Decorative Items

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All our stock is old, original, in excellent order and ready for use. We carry no modern or reproductions. We welcome your telephone calls +44 (0)1488 682317 or by email to hofgartner@belowstairs.co.uk for further information on any of the catalogue items or your other requirements or if you have any difficulties ordering through our system.

Online Catalogue > Decorative Items


	Copper Ale Muller AM6 Original, quality late 19th century coppersmith made ale muller of the "Donkey's Ear" design. These mullers were used to warm up ale in the hot coals of the fire. This example has a rolled over seam and top rim, good tinning to the inside and most of all, the maker's name to the shaped side handle "E.J. Walden Banbury". Polished and lacquered, although the lacquer may be removed at no extra cost and complete and in good order. 10.25". 7" wide including handle. 4" top diam. Click on photo for larger and other views. Price: £85.00


	Onyx Cigarette Box CB14 Original, quality 1960's rectangular solid onyx table box for cigarettes. This super example has the original hallmarked silver gilt piano type hinge. The hinge is clearly hallmarked and with "Betjamanns Patent" and "Made in England". Complete and in good and working order with not a blemish in sight. 6 5/8" x 4" x 2". Click on photo for larger and other views. Price: £95.00


	Tin Cash Box CB5 Original, quality, late 19th century, small tin cash box in the form of a miniature tin travelling trunk. The original scrumbled bright orange / tan coloured paintwork has been retained to the outside, although a faded on the top. The interior is in Japanned black and originally had a lift out tray fitted. The brass mortice lock is stamped "Patent Lever" inside and out and "London", a replacement key has been cut to suit. The cast brass carry handle to the top is rather decorative, but also does the job well. A most unusual cash box, complete and in good and working order, with just the lift out tray missing. The brass has been polished and lacquered. 9" x 6". 3.75" tall with handle down. Click on photo for larger and other views. Price: £78.00


	Horseshoe Shaped Cheese Dish CD12 Original, quality 1920's, large horseshoe shaped ceramic cheese dish with cover. This example appears unused for there are no fat stains and all is in mint condition with just a short faint hairline crack to the top back panel of the lid. A plain off white colour with bands of decoration in relief and gold lining. Complete and in good order. Base 11" x 9.5". Total 5" tall. Click on photo for larger and other views. Price: £34.00


	Aesthetic Movement Chamberpot CP90 Original, quality late 19th century cream coloured chamberpot with a multicoloured decoration in the aesthetic movement design. The underside is impressed 'Ivory' for the design and embossed with an unclear registration lozenge mark. Sadly there is a chip (see picture) to the top rim, but otherwise all is complete and in good and working order. 5.25" tall x 8.5" top rim. 10.5" widest including handle. Click on photo for larger and other views. Price: £45.00


	Arts & Crafts Chamberpot CP88 Original, quality 1920's ceramic chamberpot in a serious Arts & Crafts Orange / Red glazing finish with a side handle and a pale colour to the inside. A great looker. Complete and in good order. 6.25" tall x 8" diam exterior top rim. 10.25" wide including handle. Click on photo for larger and other views. Price: £56.00


	Copper Coaster / Pin Tray DP28 Original, quality 1920's star shaped copper pin tray or drinks coaster with a very decorative shaped outer. Polished and lacquered, although the lacquer may be removed at no extra cost and complete and in good order. 4.75" x 1" tall. Click on photo for larger and other view. Price: £34.00


	Sheffield Plated Bon Bon Basket DP20 Original, quality early to mid 19th century pierced copper bon-bon basket with remains of the original Sheffield plating to the inside. This example has a swing over pierced handle and an oval shaped foot. Polished and lacquered, although he lacquer may be removed at no extra cost. Some minor dents, but otherwise complete and in good order. 6.75" with handle up. 5.5" x 4.25". Foot 3.75" x 2.5". Click on photo for larger and other views. Price: £65.00


