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CHATS ON HOUSEHOLD CURIOS

BOOKS FOR COLLECTORS

_With Frontispieces and many Illustrations
Large Crown 8vo, cloth._

CHATS ON ENGLISH CHINA.
    By Arthur Hayden.

CHATS ON OLD FURNITURE
    By Arthur Hayden.

CHATS ON OLD PRINTS.
    By Arthur Hayden.

CHATS ON COSTUME.
    By G. Woolliscroft Rhead.

CHATS ON OLD LACE AND NEEDLEWORK.
    By E. L. Lowes.

CHATS ON ORIENTAL CHINA.
    By J. F. Blacker.

CHATS ON OLD MINIATURES.
    By J. J. Foster, F.S.A.

CHATS ON ENGLISH EARTHENWARE.
    By Arthur Hayden.

CHATS ON AUTOGRAPHS.
    By A. M. Broadley.

CHATS ON PEWTER.
    By H. J. L. J. Masse, M.A.

CHATS ON POSTAGE STAMPS.
    By Fred. J. Melville.

CHATS ON OLD JEWELLERY AND TRINKETS.
    By MacIver Percival.

CHATS ON COTTAGE AND FARMHOUSE FURNITURE.
    By Arthur Hayden.

CHATS ON OLD COINS.
    By Fred. W. Burgess.

CHATS ON OLD COPPER AND BRASS.
    By Fred. W. Burgess.

CHATS ON HOUSEHOLD CURIOS.
    By Fred. W. Burgess.


_In Preparation._

CHATS ON BARGAINS.
    By Charles E. Jerningham.

CHATS ON JAPANESE PRINTS.
    By Arthur Davison Ficke.

CHATS ON OLD CLOCKS AND WATCHES.
    By Arthur Hayden.

CHATS ON OLD SILVER.
    By Arthur Hayden.

LONDON: T. FISHER UNWIN.
NEW YORK: F. A. STOKES COMPANY.

       *       *       *       *       *

[Illustration: FIG. 1.--OLD FIREPLACE, SHOWING SUSSEX BACK, ANDIRONS,
AND TRIVET.

Frontispiece.]

       *       *       *       *       *




CHATS ON
HOUSEHOLD CURIOS

BY

FRED. W. BURGESS

AUTHOR OF "CHATS ON OLD COINS," "CHATS ON OLD
COPPER AND BRASS," ETC.

WITH 94 ILLUSTRATIONS

LONDON

T. FISHER UNWIN
ADELPHI TERRACE


_First published in 1914_

(_All rights reserved_)




PREFACE


There is a peculiar charm about the relics found in an old home--a home
from which many generations of fledglings have flown. As each milestone
in family history is passed some once common object of use or ornament
is dropped by the way. Such interesting mementoes of past generations
accumulate, and in course of time the older ones become curios.

It is to create greater interest in these old-world odds and ends--some
of trifling value to an outsider, others of great intrinsic worth--that
this book has been written. The love of possession is to some possessors
the chief delight; to others knowledge of the original purposes and uses
of the objects acquired affords still greater pleasure. My intention has
been rather to assist the latter class of collectors than to facilitate
the mere assemblage of additional stores of curiosities. It is truly
astonishing how rapidly the common uses of even household furnishings
and culinary utensils are forgotten when they are superseded by others
of more modern type.

The modern art of to-day and the revival of the much older furniture of
the past have driven out the household gods of intermediate dates, and
it is in that period intervening between the two extremes that most of
the household curios reviewed in this work are found. Although many of
the finest examples of household curios are now in museums, private
collectors often possess exceptional specimens, and sometimes own the
most representative groups of those things upon which they have
specialized.

The examples in this book have been drawn from various sources. As in
"Chats on Old Copper and Brass" (which may almost be regarded as a
companion work), the illustrations are taken from photographs of typical
museum curios and objects in private collections, or have been specially
sketched by my daughter, who has had access to many interesting
collections, to the owners of which I am indebted for the illustrations
I am able to make use of.

My thanks are due to the Directors of the British Museum, who have
allowed their printers, the University Press, Oxford, to supply electros
of some exceptional objects now in the Museum; also to the Director of
the Victoria and Albert Museum, at South Kensington; and the Director
of the London Museum, now located at Stafford House.

