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 Victorian walnut three-tier what-not with circular drop-flap…

Victorian Walnut Circular Three-Tier What-Not

A Victorian walnut three-tier what-not with circular drop-flap tiers, turned column and triform plateau base. Height 124 cm

Antique figured walnut whatnot, approx 103 cm high, 50 cm long

Figured Walnut Antique Whatnot (103cm x 50cm)

Antique figured walnut whatnot, approx 103 cm high, 50 cm long

A Victorian mahogany wall mounted whatnot display shelf, the…

Victorian Mahogany Wall Mounted Display Shelf

A Victorian mahogany wall mounted whatnot display shelf, the five shelves with serpentine fronts of graduated widths, each with fretwork apron and decoratively pierced side supports. 83 x 24 x 103 cm

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.

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.

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

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

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

A Victorian walnut canterbury whatnot, rectangular shape, the…

Victorian Walnut Canterbury with Fretwork Gallery and Drawer

A Victorian walnut canterbury whatnot, rectangular shape, the top with a fretwork gallery, raised on turned supports from a canterbury base with fretwork panelled sides and a single drawer in the frieze, raised on turned legs with white porcelain casters.…

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

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

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

A Victorian demi-lune whatnot, late 19th century, with four…

Victorian demi-lune whatnot with delicate inlay and twist legs

A Victorian demi-lune whatnot, late 19th century, with four tiers, each with a delicate inlaid urn and scroll design with stringing, and supported by turned and twist carved legs with finials, the top tier surmounted by a pierced and curvaceous gallery;…

A Victorian burr walnut four-tier whatnot, with fret-pierced…

Victorian Burr Walnut Four-Tier Whatnot with Drawer

A Victorian burr walnut four-tier whatnot, with fret-pierced three-quarter gallery, twist-turned supports and fitted with a drawer. Width 56 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

Victorian what-not in mahogany

Mahogany Victorian What-Not

Victorian what-not in mahogany

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

A rosewood three tier whatnot, English, 19th century, 116 cm…

19th Century English Rosewood Three Tier Whatnot

A rosewood three tier whatnot, English, 19th century, 116 cm high, 61 cm wide, 46 cm deep

A Victorian walnut whatnot, three tier each with pierced…

Victorian Walnut Three-Tiered Pierced Gallery Whatnot

A Victorian walnut whatnot, three tier each with pierced gallery and turned supports. Height 113 cm. Width 103 cm. Depth 24 cm.

A Victorian period burr walnut cabinet whatnot, with turned,…

Victorian Burr Walnut Cabinet Whatnot

A Victorian period burr walnut cabinet whatnot, with turned, carved and fluted column supports, the base with single glazed door and internal shelf, intricate floral inlays and boxwood stringing, standing on short turned legs with original white china…

Victorian 3 tier what not with fretwork panel at the back of…

Victorian Fretwork Whatnot with Drawer

Victorian 3 tier what not with fretwork panel at the back of each shelf and a drawer below the bottom shelf, 92 cm wide, 123 cm high

A Victorian burr walnut music whatnot, circa 1860s, having an…

Victorian Burr Walnut Music Whatnot

A Victorian burr walnut music whatnot, circa 1860s, having an upper shelf supporting a mirrored and pierced upstand, an extended lower section on turned supports also with a mirrored back, the tops of each with canted corners, ebony and satinwood…

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 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

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 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

A 19th century rosewood two tier whatnot turned column supports…

Rosewood Two-Tier Whatnot with Turned Column Supports

A 19th century rosewood two tier whatnot turned column supports height 73 x 48 x 39 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

Rosewood 4 tier what not, with turned supports, 51.5 cm wide,…

Rosewood 4 Tier Turned Support Whatnot - 104cm High

Rosewood 4 tier what not, with turned supports, 51.5 cm wide, 36 cm deep, 104 cm high

Victorian rosewood whatnot with barley twist supports

Rosewood Barley Twist Whatnot

Victorian rosewood whatnot with barley twist supports

A quality inlaid figured walnut whatnot, the three conforming…

Inlaid Walnut Whatnot with Floral Chairs

A quality inlaid figured walnut whatnot, the three conforming chairs with floral scrolling satinwood inlays, turned and lobed supports terminating in brass and porcelain casters. 86 x 36 x 117 cm.

