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 ofprevailing styles—A cultivated taste.
[CHAPTER II]
THE INGLE SIDE[33]
Fire-making appliances—Tinder boxes—The fireplace—Andirons andfire-dogs—Sussex backs—Fireirons and fenders—Trivets andstools—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—Cruetstands—Punch and toddy—Porringers and cups—Trays andwaiters—The tea table—Cream jugs—Sugar tongs andnippers—Caddies—Cupids—Nutcrackers—Turned woodware.
[CHAPTER V]
THE KITCHEN[121]
The kitchen grate—Boilers and kettles—Grills andgridirons—Cooking utensils—Warming pans.
[CHAPTER VI]
HOME ORNAMENTS[147]
Mantelpiece ornaments—Vases—Derbyshire Spars—Jade or spleenstone—Wood carvings—Old gilt.
[CHAPTER VII]
GLASS AND ENAMELS[173]
Waterford, Bristol, and Nailsea—Ornaments of glass—Enamels onmetal.
[CHAPTER VIII]
LEATHER AND HORN[185]
Spanish leather—Cuir boulli work—Tapestry and upholstery—Leatherbottles and drinking vessels—Leather curios—Shoes—Horn work.
[CHAPTER IX]
THE TOILET TABLE[199]
The table and its secrets—Combs—Patch boxes—Enamelledobjects—Perfume boxes and holders—Dressingcases—Scratchbacks—Toilet chatelaines—Locks of hair—Jewelcabinets.
[CHAPTER X]
THE OLD WORKBOX[223]
Spinning wheels—Materials and work—Littleaccessories—Cutlery—Quaint woodwork—The needlewoman—Oldsamplers.
[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 andstoppers—Snuff boxes and rasps.
[CHAPTER XIII]
LOVE TOKENS AND LUCKY EMBLEMS[281]
Amulets—Horse trappings—Emblems of luck—Love spoons—Glasscurios.
[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—Egyptiancurios—Ancient spectacles—Curious chinaware—Garden curios—Themounting 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. MEDIÆVAL 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]