A set of standing shelves for holding books, ornaments and whatever. The French term for this form is étagère. Georgian and Regency whatnots were usually square in form, with three or more shelves supported by finely turned spindles. There was generally a small drawer at the bottom. Some examples of red cedar whatnots have survived from colonial times.

Victorian whatnots, which are rather more common, were intended to stand in a corner. Usually triangular, they have staged or graduated shelves, supported by spindles and often with a fretwork gallery at the back of each shelf. They were often made in burr walnut, sometimes inlaid. Bamboo whatnots date from the late 19th century.

Usually the finials have a threaded wooden screw which fits into the matching threaded hole in column, so the units can be disassembled. Often at least one of the threads have worn, and to overcome this, the finials more...

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A superb antique Colonial Australian four tier wotnot, crafted…

A superb antique Colonial Australian four tier wotnot, crafted from solid slabs of birdseye huon pine, Tasmanian origin, mid 19th century, 103 cm high, 53 cm wide, 36 cm deep

A three tier cedar whatnot with single drawer, Australian circa…

A three tier cedar whatnot with single drawer, Australian circa 1870, 60 cm wide, 43 cm deep, 97 cm high

An unusual cedar what-not, Australian circa 1865, 138 cm high…

An unusual cedar what-not, Australian circa 1865, 138 cm high 45 cm wide,36 cm deep

A Colonial three-tiered single-drawer whatnot. Australian circa…

A Colonial three-tiered single-drawer whatnot. Australian circa 1835, 46 cm by 40 cm by 114 cm high

An antique Colonial Australian cedar and pine corner wotnot…

1850 Colonial Australian Cedar and Pine Corner Wotnot, Three Tiers

An antique Colonial Australian cedar and pine corner wotnot with three tiers, circa 1850, 126 cm high, 74 cm wide, 40 cm deep

An antique Colonial Australian cedar three tier whatnot servery…

1855 Colonial Australian Cedar Three Tier Whatnot Servery

An antique Colonial Australian cedar three tier whatnot servery with full turned columns and extra ring turning, New South Wales origin, circa 1855, 107 cm high, 61 cm wide, 40 cm deep

A Colonial Australian cedar four tier corner wotnot, circa 1885,…

Colonial Australian Cedar Corner Wotnot, 1885

A Colonial Australian cedar four tier corner wotnot, circa 1885, 125 cm high, 55 cm wide, 35 cm deep

A Colonial cedar four-tier whatnot, mid 19th century, the top…

Colonial Cedar Four-Tier Whatnot with Gallery, 19th Century

A Colonial cedar four-tier whatnot, mid 19th century, the top shelf with turned finials and a pierced three quarter gallery, 148 cm high, 60 cm wide, 51 cm deep. Provenance: The Ruth Simon collection, 2005

A Colonial cedar three-tier whatnot, Tasmania, early 19th…

Colonial Cedar Three-Tier Whatnot from Tasmania (19th Century)

A Colonial cedar three-tier whatnot, Tasmania, early 19th century, 144 cm high, 45 cm wide, 50.5 cm deep. Provenance: The Ruth Simon collection, 2005, reference, Kevin Fahy, Christina Simpson and Andrew Simpson, 19th century Australian furniture,…

An Australian three tier wotnot with single drawer, stained…

19th Century Kauri Pine Three Tier Wotnot with Drawer

An Australian three tier wotnot with single drawer, stained kauri pine, 19th century, 114 cm high, 55 cm wide, 37 cm deep

An Australian folk art wotnot, kauri pine and cedar, South…

19th Century Australian Kauri Pine Folk Art Wotnot

An Australian folk art wotnot, kauri pine and cedar, South Australian origin 19th century, 99 cm high, 51 cm wide, 40 cm deep

19th century four tier cedar and blackwood what-not with single…

Four-Tier Cedar and Blackwood What-Not with Drawer Base

19th century four tier cedar and blackwood what-not with single drawer base four finials to top on turned legs with Casters- 135 cm high, 51 cm wide, 38 cm deep,

