Archive for May, 2014
Did Napoleon get up your nose? No surprise!
Pardon the pun, but I couldn’t resist when coming across this snuff box on the Antiques Roadshow.
A snuff box in the shape of Napoleon’s hat – now I’ve seen it all! Though not quite up there with Napoleon’s head in a jerry, it’s still a very quirky item. Made of horn in ca. 1812, this commemorative snuff box was made with Napoleon’s doomed Russisa campaign in mind. Prophetic that he looks so sulky, despite his grande armée in the background). The inscription says “Napoléon à Moscou” (Napoleon in Moscow – oh, the dangers of overhasty marketing!) And at a value of £ 300 – £ 400 pounds, it’s not to be sneezed at.
The Georgian Children Thrones
Antiques Roadshow goes Games of Thrones…
This is where the well-heeled Georgian family would have placed their little prince or princess for supper – it’s a miniature late Regency/Georgian dining chair! Made of Mahogany in ca. 1830, this children chair allowed for catapulting porridge and cooked liver all over the dining room from a prominent position. It will therefore not come as a big surprise for you if you learn that it is still used within the family.
Special detail: the seat (still the original upholstery) is made of woven horsehair!
With a value of £800 – £1’000, this migh be just the perfect gift for the next baby shower…
Now, some parents are known for putting their children on pedestals. Some Georgian parents, however, put them on thrones!
This useful piece was made of oak and elm and dates back to the late 18th/early 19th century. If you’d want to go potty with it, you’d have to fork out between £800 and £1200.
Indeed, worthy of a prince! (No, not for you, George. You already got a bilby.)
