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 timber five tiered whatnot with metal Struts & wheels, 190 x…

Timber and Metal Five Tiered Whatnot with Wheels

A timber five tiered whatnot with metal Struts & wheels, 190 x 120 x 48 cm

A Victorian Four-Tier whatnot, height 118.5 cm, width 69 cm,…

Victorian Four-Tier Whatnot - Elegant Display Stand

A Victorian Four-Tier whatnot, height 118.5 cm, width 69 cm, depth 33.5 cm

Victorian 2 tier whatnot with marquetry inlay, 51 cm wide, 34…

Victorian Marquetry Inlaid 2-Tier Whatnot

Victorian 2 tier whatnot with marquetry inlay, 51 cm wide, 34 cm deep, 59 cm high

Late Victorian walnut whatnot with marquetry inlaid shelves and…

Victorian Walnut Marquetry Whatnot

Late Victorian walnut whatnot with marquetry inlaid shelves and fretwork panels, 53.5 cm wide, 100 cm high

A burr walnut three tier What not, in the Victorian style with…

Victorian-style Burr Walnut Three-Tier Whatnot

A burr walnut three tier What not, in the Victorian style with graduated shaped tiers, rear fretwork galleries and turned supports, raised on toupie feet with brass casters, height 95 cm, width 73 cm, depth 32 cm

Victorian walnut whatnot with fretwork backs and barley twist…

Victorian Walnut Fretwork Whatnot with Barley Twist Supports

Victorian walnut whatnot with fretwork backs and barley twist supports, 102 cm wide, 114 cm high

Victorian burr walnut and marquetry whatnot cabinet, with…

Burr Walnut Marquetry Cabinet with Mirror Top and Cupboard

Victorian burr walnut and marquetry whatnot cabinet, with mirror top, open bow front shelves, fluted and spherical column supports, cupboard below enclosed by panel door

Victorian walnut graduated serpentine whatnot, four tier with…

Serpentine Walnut Four-Tier Whatnot with Spiral Supports

Victorian walnut graduated serpentine whatnot, four tier with spiral turned supports and urn finials

A Victorian walnut whatnot, with spiral twist column supports…

Victorian Walnut Spiral Twist Whatnot

A Victorian walnut whatnot, with spiral twist column supports and fret work gallery. Width 80 cm.

A Victorian ebonised, tortoiseshell and brass marquetry three…

Victorian Ebonised Three-Tier Marquetry Whatnot

A Victorian ebonised, tortoiseshell and brass marquetry three tier whatnot, English circa 1870 in the manner of A.C boulle, with contre-partie engraved brass marquetry and ormolu mounts throughout, with key, 44.5 cm wide, 33 cm deep, 78 cm high

A Victorian walnut canterbury whatnot, with turned uprights and…

Victorian Walnut Canterbury Whatnot with Inlaid Decoration

A Victorian walnut canterbury whatnot, with turned uprights and inlaid decoration, drawer to the base, with later restoration. 67 cm x 40 cm x 132 cm.

A Victorian burr walnut whatnot, 19th century, of rectangular…

Victorian Burr Walnut Whatnot with Spiral Turned Supports

A Victorian burr walnut whatnot, 19th century, of rectangular profile with a small oval mirror in a carved surround above a small shelf, three shelves of even size with spiral turned supports and raised on turned feet with porcelain casters, height 136 cm…

Victorian 3 tier whatnot with serpentine front and lower drawer,…

Victorian Serpentine 3-Tier Whatnot with Drawer

Victorian 3 tier whatnot with serpentine front and lower drawer, 77 cm wide, 42 cm deep, 109 cm high

A white painted wicker double basket What not, 87 x 45 x 45 cm

White Wicker Double Basket What Not

A white painted wicker double basket What not, 87 x 45 x 45 cm

Antique 4 tier whatnot with turned supports and gallery top, 50…

Antique 4-Tier Turned Support Whatnot with Gallery Top

Antique 4 tier whatnot with turned supports and gallery top, 50 cm wide, 45 cm deep, 142.5 cm high

Late 19th century three tier What not, of square form, set with…

Ebonised Three-Tier Whatnot with Decorative Tiles

Late 19th century three tier What not, of square form, set with three decorative tiles with figural scenes, with ebonised finish on turned supports

An antique English wotnot, burr walnut with barley twist…

Antique English Burr Walnut Wotnot, Circa 1860

An antique English wotnot, burr walnut with barley twist columns and serpentine front, circa 1860, 101 cm high, 57 cm wide, 40 cm deep

