the ...

This is a gorgeous pair of antique Mahogany Pharmacy Display Cabinets, dating from Circa 1860. Each cabinet bears gilt lettering:  The Guildhall Pharmacy, 3 St Giles Street, Norwic...

There is no mistaking the style and sophisticated design of this exquisite rare English antique Victorian pollard oak extending dining table, circa 1860 in date. The styles that dev...

This is a fine antique pair of Italian Grand Tour solid bronze busts of Dionysus  and Ariadne, circa 1860 in date. The pair feature black patinated finely cast busts which are mount...

This is a fantastic English set of eight antique  William IV barback dining chairs, circa 1830 in date. The set comprising six side chairs and a pair of armchairs with drop in seats...

Brighten up your space with this unique handmade ceramic lamp, featuring a vibrant yellow glaze and playful 24k gold lustre wiggles. Its eye-catching design will be sure to add a war...

Brighten up your space with this charming table lamp, featuring a playful dotted texture and a satin glaze that catches the light beautifully. With its unique handcrafted design, thi...

Luna chair designed by Odd Knutsen, Norway. A tremendously comfortable leather Nordic lounge chair in lovely condition. Dismantled for easier and safer shipping. Straightforward ass...

A hand carved pine framed mirror of organic form.

Playful yet modern, this handcrafted ceramic lamp pairs a two-tone green checkered base with a frosted globe bulb for a cozy glow. Its glossy finish and organic design make it the pe...

This is a beautiful pair of  flame mahogany chests with slides, in elegant Georgian style and dating from the second half of the 20th Century. The chests are masterfully crafted fro...

A Fine Japanese Satsuma Vase Signed Ryuzan, Meiji Period Of baluster form, the shoulder and neck adorned with a finely modeled dragon in high relief, The surface is decorated in v...

An Italian 1960s Cristal Arte oval mirror with pastel mint green mirrored frame. The mirror can be hung landscape or portrait and is in good overall condition.

This is a wonderful antique French Grand Tour gilt bronze model of the Vendôme Column, circa 1880 in date.   This splendid bronze features Napoleon I standing atop in his 'redingote'...

A exquisite Satsuma vase signed by Ryokuzan. Meiji Era. Of a slender ovoid shape featuring intricate hand-painted designs and delicate gilded accents. The vase is adorned with...

Vintage series Four. Set of to mid-century style ceiling suspended mirrors with front illumination and a high quality brass full frame with a bronze patina finish inspired by the ce...

Vintage series Four. Mid-century style ceiling suspended mirrors with front illumination and a high quality brass full frame with a bronze patina finish inspired by the celebrated wo...

This is  fabulous  dining set comprising an antique George III style triple pedestal dining table Circa 1920 in date, and a superb Vintage set of eighteen bar back dining chairs, mid 20th Century in date The rounded cornered table...

This is a superb dining set comprising a superb Vintage Regency Revival dining table  with twelve Regency Revival dining chairs all dating from the second half of the 20th Century. ...

A stunning deep emerald green limited edition glass vase decorated with naked dancing bacchantes in various poses and pairings. This fabulous example is enhanced with burnished areas...

Beautifully hand-turned and handcrafted English ash rippled side table in a modernist design. This is a fine quality bespoke piece - handmade by our master-craftsman in solid English...

This is a fabulous large antique George III style triple pedestal dining table dating from the early 20th Century. The rounded cornered table top ...

Mid century style frameless wall mirror with an elegant bevel inspired by the celebrated work of Italian designer Gio Ponti. Handcrafted in London, UK. This mirror is fully customisa...

This is a beautiful antique English gentleman's hardwood sword stick with a carved bone pommel and a sterling silver mount, with hallmarks for Birmingham 1896 and makers marks for th...

A very pretty and elegant French Louis XV style gilt wooden console. Great quality minor scuffs to the gilding. Wall mounted.

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...

An impressive early 20th Century French Art Deco clear and frosted glass vase, with a landscape of blue stained branches and raised figures of green stained grasshoppers. The vase wi...

A Fabulous Pair of Black Lacquer Wall Sconces by Renowned Maker Christopher Guy These wall Sconces are the opera Model and Retail at 8500 USD Shades not included Condition as New Ba...

Native American Antique Large Micmac model Birch Bark canoe Woodlands C 1850 A superb Large Micmac Model Birch bark canoe with floral quill work decoration. Native American Woodla...

Long graduated Navajo stamped silver bead Necklace 30 inch circa 1960s. .

An attractive early 20th Century French Art Deco blue glass vase, with decorative raised pattern with blue staining. Exhibiting excellent colour and very fine hand finished surface d...

Pair of  early 1960s table lamps. Italian design by Tommaso Barbi for Barovier and Toso Murano Italy. Hand blown worked ribbed sky blue glass with brass metal lamp holder. Lamp bas...

Vintage Indian large Gold plated Silver beaded necklace Large wax filled gold plated silver beads on woven cord Darjeeling India 20th century High grade silver with gold plate on...

An Art Deco walnut and velum secretaire cabinet France, Circa 1940

Hand-crafted pair of European oak floating night stand with black walnut accents and exposed through jointing details. Each with one drawer and a shelf below. Handmade in England. Cu...

Extensive service of 19th century 81 piece Copeland Spode tablewares, with patterned borders and red-lined rims, with impressed marks for Copeland Spode. Consisting of : 22 x Dinner...

This base boasts a rich dark green glaze, contrasted by a playful, gold wiggly pattern that wraps around it, adding a touch of elegance and whimsy. The combination of the soft, trans...

A floor-to-ceiling shelving unit, with space for both display and storage. Italy, second half 20th century. Designer unknown. The set is made of wooden block-board, finished in waln...

Modern freeform organic shaped mirror with a minimalist bronze patina brass frame. Designed and handcrafted in London. imensions: H 115.6cm x W 86cm x D 2.4cm / H 45.5in x W 33.9in ...

Blue Turtle Brutalist made of rock crystal cut glass on wrought Metal structure completely hand crafted Italian 21 century Art Design. Signed by Artist * Wired to work to work world...

A striking early 20th Century Art Deco French glass vase decorated with raised thistles, highlighted with sepia stinging exhibiting fine colour and excellent detail, signed R Lalique...