Australian Folk Art depression era cotton reel corner wotnot…

Depression-era Australian Folk Art Corner Wotnot

Australian Folk Art depression era cotton reel corner wotnot with white painted finish, circa 1890s, ?142 cm high, 41 cm wide, 25 cm deep

Australian Folk Art depression era cotton reel corner wotnot,…

Depression-Era Australian Cotton Reel Corner Wotnot

Australian Folk Art depression era cotton reel corner wotnot, circa 1890s, 124 cm high, 48 cm wide, 27 cm deep

Australian Folk Art twig and branch construction corner wotnot…

Antique Australian Twig and Branch Corner Display

Australian Folk Art twig and branch construction corner wotnot with original brown painted finish, circa 1900, 127 cm high, 50 cm wide, 39 cm deep

A Colonial wotnot, Australian cedar, New South Wales origin,…

1865 Australian Cedar Colonial Wotnot, NSW Origin

A Colonial wotnot, Australian cedar, New South Wales origin, circa 1865, 118 cm high, 54 cm wide, 37 cm deep

Australian cedar wotnot with 6 tiers, Barossa Valley origin,…

Barossa Valley Cedar 6-Tiered Wotnot, Circa 1870

Australian cedar wotnot with 6 tiers, Barossa Valley origin, South Australia, circa 1870, 149 cm high, 56 cm wide, 46 cm deep

Andrew Lenehan Colonial five tier whatnot with single drawer,…

Antique Cedar Tulip Column Whatnot with Drawer

Andrew Lenehan Colonial five tier whatnot with single drawer, full cedar construction with finely carved tulip columns, circa 1848, circular makers label in drawer, 137 cm high, 75 cm wide, 42 cm deep

What not Australian depression with cotton reel supports, three…

Australian Three-Tiered Cotton Reel Support Depression Cabinet

What not Australian depression with cotton reel supports, three tier with original finish, height 106 cm, depth 41 cm

Corner What not Victorian cedar, four tier, with turned columns,…

Victorian Cedar Four-Tier Corner Stand

Corner What not Victorian cedar, four tier, with turned columns, height 141 cm, depth 45 cm

An Australian three tier whatnot, King Billy pine, circa 1880,…

1880 Australian King Billy Pine Three Tier Whatnot

An Australian three tier whatnot, King Billy pine, circa 1880, 75 cm high, 53 cm wide, 33 cm deep

Colonial cedar 3 tier what-not with single drawer on turned…

Colonial Cedar 3-Tier What-Not with Drawer & Casters

Colonial cedar 3 tier what-not with single drawer on turned legs with fine brass casters, 136 cm high, 62.5 cm wide, 45 cm deep

An unusual whatnot open bookshelves, kauri pine and cedar,…

SA 19th Century Kauri Pine Open Bookshelf

An unusual whatnot open bookshelves, kauri pine and cedar, South Australian origin 19th century 99 cm high, 51 cm wide, 40 cm deep

A Colonial whatnot, Australian cedar, Tasmanian origin, circa…

1845 Australian Cedar Colonial Whatnot

A Colonial whatnot, Australian cedar, Tasmanian origin, circa 1845 100 cm high, 57 cm wide, 36 cm deep

A wotnot with single drawer, Australian cedar, 19th century,…

19th Century Australian Cedar Wotnot with Single Drawer

A wotnot with single drawer, Australian cedar, 19th century, full cedar construction, 83 cm high, 65 cm wide, 40 cm deep

Wot-Not, Victorian, cedar, turned columns four tier, with lower…

Victorian Cedar Wot-Not with Turned Columns and Drawer

Wot-Not, Victorian, cedar, turned columns four tier, with lower drawer, height 148 cm

Australian Colonial whatnot with cedar shelves, c. 1860, having…

Cedar Colonial Shelf, c. 1860

Australian Colonial whatnot with cedar shelves, c. 1860, having four open shelves with turned finials and supports, height 112 cm width 76 cm depth 20.5 cm. Provenance: Evandale Antiques, Tasmania. Collection of George and Adisa Pompei, Sydney