An English burr walnut wotnot with serpentine front, circa 1870,…

Antique Burr Walnut Serpentine Wotnot, Circa 1870

An English burr walnut wotnot with serpentine front, circa 1870, 114 cm high, 58 cm wide, 38 cm deep

A Victorian walnut and marquetry inlaid what-not fitted with…

Walnut Marquetry What-Not with Shelves and Doors

A Victorian walnut and marquetry inlaid what-not fitted with shelves and two doors

Fine Victorian mahogany four-tier what-not with turned columns…

Victorian Mahogany Four-Tier What-Not with Drawer

Fine Victorian mahogany four-tier what-not with turned columns and single drawer

A French three tier inlaid whatnot, late 19th century, with a…

French Inlaid Three Tier Whatnot

A French three tier inlaid whatnot, late 19th century, with a pierced three quarter gallery and hand coloured inlay to each tier, ebonised rod style timber supports and gently curved splayed legs, height 81 cm, width 45 cm, depth 37 cm

An antique wotnot, burr walnut and beech, circa 1855, 131 cm…

Burr Walnut Antique Wotnot, 1855

An antique wotnot, burr walnut and beech, circa 1855, 131 cm high, 68 cm wide, 46 cm deep

An antique English wotnot, burr walnut with marquetry inlay and…

Antique English Burr Walnut Wotnot with Marquetry Inlay

An antique English wotnot, burr walnut with marquetry inlay and barley twist columns, circa 1875, 154 cm high, 55 cm wide, 36 cm deep

Italian three tier inlaid What not, with a gallery back, above…

Italian Three-Tier Inlaid What Not with Gallery Back

Italian three tier inlaid What not, with a gallery back, above three shaped shelves inlaid with flowers, on four ebonised supports, height 88 cm

Victorian 4 tier whatnot with spiral twist turned supports and…

Victorian Spiral Twist Fretwork Whatnot

Victorian 4 tier whatnot with spiral twist turned supports and fretwork top, 70 cm wide, 32.5 cm deep, 113 cm high

Georgian whatnot, full mahogany three tier, with two drawers…

Georgian Mahogany Whatnot with Drawers and Gallery Back

Georgian whatnot, full mahogany three tier, with two drawers below and stepped gallery back, height 120 cm, length 53 cm, depth 40 cm

Victorian walnut whatnot with fretwork panels, turned spiral…

Victorian Walnut Fretwork Whatnot with Spiral Twist Supports

Victorian walnut whatnot with fretwork panels, turned spiral twist supports and a drawer, 76 cm wide, 37 cm deep, 112 cm high.

A Victorian mahogany four tier whatnot, having a rising top…

Victorian Mahogany Four-Tier Whatnot with Reading Stand

A Victorian mahogany four tier whatnot, having a rising top with reading stand, each tier with double baluster turned supports the lowest with a drawer, on short turned legs with castors, height 121 cm, width 41 cm, depth 35 cm. Provenance: Bonham's…

A William IV mahogany four tier whatnot, each square tier with…

William IV Mahogany Four Tier Whatnot with Castors

A William IV mahogany four tier whatnot, each square tier with lappeted edges and baluster turned uprights on turned legs with castors, height 120 cm, width 42 cm, depth 42 cm

Victorian what-not in mahogany

Mahogany Victorian What-Not

Victorian what-not in mahogany

What not early Victorian rosewood with five fixed shelves with…

Victorian Rosewood Bookcase with Carved Finials and Bobbin Supports

What not early Victorian rosewood with five fixed shelves with carved finials to top and bobbin supports, height 149 cm, width 58 cm, depth 35 cm

Victorian burr walnut canterbury what-not, mirror top and four…

Victorian Burr Walnut Canterbury with Mirror Top

Victorian burr walnut canterbury what-not, mirror top and four fretwork devision below, 80 cm long

A Victorian wotnot, burr walnut with marquetry inlaid drawer,…

Victorian Burr Walnut Marquetry Wotnot

A Victorian wotnot, burr walnut with marquetry inlaid drawer, late 19th century, drawer base replaced, 53 cm high, 55 cm wide, 36 cm deep

Victorian two tier what not, with small circular top, above a…

Victorian Two-Tier Tripod Table

Victorian two tier what not, with small circular top, above a turned support and larger circular top, set above a tripod base, height 84 cm

Rosewood what not, mid, 19th century, four tier with foliate…

19th Century Rosewood Four-Tier What Not

Rosewood what not, mid, 19th century, four tier with foliate fretwork gallery, single drawer and turned column supports, height 124 cm, width 50 cm, depth 40 cm

