Price includes UK delivery.
 
A sarcophagus-shaped tea caddy of large scale and veneered in choice amboyna.
 
The lid opens to reveal two canisters and the original cut glass mixing bowl. Both canisters are of mahogany and have had their foil linings renewed at a time. Their lids are veneered – one with amboyna and the other with Hungarian ash. This appears to be original and may have served as a subtle distinguishing factor for one’s variety of tea leaves. Such is the quality of workmanship the canisters glide and snuggly settle when being placed into the caddy.
 
The inclusion of the glass mixing bowl is a rarity – its purple velvet lined central reciprocal along with corresponding marks to the inside of the lid further validate its lifetime association.
 
Rosewood ring carrying handles are present to each end along with a mother of pearl escutcheon. All is raised on later bulbous ribbed ceramic feet.
 
Such a piece harks back to a time when tea drinking was treated with ceremonial like respect. A caddy of this quality and size further amplified the owner’s status all while being presented in a taste that was high fashion during the Regency period.
 
The surface is tactile and glowing.
 
Solid and usable. Some minor sympathetic repairs present to both canisters.
 
British Isles, circa 1820.
 
Height 21cm
Width 36cm
Depth 16.5cm