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 walnut three tier whatnot with fine fretwork panels.…

Victorian Walnut Fretwork Three-Tier Whatnot

A Victorian walnut three tier whatnot with fine fretwork panels. 94 cm high, 92 cm wide, 39 cm deep.

Antique early 19th century mahogany & walnut three tiered…

19th Century Mahogany & Walnut Three-Tiered Whatnot

Antique early 19th century mahogany & walnut three tiered whatnot, fitted with two drawers, approx 120 cm high

A Victorian burr walnut five tier whatnot, with fret above two…

Victorian Burr Walnut Five Tier Mirrored Whatnot

A Victorian burr walnut five tier whatnot, with fret above two mirrors below a mirrored door flanked by carved fretwork and shelves with bobbin turned supports. 144 cm high, 120 cm wide, 53 cm deep

A good Victorian burr walnut three tier whatnot, serpentine…

Victorian Burr Walnut Three Tier Whatnot

A good Victorian burr walnut three tier whatnot, serpentine upstand and shelves, turned and reeded spindle supports, the turned short legs terminating in brass capped, white porcelain casters. 84 cm x 37 cm x 155 cm

A Victorian mahogany three tier whatnot, English, circa 1860.…

Victorian Mahogany Three Tier Whatnot, Circa 1860

A Victorian mahogany three tier whatnot, English, circa 1860. 107 cm high, 65 cm wide, 34 cm deep

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

A Victorian walnut whatnot, with gallery top, turned and fluted…

Victorian Walnut Gallery Whatnot

A Victorian walnut whatnot, with gallery top, turned and fluted turned supports, tooled red leather insert and satinwood interior - and small drawer in base. 57 cm x 58 cm x 90 cm.

Victorian walnut whatnot, with lyre shaped ends, on turned feet,…

Victorian Walnut Lyre-Shaped Whatnot

Victorian walnut whatnot, with lyre shaped ends, on turned feet, 66 cm wide, 41 cm deep, 94 cm high

A Victorian walnut What not, later 19th century, a rectangular…

Victorian Walnut Three-Tier Whatnot with Gallery and Spindles

A Victorian walnut What not, later 19th century, a rectangular three tier whatnot with a pierced three-quarter timber gallery, and spindles, turned supports and raised on toupie feet, height 96 cm, width 56 cm, depth 37 cm

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

A Victorian burr walnut whatnot c.1880 -1890. The whatnot is a…

Victorian Burr Walnut Four Tier Whatnot

A Victorian burr walnut whatnot c.1880 -1890. The whatnot is a four tier type, with fretwork mirrored top back and central single mirrored door cupboard. Height 144 cm; width 106 cm; Depth 33 cm

A Sheraton Revival walnut whatnot, circa 1900, the four tier…

Sheraton Revival Walnut Four-Tier Whatnot

A Sheraton Revival walnut whatnot, circa 1900, the four tier whatnot of typical cascading form with fretwork, twist and turned supports and raised on toupie feet, well embellished with Sheraton urns and arabesque forms in ebony and satinwood inlay to each…

A Victorian burr walnut whatnot canterbury, mid 19th century,…

Victorian Burr Walnut Whatnot Canterbury

A Victorian burr walnut whatnot canterbury, mid 19th century, the shaped tiered whatnot of typical form with spindles, finials, ribbon twist supports and fretwork embellishments, the lower tier with pierced compartments above an apron drawer and raised on…

Four tier Victorian mahogany whatnot

Victorian mahogany four-tier whatnot

Four tier Victorian mahogany whatnot

A Victorian burr walnut music canterbury / whatnot, the upper…

Victorian Burr Walnut Music Canterbury

A Victorian burr walnut music canterbury / whatnot, the upper section with a shelf with pierced scrolling gallery, the lower section with three divided sections with turned supports and scrolled pierced fretwork walls, a frieze drawer to the base, raised…