A wotnot, Tasmanian huon pine, circa 1890, 117 cm high, 54 cm…

Antique Tasmanian Huon Pine Wotnot, Circa 1890

A wotnot, Tasmanian huon pine, circa 1890, 117 cm high, 54 cm wide, 33 cm deep

A unusually tall cedar whatnot, Tasmanian origin, circa 1840,…

Tall Tasmanian Cedar Whatnot, Circa 1840

A unusually tall cedar whatnot, Tasmanian origin, circa 1840, 241 cm high, 107 cm wide, 28 cm deep

A Victorian cedar corner whatnot, second half 19th century, the…

Victorian Cedar Corner Whatnot

A Victorian cedar corner whatnot, second half 19th century, the five tier whatnot with shaped shelves of typical graduating waterfall form with a pierced shaped gallery, and bobbin style supports with finials. Height 138 cm. Width 61 cm. Depth 39 cm.

Cedar two tier whatnot with false drawers

Cedar Two-Tier Whatnot with Faux Drawers

Cedar two tier whatnot with false drawers

Australian Colonial cedar what-not with lower drawer

Colonial Cedar What-Not with Drawer

Australian Colonial cedar what-not with lower drawer

An Australian Colonial cedar five-tier whatnot with rectangular…

Colonial Cedar Five-Tier Whatnot

An Australian Colonial cedar five-tier whatnot with rectangular shelves and shaped supports. Width 43 cm

A huon pine what-not, Tasmanian, circa 1845, 110 cm high, 48 cm…

Antique Tasmanian Huon Pine What-Not (1845)

A huon pine what-not, Tasmanian, circa 1845, 110 cm high, 48 cm wide, 32.5 cm deep. Literature: Australian Furniture: Pictorial History and Dictionary, 1788-1938, Kevin Fahy and Andrew Simpson, Casuarina Press Ptd Ltd, Woollahra p. 518 (illustrated)

A Victorian cedar whatnot, late 19th century, delicately…

Victorian Cedar Spiral Whatnot

A Victorian cedar whatnot, late 19th century, delicately crafted with a pierced gallery, above four serpentine shelves supported by slender spiral curved and knopped spindles. Height 113 cm. Width 50 cm. Depth 33 cm

A rare colonial cedar six stage serpentine corner whatnot, of…

Colonial Cedar Serpentine Corner Whatnot with Turned Supports

A rare colonial cedar six stage serpentine corner whatnot, of unusually large proportions, plain with turned column supports and finials, with a single wide boarded back and supported on four original white china casters. New Zealand or Australian made.…

A rare Australian cedar whatnot

Australian Cedar Whatnot Rarity

A rare Australian cedar whatnot

Colonial cedar & blackwood 5 tier whatnot with tight baluster…

Antique Cedar & Blackwood 5-Tier Whatnot with Baluster Turnings

Colonial cedar & blackwood 5 tier whatnot with tight baluster shaped turnings, c1860s. Height 136 cm, width 104 cm, depth 27 cm

19th century cedar three tier whatnot with single drawer base

Antique Cedar Three-Tier Whatnot with Drawer Base

19th century cedar three tier whatnot with single drawer base

19th century cedar 5 tier whatnot

5-Tier Cedar Whatnot from 19th Century

19th century cedar 5 tier whatnot

Antique cedar 4 tier what not with turned supports, 70 cm wide,…

Antique Cedar 4-Tier Turned Support Whatnot

Antique cedar 4 tier what not with turned supports, 70 cm wide, 120 cm high

An Anglo-Indian Colonial rosewood whatnot with leaf & scroll…

Rosewood Colonial Whatnot with Barley Twist Supports

An Anglo-Indian Colonial rosewood whatnot with leaf & scroll molded crest flanked by barley twist supports, holding plain shelves with shaped aprons, the base with three drawers. 122 cm width, 40 cm depth, 119 cm high

19th century cedar three tier what-not with acorn turned finials

Cedar Three-Tier What-Not with Acorn Finials

19th century cedar three tier what-not with acorn turned finials