Antiques in Oxford

From Victorian patents to ladies’ legs corkscrews are very varied. An ‘unusual Victorian corkscrew’, estimated to fetch around £400–£600, sold for an eye-watering £40,000 to an anonymous buyer. It was – and remains – the most expensive corkscrew sold at auction, ever. This was a rare ratchet mechanism Charles Osborne- patented corkscrew made using iron and wood that was in the foundation of the Old London Bridge for 656 years. Collectors get excited about ratchet corkscrews a

From souvenirs and gifts to inherited treasures and class indicators, antique napkin rings are highly sought after. In his book, Mad Toffs, The British Upper Classes At Their Best And Worst, one of the Dukes of Devonshire… was one day buying silver at Asprey, when he noticed some circular silver rings. He turned to his steward and enquired of him what they were. “Those, your Grace, are napkin rings.” “A napkin ring?” “Your Grace, when the middle classes breakfast, they take

High-class restaurants are rediscovering marrow – not the garden vegetable, but the sticky, gooey insides of meat bones. Marrow scoops are constructed similarly to cheese scoops, but are longer and narrower, so you can dig deep into the bone. Some of the loveliest and most desirable examples, costing upwards of £1,500, are from an elite Scottish gentleman’s dining club of the 1830s – they called themselves ‘The Marrow Bone Club’.’

Celery is less than £1 in the supermarket, but it used to be a luxury food that only the very rich could afford. Just like pineapples in the decades previously, it was laborious and expensive to produce, so in the mid 19th century fashionable hosts displayed celery in vases at the centre of the table. Celery vases look a lot like any other vase, but you can spot one because they’re usually glass (better for showing-off purposes), flared at the top, and with a separate footed

With their draughty windows, high ceilings and huge rooms, the houses of even the Victorian elite were cold. It wasn’t only difficult to heat the dining room, food also needed to be kept warm while being transported from the kitchen. Heated plates were essential. The considerate host also ensured their serving spoons were a suitable temperature – partly to prevent fatty sauces from congealing, partly because adhering to even the fussiest rules of etiquette was a sign of socia

After dinner in the Victorian era, a whole wheel of Stilton, weighing several pounds, and eight or more inches high, would be brought to the table. It might be mounted on a special cheese coaster called a truckle – a curved wooden board, sometimes with wheels so it could trundle between guests. Rather than slicing off a piece, guests scooped out a mound to enjoy with their port and crackers. It turned a simple task into a fun activity – everyone digging into the cheese togeth

We know our ancestors enjoyed a variety of condiments. Georgian condiment stands had multiple cut-glass bottles and lidded silver containers for the different sauces, oils and seasonings that were served at the table. But we come across a lot of little mustard pots at auction. In the past, mustard was retailed as a powder, which had to be mixed into a paste in the kitchen. It was then transferred into a dainty silver pot to be served at the table. ‘But why so many mustard po

Serving celery from a vase or mustard from a silver pot was once the epitome of sophistication. Every respectable household once had a dining room. ‘Now they’ve often been turned into offices or playrooms. Meals are eaten in the kitchen, or balanced on laps in front of the TV, The retreat from formal dining has brought with it the demise of accoutrements such as sauceboats, fish knives and napkin rings that once elevated eating into an event. Apart from its annual outing on C

Moving to a new home or downsizing to a smaller space can feel overwhelming especially when you've accumulated a lifetime of cherished belongings. We can help you to navigate this transition with expert guidance, fair offers, and professional appraisals. Whether you're clearing out a family estate, relocating, or simply looking to simplify, we understand that every piece in your home has a story. Some items may hold sentimental value, while others could be worth far more than

Christian Dior opened his fashion house in Paris in 1945 after working alongside Pierre Balmain for Lucian Lelong’s fashion house. His “ New Look “designs quickly elevated his status to that of world-class couturier. Dior began licensing jewellery in 1948 to accent his popular clothing collections. He was known for showing the same styles of jewellery with sweaters for afternoon wear and, for instance, more formal frocks for evening attire. Ready-to-wear lines of jewellery ha

Stephen Webster MBE is a renowned British jewellery designer celebrated for his bold, edgy creations that push the boundaries of conventional jewellery design. Born in Gravesend, Kent, Webster’s journey to becoming one of the most respected names in luxury jewellery began with his education at the Medway College of Design. Under the guidance of Tony Shepherd, the Prime Warden of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths, Webster honed his skills and set the foundation for a career

Stephen Webster MBE is a renowned British jewellery designer celebrated for his bold, edgy creations that push the boundaries of conventional jewellery design. Born in Gravesend, Kent, Webster’s journey to becoming one of the most respected names in luxury jewellery began with his education at the Medway College of Design. Under the guidance of Tony Shepherd, the Prime Warden of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths, Webster honed his skills and set the foundation for a career

Founding Years (1946 - 1957) Christian Dior was a big believer in jewellery being an integral part of a complete outfit. With the “New Look” collection in 1947, Dior has been credited with redefining women’s fashion in the post-war period. He considered the entire outfit within his couture collections and jewellery was an important component. Starting in the late 1940s, Dior started to design jewellery to go along with his couture collections. Jewellery to go with the ready-t

Murrle Bennett & Co. is a wholesale jewellery company which opened in London as Siegele & Bennett in 1884 by Ernst Mürrle and J.B. Bennett. The firm was renamed Murrle Bennett & Co. in 1891 and advertised as 'manufacturers and importers of British and Foreign jewellery also at 39 Bleich-Strasse, Pforzheim'. In 1916 the firm was purchased, and the business continued at the same address under the name White, Redgrove & Whyte. The company is widely known for their production of

What is Uranium Glass? Simply put, uranium glass is glass that has had uranium added to it. The effects of this create colourful glass that, when put under an ultraviolet light, turns fluorescent. Controversially, uranium is the same chemical element that is used in nuclear bombs and power stations. However, there is no need for concern as uranium glass contains considerably less uranium, in fact, only about 2% is used and it is perfectly safe to handle if done so safely and

Rene Lalique (1860 – 1945) was a renowned French designer, best known for his innovative glasswork and jewellery. Starting as a jewellery apprentice at the age of 16, he studied under the renowned Louis Aucoc. Aucoc was a leading Art Nouveau jeweller and goldsmith. As a freelance designer, Lalique worked with several high-profile names, such as Cartier and Boucheron. In 1887, Lalique opened his first jewellery shop on Rue du Quatre-Septembre in Paris. His intricate, creative

Georg Jensen (1866–1935) was a Danish silversmith and designer renowned for founding the prestigious company that still carries his name....

The late 19th century was a dynamic and exciting time in the western European art world. Boundaries in artistic hierarchies were pushed...

The first colour that everyone thinks of when you say garnet is the intense red-to-purplish colour, typical of almandine and pyrope...

Jewellery has long been a medium for artistic expression, personal adornment, and cultural symbolism. Animal Jewellery representations...