Early 19th Century Irish Mahogany Single Tea Caddy with Armorial Crest

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Early 19th Century Irish Mahogany Single Tea Caddy with Armorial Crest

About the Item

Really nice early 19th century Irish single tea caddy. Made of mahogany, circa 1810. The lid has a quintessentially Irish Crest inlaid in it and it is bordered with ebony, mother of pearl and abalone chevrons. The escutcheon is silver and the cartouche on the lid has a solid silver insert. It still retains its original lining. Single tea caddy's like this are rare..................Single irish tea caddy's are rarer still!!!!! Tea caddy: A tea caddy is a box, jar, canister, or other receptacle used to store tea. The word is believed to be derived from catty, the Chinese pound, equal to about a pound and a third avoirdupois. The earliest examples that came to Europe were of Chinese porcelain, and approximated in shape to the ginger-jar. They had lids or stoppers likewise of china, and were most frequently blue and white. Until circa 1800 they were called tea canisters rather than caddies. Earlier tea caddies were made of either porcelain or faience. Later designs had more variety in materials and designs. Wood, pewter, tortoiseshell, brass, copper and even silver were employed, but in the end the material most frequently used was wood, and there still survive vast numbers of Georgian box-shaped caddies in mahogany, rosewood, satin-wood and other timbers. These were often mounted in brass and delicately inlaid, with knobs of ivory, ebony or silver. Many examples were made in Holland, principally of the earthenware of Delft. There were also many English factories producing high quality goods. As the use of the jar waned and the box increased, the provision of different receptacles for green and black tea was abandoned, and the wooden caddy, with a lid and a lock, was made with two and often three divisions, the center portion being reserved for sugar. In the late 18th and early 19th century, caddies made from mahogany and rosewood were popular. The larger varieties were known as tea chests. As tea grew cheaper there was less concern with the appearance of caddies, and as a result they fell out of use. The use of "tea caddy" instead of "biscuit tin" fell out of use in the early 1900s. Provenance: Bought from a reputable dealer in Ireland.

Dimensions:
Height: 4.5 in (11.43 cm)Width: 5.7 in (14.48 cm)Depth: 4.7 in (11.94 cm)
Style:
George III (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Abalone,Ebony,Mahogany,Mother-of-Pearl,Sterling Silver,Hand-Crafted,Inlay
Place of Origin:
Ireland, Republic of
Period:
Early 19th Century
Date of Manufacture:
1810
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use. Minor losses. The exterior of this box is in very good condition. Some loss of lining and interior lid missing. Does not affect the beauty and rarity of the piece.
Seller Location:
Dallas, TX
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU3978112439203