Something to get you 'hooked' for Christmas!

With the the first snow of winter falling north of the border, it feels like Christmas is well and truly on it's way!  We can feel the unusually mild November air changing to its more familiar chill - definitely time to be thinking of getting out those thick winter coats and warm boots. But where to put them?  At Graham Smith Antiques we have have a collection of individual hallway stands to store all the family's winter hats, coats and scarves - something to get you hooked on Christmas! 

First of all there is this distinctive, late Victorian hallway stand (above) with enough hooks for the extended family and friends as well. Complete with a section to store snowy shoes and dripping umbrellas, this stand is guaranteed to be a Christmas helper!  

The oak hallway stand, shown below, is an alternative to the previous stand. More traditional in design and very practical. This item (circa 1880) even comes with a mirror for a last minute check before to make sure your scarf is on tight and snug before dashing out the door to get to that Christmas party!  

We are currently improving our company website to make the antiques in our collection even more accessible and to a wider audience. In the meantime we are providing links to new stock items via our Twitter and Facebook pages. Alternatively you can ring us on 01912 815 065 for further assistance and information on current and new stock.

George IV Gothic Bookcase

Continuing with last week's writing theme, this gothic style bookcase (circa 1830), shown in the photograph below, is an unusual and elegantly personal piece. Made from oak with ebony turned handles, the bookcase is decorated with Gothic styled layers, carved pillars and cornice work.

This type of bookcase is also known as a ‘secretair’ because it has a discreet desk space, neatly folded away behind the top drawer. A close-up view of the interior, pictured below, shows an eminently practical workspace protected with leather, lock and key. This typically clever use of space means you can use it at your leisure without cluttering up your home. The ever- practical bookcase separates into two halves making it easier to transport.

We are currently improving our company website to make the antiques in our collection even more accessible and to a wider audience. In the meantime we are providing links to new stock items via our Twitter and Facebook pages. Alternatively you can ring us on 01912 815 065 for further assistance and information on current and new stock.

Writing Boxes

For some of us, writing letters is a deeply personal and thoughtful way to keep in touch with loved ones. Everyone is heartened when they receive a crisp, hand written envelope with their name on the front.


For those who still prefer to hand-write the occasional letter or document, Graham Smith Antiques has carefully chosen a few writing boxes - the perfect gift. Shown in the photograph below is a Georgian, mahogany writing box with a style of classic simplicity. All of the writing boxes included in this blog have storage compartments concealed inside for inkwells, pens and writing surfaces.

If you prefer a more decorative piece then the Indian Vizagpatam writing slope is a lovely choice. Named after a major seaport on the southeast coast of India, this example is made from veneered sandalwood with an ivory border, inside and out, which is beautifully engraved with a floral pattern. It has a working lock and key (which are hard to find) so you can trust your personal writings are kept safe.

More decorative still is our Regency writing box, pictured below, with its’ unique illustrations. The majority of the box is made from amboyna, a rare exotic wood noted for its swirling patterns in the grain. Circa 1810, this writing box also has a working lock and key.

Portable, contained and secure, writing boxes were the laptops of the antique world. Today they can be the guardians of our most treasured form of communication, the hand crafted personal letter.

We are currently improving our company website to make the antiques in our collection even more accessible and to a wider audience. In the meantime we are providing links to new stock items via our Twitter and Facebook pages. Alternatively you can ring us on 01912 815 065 for further assistance and information on current and new stock.

Paul Frenzeny Screen

A lovely and highly decorative way to divide space in your home is by using a stand-alone screen. At Graham Smith Antiques we have a rare treat of a screen for any one looking to transform their home in this way. The panels are illustrated by a nowadays little known French painter, Paul Frenzeny (1840 - 1902).  

Frenzeny travelled to North America in the 1860's to serve under Marshall Bazaine, a commander of the French army in Mexico, and famous for the surrender of the last organised French army to the Prussians in the Franco-Prussian war (1870).

Frenzeny was commissioned by Harper's Weekly to produce artistic observations of his travels across America during 1860's.  Frenzeny’s growing success as a painter provided him with opportunities for an adventurous life whilst dedicating his time to painting and illustrating commissions. 

Very little else is known about the painter after he left America. He ceased painting for publications, so we can only observe and interpret his adventures through his paintings done whilst on the roads of America during the late 19th Century and through work such as can be found on this screen.

The fluent detail and expression displayed through Frenzeny's brush strokes, shown in the photograph below, is a delight for the eye and ample evidence of his painting skills. His delicate use of colour and light suggest an admiration for his subjects.  This screen is both beautiful and an insight into the life of a French 19th Century painter, who without paintings surviving in screens such as these, would have been forgotten through time. 

We are currently improving our company website to make the antiques in our collection even more accessible and to a wider audience. In the meantime we are providing links to new stock items via our Twitter and Facebook pages. Alternatively you can ring us on 01912 815 065 for further assistance and information on current and new stock.