An English Arts & Crafts three tier wotnot, nickel plated cast…

Arts & Crafts Three Tier Wotnot with Cockatoo Motif

An English Arts & Crafts three tier wotnot, nickel plated cast metal with cockatoo motif and inset tile top, 19th century, 80 cm high, 42 cm wide, 42 cm deep

A Japanese bamboo and lacquer hardwood 5 shelved wotnot of…

Japanese Bamboo and Lacquer Wotnot

A Japanese bamboo and lacquer hardwood 5 shelved wotnot of naturalistic form, late19th century, 82 cm high, 52 cm wide, 28 cm deep

An English walnut three tier wotnot, 19th century, 96 cm high,…

19th Century English Walnut Three Tier Wotnot

An English walnut three tier wotnot, 19th century, 96 cm high, 56 cm wide, 35 cm deep

An antique English burr walnut four tier wotnot with marquetry…

English Burr Walnut Four Tier Wotnot with Marquetry Decoration

An antique English burr walnut four tier wotnot with marquetry decoration, circa 1875, 140 cm high, 55 cm wide, 36 cm deep

A Biedermeier three tier wotnot, satinwood and birch, 19th…

Biedermeier Satinwood and Birch Three Tier Wotnot

A Biedermeier three tier wotnot, satinwood and birch, 19th century, 75 cm high, 53 cm wide, 33 cm deep

Victorian mahogany three tier whatnot stand with decorative…

Victorian Mahogany Carved Whatnot Stand with Drawer

Victorian mahogany three tier whatnot stand with decorative carved pediment, to serpentine front of 2 shelves, with full length lower drawer, height 110 cm; width 76 cm; depth 40 cm

Antique walnut four tier what not with fretwork gallery top,…

Antique Walnut Fretwork Whatnot with Marquetry Inlay

Antique walnut four tier what not with fretwork gallery top, marquetry inlaid shelves and turned fluted supports, 52 cm wide, 147.5 cm high

An antique English three tier wotnot, burr walnut with…

Antique English Burr Walnut Three Tier Wotnot

An antique English three tier wotnot, burr walnut with marquetry inlay and ebonised trim, circa 1875, 90 cm high, 54 cm wide, 36 cm deep

A Victorian marquetry inlaid three tier what-not

Victorian Marquetry Three-Tier What-Not

A Victorian marquetry inlaid three tier what-not

Late Victorian walnut whatnot with fretwork gallery top, 54.5…

Victorian Walnut Fretwork Whatnot

Late Victorian walnut whatnot with fretwork gallery top, 54.5 cm wide, 34 cm deep, 109 cm high

Victorian canterbury what-not, burr walnut with secretaire…

Walnut Secretaire Canterbury with Leather Writing Slope

Victorian canterbury what-not, burr walnut with secretaire drawer fitted with leather top writing slope

Three tier antique what not, inlaid and decorated with…

Inlaid Tumbridgeware Three-Tier Antique Whatnot

Three tier antique what not, inlaid and decorated with tumbridgeware

Regency four tier mahogany whatnot, c.1820 set with four square…

Regency Mahogany Four-Tier Whatnot with Drawer and Casters

Regency four tier mahogany whatnot, c.1820 set with four square shelves, on slender baluster supports, set with lower drawer, raised on casters, 136 x 43 x 43 cm

A Victorian rosewood three tier whatnot, barley twist supports,…

Victorian Rosewood Barley Twist Whatnot

A Victorian rosewood three tier whatnot, barley twist supports, brass casters. 61 x 35 x 88 cm.

Regency taste three tier what not, in mahogany, set with three…

Mahogany Three Tier Brass Gallery Whatnot Stand

Regency taste three tier what not, in mahogany, set with three oval shelves, set with brass gallery back, supported on brass supports, height 90 cm

Fine quality what not, Victorian mahogany of four tiers

Victorian Mahogany Four-Tiered Shelf

Fine quality what not, Victorian mahogany of four tiers

Victorian gallery back what not, of shaped form, united by…

Victorian Barley Twist Gallery Shelf

Victorian gallery back what not, of shaped form, united by turned Barley twist supports, with three shelves, on turned legs, 123 cm x 108 cm x 39 cm

A William IV rosewood whatnot, having three bowfronted tiers…

William IV Rosewood Three-Tier Whatnot

A William IV rosewood whatnot, having three bowfronted tiers supported by Barley twist columns, the top tier with a three quarter solid gallery on turned legs with castors, height 94 cm, width 63 cm, depth 43 cm