Dr. Hoyle, the Director of the National Museum of Wales, at Cardiff, has
most kindly had specially prepared for this work quite a number of
photographs of very uncommon household curios. The Curator of the Hull
Museum has loaned blocks, and photographs have been sent by Messrs. Egan
and Co., Ltd., of Cork; Mr. Wayte, of Edenbridge; and Mr. Phillips, of
the Manor House, Hitchin. To Mr. Evans, of Nailsea Court, Somerset, I am
indebted for the loan of his unrivalled collection of ancient
nutcrackers, some of which have been sketched for reproduction. I have
also made use of examples in the collections of private friends, and
illustrated some of my own household curios, many of them family relics.

The story of domestic curios is made the more useful by these
illustrations, and also by references to well-known collections. There
is much to admire in the once common objects of the home, now curios,
and it is in the hope that some may be led to appreciate more the
antiques with which they are familiar that these pages have been penned.
If that is achieved my object will have been accomplished.

FRED. W. BURGESS.

LONDON, 1914.




CONTENTS


                                                                    PAGE
PREFACE                                                                7


CHAPTER I

THE LOVE OF THE ANTIQUE                                               19

    No place like home--Curios in the making--The influence of
    prevailing styles--A cultivated taste.


CHAPTER II

THE INGLE SIDE                                                        33

    Fire-making appliances--Tinder boxes--The fireplace--Andirons and
    fire-dogs--Sussex backs--Fireirons and fenders--Trivets and
    stools--Bellows.


CHAPTER III

THE LIGHTS OF FORMER DAYS                                             59

    Rushlights and holders--Candles, moulds, and boxes--Snuffers, trays,
    and extinguishers--Oil lamps--Lanterns.


CHAPTER IV

TABLE APPOINTMENTS                                                    77

    Cutlery: Knives, forks, and spoons--Salt cellars--Cruet
    stands--Punch and toddy--Porringers and cups--Trays and
    waiters--The tea table--Cream jugs--Sugar tongs and
    nippers--Caddies--Cupids--Nutcrackers--Turned woodware.


CHAPTER V

THE KITCHEN                                                          121

    The kitchen grate--Boilers and kettles--Grills and
    gridirons--Cooking utensils--Warming pans.


CHAPTER VI

HOME ORNAMENTS                                                       147

    Mantelpiece ornaments--Vases--Derbyshire Spars--Jade or spleen
    stone--Wood carvings--Old gilt.


CHAPTER VII

GLASS AND ENAMELS                                                    173

    Waterford, Bristol, and Nailsea--Ornaments of glass--Enamels on
    metal.


CHAPTER VIII

LEATHER AND HORN                                                     185

    Spanish leather--Cuir boulli work--Tapestry and upholstery--Leather
    bottles and drinking vessels--Leather curios--Shoes--Horn work.


CHAPTER IX

THE TOILET TABLE                                                     199

    The table and its secrets--Combs--Patch boxes--Enamelled
    objects--Perfume boxes and holders--Dressing
    cases--Scratchbacks--Toilet chatelaines--Locks of hair--Jewel
    cabinets.


CHAPTER X

THE OLD WORKBOX                                                      223

    Spinning wheels--Materials and work--Little
    accessories--Cutlery--Quaint woodwork--The needlewoman--Old
    samplers.


CHAPTER XI

THE LIBRARY                                                          251

    From cover to cover--Old scrap books--Almanacs--The writing table.


CHAPTER XII

THE SMOKER'S CABINET                                                 269

    Old pipes--Pipe racks--Tobacco boxes--Smokers' tongs and
    stoppers--Snuff boxes and rasps.


CHAPTER XIII

LOVE TOKENS AND LUCKY EMBLEMS                                        281

    Amulets--Horse trappings--Emblems of luck--Love spoons--Glass
    curios.


CHAPTER XIV

THE MARKING OF TIME                                                  295

    Clocks--Watches--Watch keys--Watch stands.


CHAPTER XV

MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS                                                  309

    Early examples--Whistles and pipes--Violins and harps.