	9 Piece Ceramic Dressing Table Set DTS1 Original, quality 1920's / 30's nine piece plus four lids, matching decorated ceramic dressing table set. All with an orange and white stork on a blue background. This set is continental but made for the English market and is complete and in good order with no chips or cracks in sight and comprises, a pair of candlesticks, a tray, a ring stand, a hair tidy, a hat pin stand and three various sized lidded containers. Tray 16" x 7.5" x 1". Candlesticks 6" tall x 3.5" diam. Ring stand 5" tall x 3.75" diam. Price is for the set. Click on photo for larger and other views. Price: £68.00


	Cut Glass Flower Stand FP6 Original, quality, circular, dome shaped large moulded glass, flower stand in cut brown clear glass, with marble type veins. This stand was for setting a display of cut flowers and is a larger than normally found size. It is also most unusual to find these in coloured glass. The underside is embossed "Made in England", "10" and with a patent number for the year 1931. Some minor damage to the inner veins, but otherwise complete and in good order. 6.5" tall x 10" widest. Click on photo for larger and other views. Price: £85.00


	Glove Stretchers GS4 Pair of original, quality 1920's, unused, superb wooden glove stretchers of a good size, with a steel spring and made from, we think limewood? All in the original finish and complete and in good and working order. 11.75" x 1.75" x 1.25". Click on photo for larger and other views. Price: £56.00


	Brass and Glass Inkstand IW43 Original, quality, late 19th century, very decorative cast brass inkstand, with a screw on cut glass inkwell to the centre. The stand is of a clover leaf shape, with embossed decoration of leaves, stems and mythical beast heads and an acanthus leaf trim to the outer rim, all standing on three ball feet. The inkwell has a brass collar and hinge to the cut glass lid and apart from a few minor chips to the inside of the cap, all is complete and in good and working order. The underside has a maker's mark of "AFC" and all has been polished and lacquered, although the lacquer may be removed at no extra cost. A most unusual example. 8.5" widest x 4.75" tall including inkwell. Click on photo for larger and other views. Price: £68.00


	Copper Jardiniere J61 Original, quality late 19th century copper jardiniere with an embossed decoration to the main body. Minor dents overall and some good repairs to the base. Polished and lacquered, although the lacquer may be removed at no extra cost and now complete and in good and working order. 9" tall. 11.25" widest. 8.75" internal aperture. Base 4.75" diam. Click photo for larger and other views. Price: £125.00


	Brass Jardinière / Ice Bucket J49 Original, quality late 19th century all brass jardinière with three cast brass legs, two side ring handles and embossed ribbing to the body. The underside is impressed with the logo for the manufacturer "Henry Loveridge of Wolverhampton". This would also make a perfect champagne bucket. Polished and lacquered, although the lacquer may be removed at no extra cost and complete and in good and working order. 12.25" tall. Top 14" diam. Widest including ring handles 15.5". Click on photo for larger and other views. Price: £285.00


	Messmer Ltd Micrometer M232 Original, quality 1950's ? benchtop micrometer in a heavy cast iron stand in the original War Dept green. This very clean example has a circular clear glass covered dial, calibrated and detailed for the manufacturer "H.E. Messmer Ltd London". The painted finish has been washed and lacquered and the brass bezel polished and lacquered, although the lacquer may be removed at no extra cost and all is complete, in good order and appears to be in working order. Dial 6 1/8". 13" tall. 9" wide. 4.5" front to back. Click on photo for larger and other views. Price: £285.00


	Brass Magazine Rack MR34 Original, quality late 19th century magazine rack with tubular brass supports mounted on the original mahogany base with four brass bun feet. The brass has been polished and lacquered, although the lacquer may be removed at no extra cost and all is complete and in good and working order. 14" tall. Base 14" x 6". Click on photo for larger and other views. Price: £156.00