A Victorian burr walnut and inlay canterbury whatnot, c.1880.…

Victorian Burr Walnut Canterbury Whatnot

A Victorian burr walnut and inlay canterbury whatnot, c.1880. The top is rectangular with pierced gallery back. The base has three dividers (used for storing sheet music or books) with a lower single full sized drawer upon turned bun feet. Height 82 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

Georgian mahogany three tier what-not with three lower drawers

Mahogany 3-tier what-not with 3 drawers

Georgian mahogany three tier what-not with three lower drawers

A Victorian walnut three tier whatnot, with mirror back, the…

Victorian Walnut Three Tier Mirror Whatnot

A Victorian walnut three tier whatnot, with mirror back, the three tiers of serpentine outline with spiral turned supports. 145 cm high, 136 cm wide, 46 cm deep

Fine antique French gilt bronze and mahogany what not, signed…

French Gilt Bronze & Mahogany Whatnot by Linke (1900)

Fine antique French gilt bronze and mahogany what not, signed possibly from the work shop of Linke circa 1900, approx 79 cm high, 61 cm wide, 41 cm deep

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 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

A George IV mahogany four tier what-not, circa 1825 with…

George IV Mahogany Four Tier What-Not

A George IV mahogany four tier what-not, circa 1825 with spindle turned supports and turned finials, drawer to base, 128 cm high, 58.5 cm wide, 42.5 cm deep

Victorian mahogany four tier whatnot with drawer in base

Mahogany 4-Tier Whatnot with Drawer

Victorian mahogany four tier whatnot with drawer in base

A Victorian cast iron tiered whatnot, the three stepped shelves…

Victorian Grape Decorated Cast Iron Tiered Whatnot

A Victorian cast iron tiered whatnot, the three stepped shelves pierced with scrolled supports with grape decoration, on three out swept scrolled legs, with grape and vine decoration. 118 cm high, 95 cm wide, 50 cm deep.

A superb Victorian walnut and satinwood inlaid whatnot. 149 cm…

Victorian Walnut and Satinwood Inlaid Whatnot

A superb Victorian walnut and satinwood inlaid whatnot. 149 cm high, 90 cm long, 25 cm deep

A mahogany five tiered what-not, English, circa 1880, 175 cm…

1880 English Mahogany Five Tiered What-Not

A mahogany five tiered what-not, English, circa 1880, 175 cm high, 76 cm wide, 30 cm

A Victorian carved burr walnut whatnot / cabinet with oval…

Victorian Burr Walnut Whatnot with Oval Mirror

A Victorian carved burr walnut whatnot / cabinet with oval mirror. Height 142 cm. Width 112 cm

A fine Sheraton Revival burr walnut whatnot canterbury, late…

Sheraton Revival Burr Walnut Canterbury with Pierced Gallery

A fine Sheraton Revival burr walnut whatnot canterbury, late 19th century, the canterbury with a book end veneer top and a three quarter pierced gallery, with slender turned supports to a partitioned pierced lower section and a full width drawer, raised…

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 burr walnut shape front three tier whatnot. 110 cm…

Victorian Burr Walnut Three-Tier Whatnot

A Victorian burr walnut shape front three tier whatnot. 110 cm high, 121 cm wide, 39.5 cm deep

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…

Antique boulle inlaid whatnot, held by ebonized turned supports,…

Boulle Inlaid Ebonized Whatnot Stand

Antique boulle inlaid whatnot, held by ebonized turned supports, approx 80.5 cm high, 45.5 cm wide, 35.5 cm depth

Victorian walnut four tier single drawer whatnot with fretwork…

Walnut Victorian Fretwork Whatnot with Single Drawer

Victorian walnut four tier single drawer whatnot with fretwork gallery & barley twist supports

A George III mahogany four tier library whatnot, circa 1820.…

Georgian Mahogany Library Whatnot with Adjustable Top

A George III mahogany four tier library whatnot, circa 1820. The adjustable hinged ratcheted top supported on ring turned uprights, the lower shelf with one drawer, the legs with brass terminals and castors, 48 cm width x 38 cm depth x 121 cm height.

Fine antique French brass bound French whatnot

Antique French Brass-Bound Whatnot

Fine antique French brass bound French whatnot