Winding it out for Christmas

One of the last things you are probably thinking about is preparing your dining table for the big day, but here's some advice to help avoid the added stress of struggling with an antique dining table on Christmas day that hasn't changed size for 12 months!

 If you have an extending or wind out antique table, firstly find the leaves or leaf to expand the table's surface (these should be stored away wrapped in felt or a similar soft cloth to avoid scratches or discolouration).

Your winding key should look similar to this one

If you can get help, two people are much better than one for this job. Find the winding key and have a person standing at each end of the table ready to very slightly lift the table when you begin winding to take the pressure off the castors (wheels on the bottom of the legs) winding mechanism and table legs. Gently wind out the table and keep winding until you feel you have opened up enough space to fit the number of leaves you wish to use plus a little bit of extra space.

With your trusted assistant take each end of a leaf and lay it in place so that the dowels that keep the leaf in place are pushed into one end. Continue this process with the leaves you have and then you can start to close up the table with care.

As you wind the table closed, stop about 2cm before the gap is closed and get your assistant to guide the dowels into the location holes as you gentle wind. With old tables this is a delicate process to prevent the dowels damaging the edge of the table or leaf.

WARNING
As the table closes take care not to nip your fingers or over tighten the dining table (it should be closed just enough to keep the leaves firmly together).

If the table is an earlier model and just pulls open and pushes closed do be even more careful not to damage yourself or the table. Also, if you have a pull out table you'll need to remove the brass table clips at each joint before attempting to pull it open and then secure the leaves in place with the clips once the table is extended.

At the end of the Festive period when the table leaves are taken out just reverse the process and again be careful as you close the table together to line all the dowels up with their location holes .

May your Christmas be Merry & the New Year prosperous!

Best Wishes,

Graham Smith Antiques

The Last Minute Shoppers Guide to Antiques

Christmas is now upon us, with only a week of shopping time remaining, although many of us (mostly men let’s be honest!) still have the task of finding those thoughtful and unique presents to make Christmas go with a bang rather than a dull pop.

Thankfully, the last minute shopper’s guide to antiques is here to save the day and help you find the right gift for the right person at the all important right price!

Firstly, let’s attend to the discerning lady. Beautifully crafted and interesting antique jewellery boxes make wonderful gifts for women as they are both useful and impressive looking (as well as being very easy to wrap - ideal for when you're in a hurry!)

Fine quality 'Garrard & co' (formerly Asprey & Garrard) jewellery / dressing box £1,850

This box is a great example of an impressive gift for the discerning lady. Thankfully, we have a good selection of jewellery boxes varying in price from £300 - £2000 so you will be able to choose the perfect box at the right price.

A second excellent option for ladies are dressing mirrors, these are always a good choice as every woman uses a mirror, so you can guarantee she'll use it every day! Again, we have a good selection varying in price from £180 - £800 with a variety of styles.

This Georgian Sheraton design Dressing Mirror has three useful drawers & original mirror glass too. £595 

The man who has everything is the next challenge, although the options are so numerous that you need worry no longer!

Interesting antique scientific instruments are very popular choices for men as they fit into the 'boy’s toys' category whilst being much more sophisticated than a modern gadget. Items such as barometers, microscopes, compasses & apothecary cabinets are all intriguing instruments. Barographs are so popular we've sold out already, but our selection of other scientific instruments should still enable you to find that perfect gift!

Edwardian Compound Monocular Microscope on a Mahogany platform base. £595

Another possibility for the man who has everything is a writing box or box desk as they are often known. The laptops of their day, they often have secret compartments - need I say more?! We have a good selection of antique writing boxes so you shouldn't have too much trouble selecting the perfect present, prices range between £400 and £1000.

Georgian Mahogany Box Desk with Secret Compartments £975

Finally, gifts for people whose tastes you are not particularly familiar with (random relatives etc!) If taking a bottle of wine is not quite enough, then why not accompany it with an antique wine glass to give them a comprehensive present that shows thought as well as being exceptionally pleasant to drink from. We have an excellent selection of single wine glasses, as well as sets and pairs so this idea should be relevant for a variety of situations! Also, the history, age and weight of the glass is an excellent talking point. Prices of single glasses range from £15 - £400

18th Century Georgian Wine Glass £120

That brings us to the end of the last minute shoppers guide to antiques, although if you're still stuck for ideas, try the gifts section of our website, which is packed full of interesting and unique Christmas gifts

Antique Gift Ideas 

May your Christmas be merry and your gifts be adored

How to Corner Like a Pro!

