An outstanding and rare late 17th Century Oak and Elm primitive Windsor armchair – Wales. The slanted upright plank back slotted through the single plank bowed arm on four bobbin turned supports joined to the elm saddle seat raised by four tapered out swept legs. Dated 1697 with the initials later gouged out and showing signs of very old repairs including shaped iron braces applied by hand made nails.
Note: This chair is worthy of a museum and will probably never leave my personal collection. I have had the chair photographed in complete detail to display on my website and to be included in a future publication.
Sat in our dining room corner, appearing like a sculpture for many years, now sits in my apartment bedroom ✨
Paying attention to the overall beauty of the rare pieces I’ve sold is one of my more enjoyable pastimes. Finding that unseen knot to the grain of one of the solid oak rear planks, or to the inside of a square tapered leg of a farmhouse table (upcoming post),
Or the small section of sap-wood on the oak dresser base, riddled with long gone borer holes, always to me a great find. These little unseen touches to a piece really excite me.
I do find it a little sad that probably nobody else has ever noticed and missed out on immense pleasure I get from discovering these unique touches.
Yet another wonderful thing of dealing in country furniture, that unlike “town” pieces, a lot more perfect and certainly no place for a huge knot or a fallen knot making the timber imperfect and therefore unusable, so would be cut up to be used as corner blocks. With country or provincial pieces, these imperfections were overlooked, usually as good timber’s were scarce and they used whatever they had.
I’m sort of writing ahead for the upcoming story, but this also relates to this piece.
The 1940s Paris newspapers stuck to the backboards, ads yet another interesting touch to this rare 18th Century French Oak Buffet Deux Corps, of Small Proportions
This is French with strong English Hepplewhite influences. ref to my website, Furniture, French, Buffets.
Such an interesting piece.
Included on my Retirement SALE,
$16,500 reduced to $8,250
The two plank moulded top, above brass handled, two short and one long drawer, with a slight ogee-shaped skirt, resting on stylish cabriole legs, terminating on a round pad-foot.
H.70cm W.81cm D.50cm
C.1880
18th century English cream wear Thomas Whieldon-type tortoiseshell.
Purchased this table in Chester,
UK over 15 years ago, finally re-glued and wax finished.
UK1899
The plain well faded medullary ray grained four plank tilt top above a bold turned column, resting on elegant out swept legs.
Circa 1790
H. 69cm Dia. 79cm
$4,400 reduced to $2,200
Retirement SALE for one final year, all stock reduced from 50 – 60%
I can’t take it with me!
19th century English stoneware jugs and 19th century green majolica plate.
Contemporary brass copy of a classic horse head sculpture on cylindrical stand.
I saw an interesting story on researching the age of timber yesterday on Logan and Angelina’s @ourdollarhouse. Made me think of a few pieces I’ve sold and still have. This is a short story on the age of some rare pieces.
Being a semi retired antique and art dealer, specialising in furniture from that 16th – 20th century, I’ve had many pieces between 500 – 300 years old. Coming to mind,
One outstanding early 16th century Flemish oak credence table from 1520.
A small first half 17th century English oak livery cupboard 1600 – 1640
(both sold to the same Western District family)
an early to mid 17th century English oak refectory table 1600 – 1650, the thick removable cleated top, one single plank! Also graffitied T.A.S. 19/7/13, could’ve been scratched 1713 or 1813, I’d say 1713, due to the soft worn edges.
Truly amazing having this history in my hands. Actually, I recently bought that table back after selling to a friend 25 years ago!
I also sell art from 14th – 20th centuries. I have several large unused pages from a book of hand coloured copper engravings from 1686, actually by Hendrick Draakestein, how’s that for history. So the oak tree used for that 1520 credence table would have been at least 150 years old, so planted at least 1380. The wide plank of ok on the refectory table planted at least 1500.
Looks like we share a deep passion for history and timbers.
I also mentioned the 17th century paper I have from a book of botanical art by Hendrick Draakestein 1686, wonderful to have.
Finding an original pair is near impossible, so locating a near match is also rare.
I’ll only sell these together.
Reduced to $4,500 pair.
A rare George III Cuban mahogany folding tea table.
