Walnut Tree Antiques

03/09/2026

This one has stumped me can anyone help with the age, artist or value of this Japanese rootball carving with stunning decoration
Signed by the artist

27/08/2026

Tidy up today to make room for new stock

16/08/2026

One of my greatest pleasures being an antique enthusiast is to educate myself by researching the history of items in my possession
This William and Mary chest on stand is a great example despite the legs having been replaced at some stage during its 330 year history
Made between 1690 and 1700 this is one of the very first examples of marquetry being used in English furniture
With King James in excile new monarch William of Orange brought with him some of the finest cabinet makers in the Netherlands and the rest is history

The master cabinet maker who made this piece would be so proud to know that more than 300 years later his work was still being enjoyed

07/07/2026

12/06/2026

New items today

27/03/2026

New arrivals

22/02/2026

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVB1MI7iOi2/?igsh=MXdudnJucWIzc3o1eg==

21/01/2026

Why is silver plate finally making a comeback ?

Speaking to a well respected dealer today who explained why prices for one of the most unloved, undervalued and disrespected antiques are finally on the rise
The antique silver market is in turmoil at the moment with incredibly high scrap prices leaving antique silver collectors unable to compete. We are also sadly seeing some beautiful solid silver going to melt for the same reason .

Silver plate isn’t all the same and it can be an ideal alternative for collectors if you know what you are looking at. For the purposes of this discussion we are excluding anything marked EPNS and instead looking at items made in copper before being given a healthy coat of silver . Top quality items made by incredible craftsmen like Walker and Hall , Elkington &co and many others . These period items deserve far more respect for their craftsmanship and aesthetic appeal as antiques in their own right regardless of their intrinsic value .
The 2 photos below demonstrate exactly why prices are finally on the rise. The first shows a collection of quality plated items with a total value of about £200 . The second shows a couple of damaged solid silver items with a scrap value of £2,000 .
Maybe time to broaden our minds !

24/12/2025