	Brass and Copper Revolving Magazine Rack MR26 Original, quality late 19th century brass and copper floor standing, revolving magazine rack. Stamped to the underside "W.Townsend and Co" for the manufacturer. This super example has a three panelled rack with hammered copper panels to the outsides and the central panel doubling up as the carry grip. The rack has a rectangular shaped oak base, and all is "swivel" mounted on three curved legs, which have replacement brass ball feet fitted. The brass and copper has been polished and lacquered, although the lacquer may be removed at no extra cost and all is complete and in good and working order. 30.5" tall. Oak base 14" x 6.25". 17" diam spread of legs. Click on photo for larger and other view. Price: £235.00


	Pair of Brass Snakes NH9 Original, quality pair of 1920's / 30's cast brass "Rearing Cobras" probably of Indian origin and great lookers. The backs and front are engraved with detail and punch decorated to simulate the snakeskin. These are the first we have seen and have now been polished and lacquered, although the lacquer may be removed at no extra cost and are complete and in good order. 9.5" tall x 8" front to back 4.5" widest. Click on photo for larger and other views. Price: £230.00


	Brass Armorial Salver P62 Original, quality 1920's, circular pressed brass alms dish with an embossed armorial shield within the dished centre. This shield has a galleon on the waves, a castle keep and the outer edge of the plate has a pie crust edge. Polished and lacquered, although the lacquer may be removed at no extra cost. Complete and in good order. 12" diameter x 1" front to back. Click on photo for larger and other view. Price: £65.00


	Arts and Crafts Brass Rat Plate P60 Original, quality 1920's, small circular brass tray / plate with a wide and wavy rim and a central embossed detail of a rat curled up. This plate was originally nickel plated but most has worn away and there is no sign of a maker's name or logo, although this item certainly deserves one. Polished and lacquered, complete and in good order. 6.25" diameter x 0.5" front to back. Click on photo for larger and other view. Price: £34.00


	2 Piece Copper Presentation Flower Holder P33 Original, quality post-war circular water container and stem holder for a floral display made all of copper with a lift out perforated cover and mounted on four feet in the form of mythical fish. The front is mounted with an oak leaf shaped plaque engraved "Presented to Mrs Peile on the occasion of the passing out parade and prize giving H.M.S. Fisgard 15th April 1958". All has been polished and lacquered, although the lacquer may be removed at no extra cost and is complete and in good and working order. 5.5" tall. 8.5" widest. ( need pictures ) Click on photo for larger and other views. Price: £230.00


	Set 3 Glass Piano Stands PC6 Set of three, original, quality, late 19th century, moulded clear glass stands for piano, to lift up the playing height of a grand piano. These plain, but clean examples show a mould seam to the sides, have a depression to the tops and ground undersides. Some minor chips to the undersides, otherwise complete and in good order. 4" widest. 1.75" tall. Price is for the set. Click on photo for larger and other view. Price: £45.00


	Pair of Brass Picture Rod Mounting Hooks PH26 Pair of original, quality, late 19th century, cast brass wall mounted hooks to take a picture rail. These heavy quality hooks have circular backplates, each with three countersunk screw holes for mounting. All has been polished and lacquered and are complete and in good and working order. Backplate 2.5" diameter x 2.25" front to back. Click on photo for larger and other view. Price: £65.00


	Brass Picture Rail Hooks, large quantity available PH5 Large quantity of similar original quality brass picture hooks, circa 1900/1920's, for hanging pictures etc. from a wooden picture rail fixed on the walls around a room. All of a plain design and of a similar size and have been polished and lacquered. Complete and in good and working order. 1.25" wide x 2" drop. Price is for each. Click on photo for larger view. Price: £3.50


	Plumbers Lead Dressing Tool PT2 Original, quality 1920's, huge plumber's lead dressing dolly in lignum vitae. These were used by plumbers to dress roofing leadwork and drainpipes etc. Lignum Vitae is heavy and hard and one of the few woods that with not float. This example is the largest we have seen and has a super detailed grain, showing two extreme colour variances. The side is impressed with the trade mark of two columns and "Monument Brand". A very unusual item in great condition. 14.75" x 4" diameter. Click on photo for larger and other views. Price: £156.00


