A rare antique millinery tool, this hat stretcher has a tap attachment which would have been connected to a gas supply and then used to warm the stretcher to make shaping and enlarging a hat much easier

The gas ones are early example later replaced by an electirc heating element

There is no manufacturers name,

A very wonderful antique ecclesiastical textile heavily encrusted with gold work florals, I particularly like the combination of the crimson velvet and gold

Small tie at the back for hanging, back lined with glazed cotton

In perfect antique condition

84cm by 62cm at the widest point 

French copper is everywhere at brocantes but occassionally you come across a piece that immediately stands out from the rest, this 19th century colander is one of those

These are rarities, I have only ever seen one other passoire,

 An exceptional hand stitched 19th century quilt with a dense diamond pattern centre, a second loop stitch border around the centre panel and narrow bands of stitching on the four sides to create an outer border.

The fabric used on one side of the quilt is a beautiful pink Paisley with red highlights,

Black and white enamel signs are a much rarer find and this is a beauty, solid and heavy weighing 3.5kg, moulded metal with a bevelled surround,

A hand stitched 19th century quilt with a diamond pattern centre and narrow bands of stitching on the four sides to create a border.

The same fabric has been used on both sides of the quilt, a soft weave cotton decorated with vibrant pink blooms shaded with green and wine red and bands of ombre shading,

Taken from a prayer bench this large religious tapestry has amazing detail and symbolism

It is worked in a mix of wool and glazed cotton entirely by hand and with great skill

Amazingly for the age it is in perfect condition, no loss of thread anywhere, the colours are still strong and there are no marks or stains,

These superb dress embellishments are huge, I had some difficulty working out how they were arranged so I hope the photos do them justice as they are magnificent 

The main sections are made from a tulle decorated with glass seed and barrel beads, which have a grey hue, to create the pattern,

Turn your petit maison into a medieval castle with this faux tapestry, it might not be the real thing but it does have some age, is French made and will be quite a statement as a wall hanging or even a bed coverlet, printed heavy weight cotton lined with a plain red cotton which is stamped Made in France,

From a large portiere curtain there are two panels of this soft drape jaquard weave textile with lovely flower basket and bow motifs in muted russet tones

Each panel measures 94"/240cm long by 48"/122cm wide,

Charming embroidered French heirloom linen sheet with matching pillow sham, I've not come across one with a matching pillow cover before. Dating from the late 1910's/1920's, the hem of the sheet is beautifully decorated with butterflies,

Late 19th/early 1900's French avocat lawyer's toque hat in it's original box with the avocats name label on the side and inside the lid

The hat in perfect antique condition, no damage to the velvet or silk fabrics and the silver metallic braid is intact but slightly oxidised

M.

So hard to find sets of 12 now, these early 1900's cotton napkins are lovingly embroidered with the initials in red cross stitch

They have a patterned chequerboard weave with narrow line borders

Well used but still with lots of life left in them,