CHAPTER XVI

PLAY AND SPORT                                                       319

    Dolls--Toys--Old games--Outdoor amusements--Relics of sport.


CHAPTER XVII

MISCELLANEOUS                                                        337

    Dower chests--Medicine chests--Old lacquer--The tool chest--Egyptian
    curios--Ancient spectacles--Curious chinaware--Garden curios--The
    mounting of curios--Obsolete household names.


INDEX                                                                357




LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS


FIG.

1. OLD FIREPLACE, SHOWING SUSSEX BACK, ANDIRONS, AND TRIVET  _Frontispiece_

                                                                    PAGE

2. ANDIRONS WITH RATCHETS                                             27

3. ORNAMENTED CRESSET DOGS                                            27

4. TELESCOPIC RUSH AND CANDLE HOLDER                                  27

5. RATCHET RUSH AND CANDLE HOLDER                                     27

6. ANCIENT ROMAN FIRE-DOG                                             37

7. SUSSEX GRATE BACK, DATED 1588                                      37

8. THREE SINGLE DOGS OR ANDIRONS                                      45

9. PAIR OF DATED SUSSEX ANDIRONS (1625)                               45

10. PAIR OF SUSSEX ANDIRONS                                           45

11. SUSSEX BACK WITH ROYAL EMBLEMS                                    51

12. SUSSEX BACK WITH ARMS AND ROYAL INITIALS                          51

13. FINE CARVED WALNUT WOOD BELLOWS                                   55

14. THREE RUSHLIGHT HOLDERS                                           63

15. THREE VARIETIES OF OLD OIL LAMPS                                  63

16. TWO WALNUT WOOD FLOOR-CANDLESTICKS                                69

17. FINE PAIR OF ANCIENT SNUFFERS                                     73

18. HANDSOMELY DECORATED KNIFE CASE AND CONTENTS                      81

19. KNIFE, FORK, AND SPOON                                            87

20. PAIR OF DECORATED SPOONS                                          93

21. TWO WOODEN CUPS                                                  101

22. WOODEN FLAGON, WITH COPPER BANDS                                 101

23. A COCOANUT CUP (SILVER-MOUNTED)                                  101

24. A COCOANUT CUP (SILVER-MOUNTED)                                  101

25. COCOANUT FLAGON                                                  101

26. EARLY ENGLISH BRONZE EWER                                        109

27. INSCRIBED SEVENTEENTH-CENTURY WOOD DRINKING CUP                  115

28-30. EARLY CARVED WOOD NUTCRACKERS                                 115

31-34. MEDIAEVAL WOOD NUTCRACKERS                                     119

35-39. EARLY STEEL AND BRASS NUTCRACKERS                             119

40. TWO ANTIQUE WARMING PANS                                         124

41. WELSH KITCHEN FIREPLACE                                          124

42. MECHANICAL ROASTING JACKS                                        127

43-46. GRIDIRONS SHOWING FOREIGN INFLUENCE IN DESIGN                 131

47 AND 48. TWO WOODEN FOOD BOXES                                     135

49. A COLLECTION OF IRON FAT BOATS AND GREASE PANS                   135

50. WOODEN COFFEE CRUSHERS AND PESTLES AND MORTAR                    139

51. APPLE SCOOPS OF BONE                                             139

52. WOODEN PIGGINS AND PORRIDGE BOWL                                 143

53. WOODEN PLATTER, BOWL, AND SPOONS                                 143

54. BRASS CHIMNEY ORNAMENT (ONE OF A PAIR)                           151

55. BLACK AND GOLD DERBYSHIRE MARBLE VASE                            155

56. TEMPLE GUARDIAN, CARVED FROM THE GNARLED ROOT OF A TREE          159

57. CARVED PLAQUE STAND                                              163

58 AND 59. MINIATURE COPPER AND SILVER KETTLES                       167

60. MINIATURE IVORY COFFEE BOILER                                    167

61. TWO OLD-GILT JEWELLED ORNAMENTS                                  167

62. THREE FINE OLD IVORIES                                           171

63. BATTERSEA ENAMELS                                                179

64. ANTIQUE DRESSING OR TOILET GLASS                                 202

65. THREE OLD SCRATCHBACKS                                           209

66. SILVER CHATELAINE TOILET INSTRUMENTS                             209

67. ANOTHER CHATELAINE SET                                           209

68. FINE ORIENTAL LACQUERED BOX                                      217

69. SMALL LACQUER CABINET                                            217

70. A PAGODA-SHAPED CASKET                                           217

71. DECORATED JEWEL CASE                                             217