	Glass Newal Post Finial NP4 Original, quality late 19th century spherical shaped glass Newal Post Finial, probably continental. This super example has circular facets and a star design to the top all cut through the cranberry glass overlay to show clear glass. The brass foot is the original, although the base mounting plate with four holes for fixing is a replacement made to suit. The brass has been polished and lacquered, although the lacquer may be removed at no extra cost. There are a few minor chips to the glass and considerable scratching, otherwise all is complete and in good order. An unusual item to find today. 6.5" total height. Glass sphere 4.5" diam. Brass foot 2.22" diam Click on photo for larger and other views. Price: £365.00


	Wrights Patent Brass Reading Stand RS7 Original, quality late 19th century all brass folding and adjustable patent book reading stand / lectern. This superb example has a cast brass stand in the original matt and gilt finish, highly detailed with acanthus leaves and berries and with a decorated tubular stem incorporating the ratchet catch, height adjustment. The book frame will tilt and lock at a variety of angles, will lock into position with a wing nut and will rotate with ease. This book frame with supports at the base for the book and page retaining turning signals, has extending side frames and is well documented in embossed letters "By Her Majesty's Royal Letters Patent" with the Royal Coat of Arms above and "Wrights Newspaper Stand, 58 & 58A London Wall, London". All is complete, in full working order and has been polished and lacquered, although the lacquer may be removed at no extra cost. This is the first we have seen. Folded down 12.25" tall. 15" tall when up. Folded in 6.5" wide. 11" when out. Base 5" diam. Click on photo for larger and other views. Price: £585.00


	Queen Victoria Brass Book Stand RS6 Original, quality late 19th century cast brass folding and adjustable book reading stand. This superb example has a fretwork front plate depicting a bust of Queen Victoria, swirls of acanthus leaves and Tudor Rose motifs. This was probably manufactured to commemorate one of Queen Victoria's Jubilees in 1887 or 1897. This stand has a shaped ledge to the lower front to rest an open book and a ratchet adjustable system to tilt the open book, mounted on a ball foot to each corner. Has been polished and lacquered, although the lacquer may be removed at no extra cost and is complete and in good and working order. Faceplate 9.75" x 8.25" tall. Max height when stood for use 8.75". Folded flat 1.5" tall. 2.25" at front ledge x 8.5" x 10". Click on photo for larger and other views. Price: £450.00


	Ceramic Scotch Whisky Barrel SB10 Original, quality circa 1900 white ceramic bar top whisky barrel with gilded decoration and detailed "S. Whisky" for Scotch Whisky. We have regilded the words "S. Whisky" for much of the gilt decoration is missing as is the tap and lid, but otherwise all is complete and in good and working order. The underside is detailed for the maker "Thos Hughes & Co Wrexham". See the last picture for a front view before we regilded "S. Whisky". 12.5" tall x 12" x 8.5" front to back. Click on photo for larger and other views. Price: £115.00


	Ceramic Spirit Cloves Barrel SB9 Original, quality late 19th century ceramic bar top spirit barrel in green with gilded bands and detail, provision to the lower front for a tap and an open aperture to the top for filling. This super example is detailed "Seven Stars Hotel" and "Cloves". Some very minor glazing chips, minor hairline cracks to the top. The dust cover / lid and tap are missing, otherwise complete and in good order. 13.25" tall x 13" x 9.5" front to back. Click on photo for larger and other views. Price: £125.00


	Pair of Trench Art Shell Cases SC174 Pair of original, quality, trench art decorated brass shell cases, probably from the 2nd World War. These examples are each mounted on three steel ball feet and have flared out and crimped top rims. The underside are stamped "ATE98", "75De.C" and "18C" and others. In good order. 9.5" tall. 3.25" base diameter. Top 3.75" diameter. Click on photo for larger and other views. Price: £100.00


	Brass Shoe Horn SH24 Original, quality 1920's brass shoehorn, punch decorated with floral designs. Polished and lacquered, although the lacquer may be removed at no extra cost and complete and in good and working order. 8" x 2" x 1". Click on photo for larger and other views. Price: £45.00


