What is the difference between a whatnot and an étagère?

In practice, nothing. The listings use both words for the same free-standing stand of open tiers, and étagère is simply the French term. The spelling is unusually unsettled for this form. Whatnot, what not, wot-not, wotnot, watnot, ettagere and etagere all appear in titles for what is essentially one object.

Which wood is most common?

Mahogany, by a clear margin. Oak follows, then walnut, rosewood and pine. Beyond those, unusual timbers surface now and then. Padouk, amboyna, birdseye maple, burr elm, satin birch, limewood, yew, cherry and olive wood each appear once or twice, along with a Ceylonese ebony and satinwood étagère.

How old are most of these?

The dated field spans 1750 to 1930. Victorian and 19th-century entries lead, with Regency, Georgian and Edwardian behind them. Precision is the exception. Only 289 of 853 listings give a clean year, and one carved oak wall shelf is entered as 17th century.

Are kitchen plate racks part of this category?

Yes, and they make up roughly one in ten. Plate racks, delft and delph racks, dresser racks and spice racks all sit under the heading, usually in oak or pine. French baker's racks belong here too - boulangerie and patisserie racks turn up, and one stands at the very top of the range.

How often do pairs come up?

Not often: 42 titles in 853. Pairs of Regency rosewood display shelves, George IV yew wood shelves and matched corner whatnots are the sort of thing that appears. Dealers hedge the wording, which tells you something. "Near pair" and "matched pair" are both used.

Do many carry a maker's name?

Very few. Gillows is the only name carried by more than a couple of dealers across the whole category. Even then it is usually qualified rather than stated, appearing as "possibly Gillows" or "attributed to Gillows". About a hundred sets come to market on Sellingantiques in a year, listed by 217 different dealers, and the great majority are described by timber, period and form alone.

Home > Furniture > Shelves > Page 5

Antique Shelves

338 items · page 5 of 22

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Open wooden shelving made for holding and showing books, china and ornaments, hung on a wall or standing free in tiers.

19th century

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19th C French Oak Serving Table

From Youlls Antiques

£1,500

FOR SALE

furniture

19th century

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Large 19th Century Parisian Antique Baker's Wrought Iron Rack - Stamped

From Miles Griffiths Antiques Ltd

£1,850

FOR SALE

furniture

1900 - 1920

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Inlaid Mahogany Corner Washstand

From Shackladys Antiques

£595

FOR SALE

furniture

18th century

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M-6908

From Penderyn Antiques

£450

FOR SALE

furniture

19th century

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Victorian Walnut Whatnot.

From Rupert Hitchcox Antiques

£295

FOR SALE

furniture

1920 - 1940

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Early 20th Century Pigeon Holes

From Browns Antiques and Reclamation

£445

FOR SALE

furniture

19th century

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Six Tier Ebonised Dumb Waiter C.1860

From Collinge Antiques

£545

FOR SALE

furniture

19th century

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19th Century Victorian Period Walnut 3-Tier Whatnot, C1880

From Anthony Short Antiques

£1,900

FOR SALE

furniture

18th century

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Delft Plate Rack

From Midwinter Antiques

£295

FOR SALE

furniture

19th century

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Early 19th Century Regency Mahogany Small Whatnot Étagère

From S and S Timms Antiques Ltd

£1,850

FOR SALE

furniture

The oldest shelf to pass through Sellingantiques is a carved oak wall shelf entered as 17th century. A George II oak spice rack of about 1750 follows it.

19th century

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A Victorian Burr Walnut Wot Not C1880

From Castleforge Antiques Ltd

£395

FOR SALE

furniture

Fine Quality Antique Edwardian Mahogany Inlaid Lamp Table

1900 - 1920

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Fine Quality Antique Edwardian Mahogany Inlaid Lamp Table

From London City Antiques

£1,085

FOR SALE

furniture

19th century

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Victorian Style! a Lovely Matching Pair of Mid-19th Century Corner Whatnots.

From Designer Antiques4u

£495

FOR SALE

furniture

Small Victorian Walnut Fully Adjustable Buffet.

19th century

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Small Victorian Walnut Fully Adjustable Buffet.

From Rupert Hitchcox Antiques

£385

FOR SALE

furniture

Regency Revival Antique Bookshelf, Whatnot, Side Table C1900

1900 - 1920

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Regency Revival Antique Bookshelf, Whatnot, Side Table C1900

From Billy Hunt & Co.

£435

FOR SALE

furniture

Victorian Mahogany 1870s Small Chiffonier

19th century

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Victorian Mahogany 1870s Small Chiffonier

From James R Millington Antiques

£475

FOR SALE

furniture

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Antique Shelves

19th C French Oak Serving Table

Large 19th Century Parisian Antique Baker's Wrought Iron Rack - Stamped

Inlaid Mahogany Corner Washstand

M-6908

Victorian Walnut Whatnot.

Early 20th Century Pigeon Holes

Six Tier Ebonised Dumb Waiter C.1860

19th Century Victorian Period Walnut 3-Tier Whatnot, C1880

Delft Plate Rack

Early 19th Century Regency Mahogany Small Whatnot Étagère

A Victorian Burr Walnut Wot Not C1880

Fine Quality Antique Edwardian Mahogany Inlaid Lamp Table

Victorian Style! a Lovely Matching Pair of Mid-19th Century Corner Whatnots.

Small Victorian Walnut Fully Adjustable Buffet.

Regency Revival Antique Bookshelf, Whatnot, Side Table C1900

Victorian Mahogany 1870s Small Chiffonier

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