Hanging a heavy antique corner cabinet is not the most simple of tasks, struggling with the weight of solid wood and the added component of height does nothing for the nerves (not to mention the blood pressure!)

A exceptional example of an 18th century George III mahogany corner cupboard

The sight of holes drilled into the back of antique corner cabinets fills antique dealers with dread and apart from being the least elegant way to prop up a piece of fine furniture, drilling holes into cabinets is also the fastest way to reduce the value of the antique!

However, you need worry no longer, with this pro antique dealers guide of how to properly hang a corner cabinet (or corner cupboard).

Step one

Walk away from your corner cabinet (obviously ensure it is in a safe and secure place before taking this decisive action!)

Step Two

Take three lengths of wood, a hammer and the nails you were about to plunge into the back of your 200 year old antique cabinet! With these items, construct an 'A' frame to fit the corner you are preparing to hang the cabinet accross. See below image for the shape that you should be achieving.

Once you have successfully constructed your wooden 'A' frame (which doesn't need to look as attractive as the one above as it will not be seen!) take the drill you were about to massacre the cabinet with and use it instead, to drill four holes. Two holes on one side of the A and two holes in the other, which should be large enough for the screws you will be using to slot through.

Step Three

Take your newly constructed 'A' frame to the corner where you wish to hang your cabinet and make small pencil marks on the wall at the height you intend the bottom of the cabinet to sit at (normally around 1metre high). Drill holes into the wall at the four marked points and insert rawl plugs (wall plugs) into the four holes to allow the screws to be inserted.

At this point you can begin securing the 'A' frame to the wall, using the screws through the holes in the frame and into the wall. Ensure that the 'A' frame is straight and securely fastened to the wall. If you have a small child, try testing it's weight bearing ability with that (No, no don't really do that!)

Step Four

Return to your abandoned cabinet and acquire two small picture plates (similar to the one shown below). Affix these onto the top edge at the back of the corner cabinet on either side. Use small screws to attach these to the cabinet.

Step Five

With the help of a friend / willing volunteer, lift the cabinet up onto the A frame, one person should get up on a ladder and make two pencil marks through the holes of the picture plates. After this lift the cabinet back down again and use the drill to insert two rawl plugs (wall plugs) where the marks are.

Finally lift the cabinet back onto the 'A' frame and then screw a screw through each picture plate into the wall. These do not bear any weight, they simply keep the back of the cabinet flush to the wall.

The End


Thank you for reading this weeks blog post, if you are interested in antiques, why not follow our blog or leave a comment about the post?

Graham Smith Antiques is located in Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne, England. If you would like to see how a properly hung corner cabinet looks, then feel free to pop in and take a look at ours!

An Interesting Find

Unusual Antique Stationery cabinet

The topic of this post is an unusual antique stationery cabinet, which has just arrived this week.

This antique box is very unusual in its construction and the woods used are an interesting combination.

I have never seen a box made in this way, with simulated slats to make it look like a trunk. Some of the slats are carved from a single panel of wood with others applied. The main construction wood looks to be mahogany, although it's difficult to tell. The box is made from very high quality wood and is in very good condition.

  

The interior has been veneered in olive wood with its very distinct grain, the inkwell and divisions are also made from of solid olive wood. The front of the box lifts and folds back to allow the two sets of trays to lever side ways. The interior has its original blue velvet covered blotting paper folder, which also holds some of the original antique writing implements, ruler, paper knife and pen. 

The picture above shows how the interior trays open out on levers to reveal the compartments in the base of the box. This design is seldom seen in stationary cabinets and gives the box a wide imposing profile when open.

The front panel hangs over the intorior when open, showing an engraved picture of a hunt giving chase to a fox. The contrast of innovative construction alongside traditional engraved scenes make this box quite unusual for the late 19th to early 20th century.

The box has three of these finely engraved panels, the one mounted on the top of the lid shows a horse racing scene and the panel to the back has three hounds chasing the fox over a stream. The three panels have had the engraving highlighted with silver and gold which is a little rubbed. 

The cabinet when closed locks at the base of the front and has two carrying handles that have a slatted detail to match the “Trunk” effect. This cabinet is £1,150 and is available to view at the shop in Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne, England or online at www.grahamsmithantiques.com