	Rabone Spirit Level SL72 Original, quality, late 19th century, heavy mahogany spirit level with a sheet brass top and underside. This superb example has a decorative fretted out window to the top with a clear bubble beneath and is impressed "Warranted Correct" and "John Rabone and Son Maker Birmingham". All has been polished and lacquered, although the lacquer may be removed at no extra cost. Complete and in good and working order. 10" x 1.25" x 1.1/8". Click on photo for larger and other view. Price: £95.00


	Hosers Ebony Spirit Level SL66 Original, quality, late 19th century, ebony spirit level with brass plates top and bottom, each fixed with eight countersunk steel screws. The top plate has a fretted window to view the clear bubble and is engraved for the manufacturer "Hosers Limited London" and "Warranted Correct". One side of the ebony body is impressed in large letters "GLCC" could this be for The Gas Light and Coke Company ? The brass has been polished and lacquered, although the lacquer may be removed at no extra cost. Complete and in good and working order. 9" x 1" x 1". Click on photo for larger and other views. Price: £95.00


	Ebony Spirit Level SL61 Original, quality, late 19th century, ebony spirit level with a brass top plate and two end plates to the underside and both a vertical level and a horizontal one. The top brass plate is engraved "Warranted Correct" and "E Preston and Sons, Birmingham, England" for the maker. The top brass plate has a decorative cut viewing panel to see the horizontal clear bubble and six steel screws. The brass has been polished and lacquered, although the lacquer may be removed at no extra cost. Complete and in good and working order. 12" x 1.75" tall x 1.25" wide. Click on photo for larger and other view. Price: £125.00


	White Ceramic Slops Pail SP20 Original, quality late 19th century large white ceramic slops pail, missing the lid but otherwise in good order. This example has a bellied body, two side handles and gilt lining to the handles and edges of the pail. All in good order with no chips or blemishes. 12" tall x 11.5" widest. 7" diam aperture. Click on photo for larger and other views. Price: £65.00


	Double Bubble Soda Syphon SS65 Original, quality late 19th century, huge glass "double bubble" soda syphon, with a wire mesh protective cover to the outside. The top pewter mounts are complete, but with no makers names or marks and all is complete and in good order but not suitable for use. 19.5" tall x 7.5" widest diam. Click on photo for larger and other view. Price: £300.00


	Brass Visiting Card Tray T152 Original, quality circa 1900, small pressed brass tray with decorative side handles and pin punch decorated with floral designs surrounding "Welcome" to the centre. This card was manufactured for use in the hallway for 'Visiting Cards'. Polished and lacquered, although the lacquer may be removed at no extra cost and complete and in good order. 9" x 5" x 0.5". Click on photo for larger and other views. Price: £65.00


	Art Nouveau Brass Pin Tray T77 Original, quality, small, circular brass tray with an upturned edge, four shaped cut outs and an engraved design of a maiden with prickly pear cacti, all in an Art Nouveau style. Probably circa 1900/1920's. Polished, lacquered and complete and in good order. 5.25" x 0.5". Click on photo for larger and other views. Price: £38.00


	Treen Bowl by Scott Myles, Leuchars, Fife T38 Original, quality post-war turned mahogany fruit or salad bowl with the original paper label to the underside detailing "Handmade by Scott Myles Leuchars Fife" and "Made in Scotland". This super bowl is inset with twenty-five Scottish 5p pieces around the outer rim and one 10p coin to the centre. Some rubs and minor scratches otherwise complete and in good order. 11.75" diam x 2.5" tall. Click on photo for larger and other views. Price: £115.00


	Large Brass Wine Vat Tap T11 Original, quality late 19th century huge brass tap probably continental and probably from a wine vat or similar. Polished and lacquered, although the lacquer may be removed at no extra cost and complete and in good order, but we have not tested it for working, no apparent reason not to be working. 10.5" x 2.25". 5.25" tall. Click on photo for larger and other views. Price: £165.00


