A good early Victorian polished-pine housekeeper's tidy with integrated handle, Shaker style proportions, and a lovely time-worn patina. It could also be used as an open tool box for tools, screws, nails, drill and all those bits and bobs you need for DIY around the home. It is also excellent for artist's materials or could act as a shoe cleaning box. In fact it's totally purposeful.

Provenance: The Tudor House, Old Town Hastings, UK

Country of origin: UK

Date of manufacture: c.1850

Material: waxed and polished pine

Dimensions: Width 31cm  Depth 31cm Height to top of handle 14 cm

Condition: excellent

The Christmas House

The Tudor House, Hastings, also known as The Christmas House, when it opened to visitors each December, had a place in the hearts of the many that passed through its wee front door.  It was a magical experience, and was likened to stepping into a Brothers Grimm fairytale.  The house is now sold and has passed into memory, yet its magical contents are not quite gone, as Alastair has saved the best for last - for our extra-special Christmas House Contents Sale.

The eclectic mix of primitive Eastern European furniture, English country furniture, folk-art and Black Forest antiques chosen for the house were honest and humble, yet always remarkable, and put together with a sense of theatre - to achieve a more contemporary take on the past.  “It’s all about a careful mix, a telling of a story, and I hope others will find pleasure in the treasures I’ve collected and curated” says Alastair.  “Select pieces that create surprise, that transform your space beyond reality!”