72. OLD SPINNING WHEEL                                               227

73. SPINNING WHEEL                                                   233

74. OLD LACE BOBBINS                                                 233

75. OLD PIN POPPETS AND ANCIENT PINS                                 237

76. THREE OLD WORKBOXES                                              243

77. OLD WORKBOX FITTINGS                                             247

78. ANCIENT CLOG ALMANAC                                             257

79. OLD COIN TESTER                                                  265

80. MINIATURE SOUVENIR ALMANAC                                       265

81. ANCIENT WRITING SET                                              265

82. THREE CURIOUS PIPE-STOPPERS                                      275

83. BRASS TOBACCO BOX                                                275

84. COLLECTION OF HARNESS AMULETS AND TEAM BELLS                     285

85. OLD WELSH LOVE SPOONS                                            291

86. FINE GOTHIC FRENCH CLOCK                                         299

87. SPECIMENS OF OLD WATCH KEYS                                      303

88. TWO ANTIQUE WATCH CASES                                          303

89. OLD SPINET                                                       315

90. CURIOUS TYPES OF WHISTLES                                        323

91. QUAINT OLD TOY                                                   323

92. A POWDER TESTER                                                  335

93. A PRIMING FLASK                                                  335

94. OLD POWDER FLASKS                                                343




I

THE LOVE OF THE ANTIQUE




CHAPTER I

THE LOVE OF THE ANTIQUE

     No place like home--Curios in the making--The influence of
     prevailing styles--A cultivated taste.


There is an inborn love of the antique in most men, although some are
fond of asserting that their interests are bound up in the modern, and
that they have no time to devote to the study of the antiquities of past
ages or the things that were fashionable in times long past. Yet most
people, when their secret longings are analysed, are found to have an
admiration for the old; if not a superstitious veneration, at any rate a
desire to perpetuate the memory of their ancestors and to keep in mind
the things with which they were familiar. The wealthy man of to-day, who
may have sprung from the people, secretly, if not openly, endeavours to
surround himself with household gods which tell of a longer past and a
closer relationship with the well-to-do than he can legitimately claim.
In the pursuit of such things many a man has found his hobby; and there
are few men who do not find recreation and delight in a hobby of some
kind. Such interests outside their regular occupations broaden their
outlook and widen their knowledge. Some hobbies tend to lead to
specialization, and the specialist is apt to become warped and narrowed;
not so, however, the collector of household curios.


No Place Like Home.

It would be difficult to find greater delight than that which centres in
those things that concern the home and home life. The love of the old
homestead and the goods and chattels it contains is ingrained in the
breast of every Britisher; and although families become scattered and
some of their members find homes of their own beyond the seas, they find
the greatest delight in the objects with which they were familiar in
years gone by, and venerate the relics of former generations--the
household gods which have been handed on from father to son.

It is not the intrinsic value of the household curio that is its chief
charm; it is rather the knowledge that its long association with those
who have claimed its ownership from the time when it was "new" has made
it truly a family relic. These thoughts, being so deeply rooted in the
minds of most men and women, foster the love of household curios and
intensify the interest shown in their possession.

To all it is not given to own family relics; neither would they serve to
satiate the ambition of the true collector, although they might form the
nucleus of his collection. He seeks other treasures in the town and in
the country and wherever such things are offered for sale.


Curios in the Making.

The domestic habits of the people of this and other civilized countries
have been the outcome of a slow process of upbuilding. There has been no
sudden change; in all grades and under every different social condition,
at every period, the improvement of the furnishings of the home has been
one of gradual and, for the most part, steady progress.

There was a time when, beyond the bare furniture, tapestry hangings,
tools of the craftsmen, and weapons of the warrior, there were few
household goods of a portable nature