	The Avecta Trouser Press T4 Pair of original quality wooden, folding, patent trouser pressers and straighteners, circa 1900, with shaped, plated on steel, decorative hinges. Impressed marks to both 'The Avecta Trouser Presser & Straightener. Patent Applied For'. The two pieces are linked together with a strong cord and the wood could well be lime? Complete and in good order. Each folded: 15" x 2.5" x 0.75". Click on photo for larger and other views. Price: £36.00


	Copper Samovar TU17 Original, quality early 19th century, fancy copper samovar/tea urn. The cast pink brass side handles are decorated with Acanthus leaf designs, the cast brass tap has a bone finial grip and the lid has a flower shaped finial/grip mounted above the vented area. The urn shaped body is mounted on a slender neck onto a shaped plinth with ribbed corner mounts and four bun feet. The rim on the plinth and the top rim have bands of pink cast brass as has the central body section. The heating bar and assembly to the inside is missing, but all is complete and in good and working order otherwise and has been polished and lacquered, although the lacquer may be removed at no extra cost. A super samovar in super condition. 16" tall. 13" front to back including handle tap. 14.5" wide including. 7" square base at feet. Click on photo for larger and other views. Price: £350.00


	Pair of Eccliastical Vases V19 Original, quality pair of heavy cast brass vases as supplied to churches and other religious orders. Polished and lacquered, although the lacquer may be removed at no extra cost. Super quality and complete and in good order. 9" tall. 3.75" widest. 3.5" base diam. Click on photo for larger and other views. Price: £115.00


	Royal Doulton Vase V16 Original, quality late 19th century Royal Doulton Vase with a background colour of Royal Blue and decorated with gilding and floral detail. The underside is impressed for "Royal Doulton", "7101" and "England". Perfect and complete. 13.75" tall x 6.5" widest. Plinth 4.5" diam. Top 5.5" diam. Click on photo for larger and other views. Price: £115.00


	Wippell and Co Brass Alter Vase V15 Original, quality late 19th century heavy grade cast brass alter vase of a bulbous form. The underside has the standard red paint finish often seen to the underside of church decorative metalwork and detailed for the maker "J. Wippell & Co Ltd England Exeter & London". Polished and lacquered, although the lacquer may be removed at no extra cost and complete and in good order. 7" tall. 3.5" widest. Base 3" diam. Click on photo for larger and other view. Price: £45.00


	Large Gold Witches Ball WB8 Original, quality late 19th century large sized spherical shaped gold coloured, glass witches ball. These were originally used to mirror the light around a room in the days when candle, oil or firelight was the only source of light other than naturally through the windows. These objects later acquired their superstitious properties of scaring away evil spirits and witches if you are superstitious. Originally these were free blown and silvered to the inside with an early mercury silvering and a small brass disc and ring were fitted for these to be suspended with. These were made in a huge range of sizes and colours but are not easy to find these old original ones today. All is complete and in good and working order. 11" diam. Body plus top ring 0.75". Click on photo for larger and other views. Price: £300.00


	Circular Brass Wall Plate WP5 Original, quality pre-war superb circular brass wall plate with embossed detail to the outer raised border and a galleon with billowing Sails to the centre. The outer edge has a rolled-over rim and the reverse has an unpolished colour and a ring for wall hanging. Polished and lacquered, although the lacquer may be removed at no extra cost and in unbelievable condition and complete. 14.5" diam. 1.5" front to back. Click on photo for larger and other view. Price: £78.00


	Circular Brass Wall Plate WP4 Original, quality pre-war superb circular brass wall plate with embossed detail to the outer raised border and a Scottish thistle with leaves to the centre. The outer edge has a rolled over rim and the reverse has an unpolished colour and a ring for wall hanging. Polished and lacquered, although the lacquer may be removed at no extra cost and in unbelievable condition and complete. 14.5" diam. 1.5" front to back. Click on photo for larger and other view. Price: £78.00

Online Catalogue > Decorative Items