Large late Regency mahogany what not, set with five square…

Regency Mahogany Whatnot with Five Shelves

Large late Regency mahogany what not, set with five square shelves, on well turned supports and turned tapering feet, 142.5 cm x 60.5 cm x 60.5 cm

Three-tier rosewood 'What-Not' c.1830 a 3-shelf what-not with a…

Rosewood What-Not with Fretwork Gallery and Drawer

Three-tier rosewood 'What-Not' c.1830 a 3-shelf what-not with a pierced fretwork gallery, a bottom drawer and turned legs on castors. 116 x 56 x 40 cm

A George IV mahogany three-tier whatnot, circa 1820, in finely…

George IV Mahogany Three-Tier Whatnot

A George IV mahogany three-tier whatnot, circa 1820, in finely figured mahogany with gadrooned finials upon turned supports and brass casters, 75 cm high, 35.5 cm wide and deep

An Edwardian four tier what not, early 20th century With a…

Edwardian Four Tier Fretwork Whatnot with Inlaid Embellishments

An Edwardian four tier what not, early 20th century With a fretwork crest to the rear and cascading tiers supported by turned spindles with finials and raised upon toupie feet, each rectangular shelf with inlaid embellishments in boxwood and ebony, height…

An Aesthetic Movement brass whatnot, late 19th century,…

Christopher Dresser-inspired Brass Whatnot with Floral Motifs

An Aesthetic Movement brass whatnot, late 19th century, Christopher Dresser inspired with a rope twist gallery flanked by flower motifs above a glass top and a hammered metal surround, with decorative pierced spandrels, an undertier with horizontal…

A Victorian two tier inlaid walnut whatnot, 19th century…

Victorian Walnut Inlaid Two-Tier Whatnot

A Victorian two tier inlaid walnut whatnot, 19th century supported by turned and spiral twist spindles with finials and raised upon toupie feet, each rectangular shelf with inlaid embellishments in satinwood and ebony. Height 68 cm, length 55 cm, width 35…

Mahogany 3 tier whatnot with 4 drawers, 54 cm wide, 20 cm deep,…

Mahogany 3-Tier Whatnot with 4 Drawers

Mahogany 3 tier whatnot with 4 drawers, 54 cm wide, 20 cm deep, 112 cm high

Victorian walnut 3 tier whatnot with inlaid shelves, 54 cm wide,…

Victorian Inlaid Walnut 3-Tier Whatnot

Victorian walnut 3 tier whatnot with inlaid shelves, 54 cm wide, 35 cm deep, 102 cm high

A William IV four tier rosewood whatnot, unusual square form…

William IV Rosewood Square Whatnot with Turned Supports

A William IV four tier rosewood whatnot, unusual square form with turned supports, small drawer to the third tier, raised on turned feet and brass casters. 57.5 x 43.5 x 137 cm.

A Victorian marquetry inlaid burr walnut three tier what-not,…

Victorian Burr Walnut Three Tier What-Not

A Victorian marquetry inlaid burr walnut three tier what-not, 19th century, with a carved three quarter gallery and satinwood stringing, raised on turned supports and toupie feet, 113 cm high, 61 cm wide, 39 cm deep

Victorian walnut veneer what not, featuring three shelves…

Victorian Walnut Veneer Cabinet with Inlaid Urn Decoration

Victorian walnut veneer what not, featuring three shelves raised on turned supports, above a cabinet with central hinged door, decorated with blondwood inlaid urn, a/f, 150 cm x 59 cm

Regency mahogany three tier whatnot, square shaped with…

Regency Mahogany Three-Tier Square Whatnot with Baluster Supports

Regency mahogany three tier whatnot, square shaped with baluster and ring turned supports, 41 cm wide

An antique English four tier wotnot with barley twist columns,…

An antique English four tier wotnot with barley twist columns, walnut and mahogany, circa 1875, 99 cm high, 62 cm wide, 26 cm deep

George IV mahogany whatnot, Ex Lauder & Howard, circa 1825,…

George IV mahogany whatnot, Ex Lauder & Howard, circa 1825, height 162 cm, length 44, depth 40

Victorian rosewood whatnot with gallery top, 53 cm wide, 40 cm…

Victorian rosewood whatnot with gallery top, 53 cm wide, 40 cm deep, 97 cm high

A Victorian walnut barley-twist two-tier what-not English circa…

A Victorian walnut barley-twist two-tier what-not English circa 1865 56 cm high, 48 cm wide, 37.5 deep, English circa 1865, 56 cm high, 48 cm wide, 37.5 deep