Chapter I: 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astonishing how rapidly the common uses of even household furnishings and culinary utensils are forgotten when they are superseded by others of more modern type.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.