Tag: antique furniture

Built to Last: The Extraordinary Craftsmanship and Engineering Inside a Victorian Mahogany Table

~ july1966

by Chris Harris I bought the most amazing round, huge, beautiful, high-quality Victorian mahogany dining table on Thursday at Ford Airfield Market. To be honest, I only bought it because it was an absolute bargain, and I try not to buy such large pieces of furniture these days. It had started to rain, so I … Continue reading Built to Last: The Extraordinary Craftsmanship and Engineering Inside a Victorian Mahogany Table

Interesting Vintage Finds: The History of, and the Built in Compactum

~ july1966

by Chris Harris Compactums were a defining feature of late Victorian and Edwardian bedrooms, but they’re now largely forgotten — and for understandable reasons. Originally, a compactum was an amalgamation of essential bedroom furniture into one enormous piece. Typically, you’d have two single wardrobes flanking a central section that functioned as a linen press, complete … Continue reading Interesting Vintage Finds: The History of, and the Built in Compactum

Rosewood: The Banned Victorian Luxury Wood and the Moral Conundrum

~ july1966

by Chris Harris Rosewood is a beautiful grained wood, it is outstanding in appearance and quality. Even when it’s old and knackered on an old piece of furniture, it still has that deep, oily richness that makes other woods look a bit humdrum. I’d say it’s the timber equivalent of a perfectly worn leather jacket: … Continue reading Rosewood: The Banned Victorian Luxury Wood and the Moral Conundrum

Why So Many Old Mirrors Look Like They’ve Lost Their Other Half (Because They Have)

~ july1966

For Keys I bought two beautiful 19th Century mirrors this morning at Ford Market near Arundel, you can see them, still dusty in the images. Over the last couple of centuries, the vintage furniture trade has ended up with a small army of orphaned mirrors. Wander around any antiques fair or flea market and you’ll … Continue reading Why So Many Old Mirrors Look Like They’ve Lost Their Other Half (Because They Have)