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 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…

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…

Victorian walnut whatnot with marquetry inlay shelves and…

Victorian Walnut Marquetry Whatnot with Mirrored Top

Victorian walnut whatnot with marquetry inlay shelves and fretwork mirrored top, 55 cm wide, 115 cm high

Antique floral marquetry inlaid demi lune shape whatnot, 134 cm…

Antique Floral Inlaid Demi Lune Whatnot

Antique floral marquetry inlaid demi lune shape whatnot, 134 cm high, 62 cm wide, 29 cm deep

A Victorian walnut canterbury whatnot, circa 1860s. The well…

Victorian Walnut Canterbury Whatnot

A Victorian walnut canterbury whatnot, circa 1860s. The well figured book end veneer top with stringing, Sheraton style floral inlay and finials, with turned supports to a tri-partitioned lower section above an inlaid single drawer, and raised on turned…

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

Victorian four tier inlaid mahogany whatnot height 150 cm approx

Victorian Mahogany Inlaid Four-Tier Whatnot (or) 150cm Height

Victorian four tier inlaid mahogany whatnot height 150 cm approx

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 4 tier whatnot, with barley spiral twist…

Victorian Rosewood 4 Tier Fretwork Whatnot

Victorian rosewood 4 tier whatnot, with barley spiral twist supports and fretwork gallery to top, 67 cm wide, 116.5 cm high

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

Four tier Victorian mahogany whatnot

Victorian mahogany four-tier whatnot

Four tier Victorian mahogany whatnot

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.

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…

Vintage three tier whatnot with marquetry inlaid shelves…

Marquetry Three-Tiered Whatnot with Turned Columns

Vintage three tier whatnot with marquetry inlaid shelves supported by turned columns, 51.5 cm x 36 cm, 75.5 cm high approx.

Victorian mahogany inlaid what-not

Mahogany Inlaid Victorian What-Not

Victorian mahogany inlaid what-not

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 Victorian burr walnut and inlaid whatnot with mirror panel…

Victorian Burr Walnut Inlaid Whatnot with Mirror Back

A Victorian burr walnut and inlaid whatnot with mirror panel back, fret-pierced panels and turned supports. Width 55 cm

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

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

Victorian Inlaid Walnut Three-Tier Whatnot

A Victorian three tier inlaid walnut whatnot, 19th century, with shaped shelves of graduating depth supported by turned and spiral twist spindles with finials and raised upon toupie feet, each shelf with inlaid embellishments in satinwood and ebony.…

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.

A Victorian walnut and inlaid whatnot, circa 1890, with a small…

Victorian inlaid walnut whatnot with mirrored gallery

A Victorian walnut and inlaid whatnot, circa 1890, with a small mirrored and pierced gallery above three cascading shaped shelves with turned supports and delicate stringing, ebony, satinwood and burr walnut marquetry, a pair of cupboards below with…

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.…

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

Victorian mahogany & pine three tier what-not

Victorian Three-Tier Mahogany What-Not

Victorian mahogany & pine three tier what-not

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

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 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

A parquetry what-not of small proportions

Miniature Parquetry What-Not

A parquetry what-not of small proportions

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 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

Victorian small whatnot

Tiny Victorian Whatnot

Victorian small whatnot

An oak three tier whatnot, English circa 1910, with barley…

English Oak Three Tier Whatnot with Barley Twist Column

An oak three tier whatnot, English circa 1910, with barley twist column, 148 cm high

Antique walnut music canterbury What not, 92 cm high

Antique Walnut Music Canterbury

Antique walnut music canterbury What not, 92 cm high

Victorian five tier whatnot, with barley spiral twist supports,…

Victorian Barley Twist Five-Tier Whatnot

Victorian five tier whatnot, with barley spiral twist supports, 69 cm wide, 132 cm high

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

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 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

Antique mahogany four tiered whatnot, approx 138 cm high, 70 cm…

Mahogany Four-Tiered Whatnot - Antique

Antique mahogany four tiered whatnot, approx 138 cm high, 70 cm wide, 73 cm deep

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 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.…

Victorian walnut whatnot with pierced gallery back, c1880s.…

Victorian Walnut Pierced Gallery Whatnot

Victorian walnut whatnot with pierced gallery back, c1880s. Height 103 cm, width 79 cm, depth 41 cm. Provenance: Historic Corio Villa Geelong

Victorian burr walnut three tier whatnot with barley twist…

Victorian Burr Walnut Three-Tier Whatnot

Victorian burr walnut three tier whatnot with barley twist columns, c1870s. Height 116 cm, width 67 cm, depth 42 cm. Provenance: Historic Corio Villa Geelong

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 mahogany whatnot, 19th century, a five tier whatnot…

Victorian mahogany five-tier whatnot

A Victorian mahogany whatnot, 19th century, a five tier whatnot with a pierced arched crest and turned supports and finials raised on small turned and knopped legs. Height 131.5 cm. Width 66 cm. Depth 23.5 cm

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 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…

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

Antique French inlaid two tier whatnot, shaped top with brass…

French inlaid two-tier whatnot with brass gallery

Antique French inlaid two tier whatnot, shaped top with brass pierced gallery, approx 79 cm high, 48 cm long

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 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;…

Antique walnut three tier whatnot

Antique Walnut Three-Tier Whatnot

Antique walnut three tier whatnot

Victorian rosewood whatnot with barley twist supports

Rosewood Barley Twist Whatnot

Victorian rosewood whatnot with barley twist supports

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…

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

William IV four tier rosewood whatnot with a drawer, 46 cm x 46…

William IV Rosewood Whatnot with Drawer (10 words)

William IV four tier rosewood whatnot with a drawer, 46 cm x 46 cm, 131 cm high

Victorian inlaid walnut three tier what-not

Victorian Walnut Inlaid Three-Tier What-Not

Victorian inlaid walnut three tier what-not

A Victorian style five tier mahogany what-not, 67 x 127 x 19.5…

Victorian Mahogany Five-Tier What-Not

A Victorian style five tier mahogany what-not, 67 x 127 x 19.5 cm

Victorian burr walnut whatnot with marquetry inlay, fretwork…

Victorian Burr Walnut Marquetry Whatnot

Victorian burr walnut whatnot with marquetry inlay, fretwork and turned spiral fluted supports, as inspected, 55.5 cm wide, 101 cm high, 35.5 cm deep

Attractive late 19th century what-not

19th Century Attractive What-Not

Attractive late 19th century what-not

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 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

Antique French what not/music stand

French Antique Music Stand

Antique French what not/music stand

Good Victorian four tier rectangular whatnot, with turned…

Victorian Fretwork Whatnot with Turned Stretchers

Good Victorian four tier rectangular whatnot, with turned stretchers and fretwork decoration

Fine antique French brass bound French whatnot

Antique French Brass-Bound Whatnot

Fine antique French brass bound French whatnot

Quality reproduction three tier what-not with fretwork in walnut

Walnut Fretwork Three-Tier What-Not

Quality reproduction three tier what-not with fretwork in walnut

A Continental walnut five tier whatnot. 133 cm high, 69 cm wide,…

Continental Walnut Five-Tier Whatnot

A Continental walnut five tier whatnot. 133 cm high, 69 cm wide, 36 cm deep

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

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

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