The exquisite grained single plank rectangular moulded top, lifting to become a two plank square tea/card table top.
The unusual centered hinged rear legs opening to join with the sides.
The beautifully moulded front legs give a sense of style to a very classic straight lined table.
The narrow cock beaded drawer to the plain skirt, retaining the original brass swan-neck handle.
C.1770
H.72cm W.86cm D.42cm
Opened 84x86cm
Last quarter 18th century English tea/card table.
The single plank well faded hinged folding top, opening to a tea serving or card playing top.
Having a figured mahogany frieze with narrow card holding drawer, retaining the original brass swan-neck handle.
Resting on square tapered ogee-moulded legs. One hinged rear leg, supports top when in use.
Note: rarely are the opened tops as well faded as the closed. Indicates was very well used and loved.
C.1780
H.72cm W.90cm D.44.5cm, opened 89cm square.
The moulded top rail,
with carved scrolled ears, above a vase-shaped center splat, flanked by serpentine shaped side supports.
The upholstered drop in seat, resting within narrow thumb moulded, book-matched rails, resting on well carved scrolled cabriole legs, with a round pad-foot.
Comprising of two armchairs and four dining, side chairs.
The shaped moulded top rail, having one classic Chippendale ears, flowing through to the fret carved centre splat, with tapered side supports, an upholstered drop in seat, above an ogee shaped rail, resting on stylish moulded legs, joined by an ‘H’ stretcher.
The wide four plank book-matched figured cherry wood top, above a serpentine shaped moulded skirt, resting on long stylish cabriole legs.
Arrived to storeroom today. Needs a little touching out of minor damages and a good overall wax.
20th Century
H.76 W.335 D.113cm
14 seater. 6 well sized chairs to each side.
About as deep as I’d go on a dining table. Any larger and you’re too far away from each other.
The beautifully patinated thick single plank cleated top, Above a plain moulded frieze, resting on baluster-turned legs, joined by the original worn side stretchers. Fantastic overall patina, with the initials T.A.S 19/7/13 to one end. Which century 1713, 1813 or 1913. Fascinating when you sit and think about this. 1660 – 1700 All stock reduced by 50% $28,500 reduced to $14,250 H.77cm W.212cm D.81cm Note, the Carters Price Guide featuring this table and other pieces will be given when sold. A re-purchase I sold over 20 years ago. Even though retiring soon, it’s impossible to not buy these magnificent pieces back. A few snaps of my showroom last year, while Russell Winnell’s photographing the Caravaggio, so threw this together first. This important 17th century English oak refectory table. My photos don’t suffice! Sold this to a close friend 2002 and bought back recently, along with a few other pieces, several already sold. 17th century art hanging from 1606, 1609, 1613, 1686, 2024 Both mirrors 19th century. Text or call Jamie 0415555998 for information.
I acquired this rare Australian table years ago, 2004, about the time a grilled cheese sandwich in the US, resembling Jesus sold for $28,000.
I thought what the?
I saw an Aboriginal elder inside a piece of Australian cedar!
I had Russell Winnell photograph the table in great detail and featured at a Sydney antique fair. I returned to Melbourne and forgot about until now.
Take a close look and tell me what you think?
A unique 19th Century Australian cedar and blackwood tilt top breakfast or dining table.
The well patinated circular tilt top above a turned support and lower turned finial resting on carved cabriole legs with claw feet and the original brass and porcelain castors.
H: 2’ 5” – 73 cm
C: 3’ 12” – 120 cm
Note: The underside of the top revealing a section of knotted grain giving the impression of the side facial profile of an Aboriginal male elder.
The well patinated four plank cleated top, above a plain skirt, resting on square tapered legs.
Very good overall fade.
Note: the top has a great depth
H.77cm
W.2m
D.87cm
Included in my retirement sale. Reduced by 50%
$11,500 reduced to $5,750
Couldn’t make a decent copy for that price!
A rare set of six 1920s revival dining chairs.
These chairs are around 100 years old. The 20s was a huge revival period.
They have Queen Anne rear shaped splats and shaped top rails 1705.
George I and George II cavletto style moulds 1714 – 1740
all blending so well.
