A charming Victorian brass footman, or fireside trivet stand, circa 1860 to 1880, of neat, compact proportions and in the Queen Anne revival taste. The rectangular top has a softly moulded edge and is fitted with a pair of turned brass carrying handles, one to each side, which end in ball finials and make it easy to lift. The front is applied with two false drawer fronts with turned knobs, centred by a pendant, teardrop-shaped mount, and the shaped, scalloped apron below adds a lovely touch of decoration to what might otherwise be a plain form. The footman stands on four cabriole legs ending in neat pad feet, giving it a sturdy and pleasingly balanced stance. The brass has mellowed to a warm, soft golden colour with a gentle, rubbed patina, and the top carries the light surface marks and honest wear you would expect of a piece that has been used by the hearth for well over a century. Footmen of this type were made to stand before the fire, holding a kettle or teapot to keep warm, and they remain wonderfully useful today beside a fireplace, as a decorative stand for a plant or lamp, or as a characterful footstool. Solid, handsome and full of Victorian charm, a most appealing piece in good original condition.
