Category Archives: Antiques

Jeeves & Wooster Kitchen: Household Wants Indicator

Household Wants Indicator on back of the kitchen cabinet door on Jeeves & Wooster

You may have seen a Household Wants Indicator like this in the kitchen of Downton Abbey. Here is a glimpse of one in Bertie Wooster's Kitchen. These were a handy way for kitchen staff to keep track of provisions needed for the household. A little metal indicator next to each listed item can be fliped to red to indicate when it is time to add more to the supplies.  In Bertie Wooster's kitchen everything on the list seems to be flipped to red as seen on the example below.

Household Wants Indicator seen on eBay - click picture for details

Downton Abbey: The Dowager’s Elephant Clock

Figural Elephant Clock on Lady Violet's Mantelpiece
Figural Elephant Clock on Lady Violet's Mantelpiece

Lady Violet, played by Dame Maggie Smith in a scene from Downton Abbey is seen next to the mantelpiece of the dower house. An antique figural elephant clock is easy to spot on the mantel. A similar clock was up for auction at dickinsauctioneers.com Lot 86 - Rare 19 thC French 8 day Elephant Clock:
Rare 19 thC French 8 day Elephant Clock Continue reading Downton Abbey: The Dowager’s Elephant Clock

The Dowager Lady Violet’s Chinese Foo Dogs

Chinese Ceramic Foo Dogs
Chinese Ceramic Foo Dogs in Lady Violet's Dower House

Lady Violet's Chinese glazed ceramic "Foo Dogs" hint at a traveled past and lend a touch of the exotic in the Dower house. The Foo-dogs do not represent dogs however they are Chinese guardian lions or Imperial guardian lions. Continue reading The Dowager Lady Violet’s Chinese Foo Dogs

Lady Edith’s Chinese Horse Statues

Chinese Pottery Horses in Lady Edith's London apartment
Chinese Pottery Horses in Lady Edith's London apartment

When Lady Edith brings Bertie Pelham back to her London flat in season 6 of Downton Abbey we could not help noticing a pair of large green Chinese tang pottery horses above the bookshelves.
There are some very similar chinese horse statues on eBay currently. large tang horse Click picture to see it on eBay

The Dowager’s Papier Mache Table

PAPIER MACHE TABLE
Lady Violet Dowager Countess of Grantham played by Dame Maggie Smith, sits by her Victorian Papier Mache Table on the set of Downton Abbey. Antique tilt-top papier mache tables with mother of pearl inlay are collectors items and make for an interesting conversation piece in your drawing room. An elaborate example pictured above right can be seen on eBay this week (Click Here to view).
dowager-table