The Truth About Coffee

Something customers often ask for are "antique coffee tables" and although we now have a dedicated section on our website for them, there is technically no such thing! Tables sold as antique coffee tables are generally tables reduced in height to be used as coffee tables or oriental low tables, which have the appearance of a modern coffee table.

In Europe, the first tables specifically designed as and called coffee tables, appear to have been made in Britain during the late Victorian era, although the coffee table didn't really become a prominent furnishing until the late 19th century and the earliest examples are most commonly an oriental low table style, such as the one below.

Coffee tables are so popular now that we've written this post to give some interior design inspiration to the humble coffee table!

The first, and our personal favourite furnishing to use as a practical and stylish coffee table are chests or trunks. These are not only excellent for providing extra storage, they look great and make very sturdy and stylish coffee tables. Take the trunk below for example, this is an early 19th century leather bound camphor trunk. Both well built and a perfect height (41cm), this trunk would give personality to a modern house or add to the overall style of an older house.

For an even more unusual and quirky choice, the drum below would really be a coffee table with history and a story behind it. Something as simple as a this Scottish Rifles bass drum with a glass top can create a beautiful feature for a room and inject standalone character without needing other antique furniture around it to make it work. (This drum has had a lot of European interest since it's arrival last month so get in contact quickly if you're interested before it leaves Britain for good!)

Our final idea and the most popular over the past few years is a butlers tray and stand, reduced in height to provide an ideal coffee table. These classic traditional trays with the modern convenience of a height reduction are both popular and practical. Butlers used to serve drinks standing and so originally these antique trays would have been around waist high, and although we occasionally stock full height items, by far the most popular use is as a coffee table.

Oak Butlers Tray Coffee Table (Circa 1850)

Our insight draws to a close, although our website never closes so take a look through our current stock for further inspiration or pop into our Newcastle shop to see every item in person. We are often asked to look for an item similar to an item a customer may have seen that is now sold, so do get in touch to make particular requests. 0044(0)191 281 5065 / info@grahamsmithantiques.com

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What is Tunbridge Ware?

We have lots of Tunbridge ware items new in stock this month and thought that perhaps a few snippets of information may be in order!

Tunbridge ware is a form of decoratively inlaid woodwork, which is characteristic the spa town of Tunbridge Wells in Kent in the 18th and 19th centuries. The decoration typically consists of an inlaid mosaic of many small pieces of different coloured woods that are arranged to form a pictorial scene or decorative pattern. This skillful decoration's popularity is thought to originate from the tourism industry and the success of the Tunbridge area as a Spa town, where visitors sought souvenirs to take home with them and this woodwork technique became a fashionable to be used on a variety of memento's. Castles and notable British landmarks were depicted, such as Eridge Castle, Windsor Castle and Shakespeare's birthplace.

This Tunbridge Ware box depicts Battle Abbey in East Sussex and originates from the 19th century

The Tunbridge Wells museum displays an unrivalled collection of Tunbridge Ware and is certainly worth a visit for further information and to see the finest examples of this skillful antique wood ware. 

Tunbridge Ware Museum Website

To have your very own piece of British history, take a look at the Tunbridge ware we have new in stock for January 2011. The boxes we have are especially lovely for Valentines gifts, although don't take our word for it, have a look yourself... Graham Smith Antiques Tunbridge Ware

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VAT & Auctions vs. Shops

The recent VAT increase has been a topic of much debate and the change is applied differently across industries, the antiques trade included!

Firstly, a quick clarification that the prices at Graham Smith Antiques have not risen as a result of the VAT rise and we have no plans to change any prices going forward either!

Most Antique shops with established stocks before the VAT increase will not have gone around and increased their prices to cover the extra VAT they now have to pay on each sale.

This makes 2011 a very good time to get along to your local Antiques shop rather than trying to buy at auction where the only person losing money is you, as you struggle to guess how much items are worth, if they're genuine and, most recently, feel the full impact of the VAT rise!

Because you have to pay a commission plus VAT at auction, the prices have instantly gone up when selling and buying.  You can pay as much as 25% commission at some of the finer auctions and with VAT this makes it a huge 30% on top of the hammer price (the price the auctioneer says as he bangs his gavel). From the other side, if you are selling items at auction and are charged approximately 15% sales commission this now has 20% added on instead of the old 17.5%

The increasing costs at auction houses should be making every antiques buyer look to established antiques dealers who are registered members of national organisations such as LAPADA, BADA or CINOA. (For the record Graham Smith antiques has been a registered member of both LAPADA & CINOA for ten years!)

Antique shops are often a great place to sell antique items you want rid of and the great thing is that they don’t charge you - you get every penny of the agreed price! Take a look at the table of costs below to see the difference between buying at auction and buying in antiques shops.

	Auction Houses in General	Graham Smith Antiques
Cost of selling items?	Approximately 15% (+20% VAT)	£0
Cost of buying items?	Hammer price + Approximately 25% (+20% VAT)	Fixed Ticket Price
Is Delivery Included?	Not Usually (Add at least £60 on for this service)	In the UK yes, locally always and nationally for most items
Is Restoration included?	No, items sold as seen	Yes, items are sold ready to use
How do I know the item is the age you have said it is?	You don’t, buyer beware	We are regulated by both LAPADA & CINOA to ensure we represent items accurately (as well as having 40 years experience!)
Do you guarantee clocks and barometers will keep working once I’ve bought them?	No	Yes, we offer a free one year guarantee on all clocks and barometers
Do items cost more now that VAT is 20%?	Yes	No

Boys Toys!

First of all, Happy New Year and best wishes for 2011!
 

Antique games and toys are something that we always have in stock, but items considered 'boys toys' are without doubt the most popular! Billiards tables, croquet sets and bagatelle tables are especially popular with men and are a good choice for an interesting and 'one off' antique that can be used and admired at the same time.

There's an Edwardian Oak Snooker or Billiard scoreboard in stock at the moment that is quite interesting. It is made by Burroughes and Watts, who are one of the oldest, most prestigious and best known names in billiards, snooker and now pool. Originally founded in London in 1835, they have a long history as a leading manufacturer of billiards tables, cues and accessories. 

This scoreboard is in full working condition, with the makers name displayed clearly along the top edge. For someone with a snooker room or an interest in the history of the game, this is the perfect grown up 'boys toy'!

Post by Graham Smith Antiques, Newcastle upon Tyne, England

 www.grahamsmithantiques.com