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French Napoleon III Boulle Tea Caddy

About the Item

Single Tea Caddy Compartment From our Tea Caddy collection, we are delighted to bring to market this Antique French Boulle Tea Caddy. The Tea Caddy of square shape with slight bombe form featuring beautifully cast ormolu mask mounts possibly Bacchus with raised scrollwork feet. The body of the Tea Caddy is finished with red tortoiseshell and engraved brass scrollwork inlay with matched the lid which is finished with a slightly raised pagoda type top. The interior of the Tea Caddy is complete with a rosewood single lidded compartment with brass stringing and a turned handle covering the silver foil lined caddy compartment. The French Boulle Tea Caddy dates to the late 19th century and the beginning of the Belle Epoque period circa 1870. Measurements (Inches) 5.5 High x 6.1 Square Boulle is a rich marquetry process or inlay perfected by renowned French cabinetmaker André-Charles Boulle (1642–1732). It involves veneering furniture with sheets of tortoiseshell which have been meticulously inlaid with brass and/or pewter in elaborate designs, often incorporating arabesques. Ormolu a technique of applying ground, high-carat gold–mercury to an object of bronze. The mercury is driven off in a kiln leaving behind a gold coating. The French refer to this technique as bronze doré and in English it is often referred to as gilt bronze. It is a finishing technique which adds an overall gold look to any object without the massive cost and impracticality of making an object out of solid gold. Mercury was outlawed in the 1830’s in France however it was still used until the early 1900s. Tortoiseshell describes a type of decorative material made from the shells of certain species of sea turtles. The shells of these turtles are composed of a hard, glossy substance called keratin, which can be cut and shaped into a variety of decorative items. Tortoiseshell has been used for centuries to make a range of decorative objects, including combs, brush handles, and other small items. It is also sometimes used to make tea caddies, as it is strong, durable, and can be polished to a high shine. The term “tortoiseshell” is used to describe these decorative items, even though they are made from the shells of sea turtles because the term has been used historically to refer to this material.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 5.52 in (14 cm)Width: 6.11 in (15.5 cm)Depth: 6.11 in (15.5 cm)
  • Style:
    Napoleon III (Of the Period)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    Circa 1870
  • Condition:
  • Seller Location:
    Northampton, GB
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: 5014891stDibs: LU8027244408782

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