Exceptional Tortoise and Mother of Pearl Tea Caddy

The hinged rectangular top with three oval Signed Wedgwood plaques depicting putti at various pursuits within oval paterae mounted swagged and beaded borders, opening to a morocco leather lined hinged slope enclosing a well, the upper section fitted with candlesticks and compartmentalized for inkwells, above a hinged lid the front with a spring loaded secret drawer opening to a needle or pincushion and spools of thread. This unusual work box, mounted with blue and white jasperware signed Wedgwood plaques, is English in conception. The writing box was a popular form first used in the 18th c and well into the 19th c for traveling. This type of portable desk was described by the English poet William Cowper in 1785 as 'the most elegant, the compactest, the most commodious desk in the world.' Additionally, the jasperware plaques, came from Josiah Wedgwood's factory in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England. Its proximity to the steel manufacturing city of Birmingham, the birthplace of Matthew Boulton, producer of decorative metalwork (including cut steel mounts) and described by his friend and fellow-industrialist, Josiah Wedgwood, as 'the first Manufacturer in England', certainly suggests an English origin and possibly his handwork. However, the polished steel mounts are also typical of furniture and objects made in Tula, Russia, where the Imperial Arms Factory was founded by Peter the Great in the early 18th c and which later became known for its decorative objects, including furniture and domestic pieces. Catherine the Great, Empress of Russia, ordered the 'Frog Service...

French 19th c paper covered box with what appears to be a 3D diorama of the Strasbourg cathedral under a glass covered top. These paper boxes were de...

Regency Sarcophagus Shaped Box with Fan Inlaid Front, a Fitted Interior and Mirrored Lid, c1810. The top has an oval inlaid burl insert. The interior fitted with lift out, divided tr...

This small Venetian gem has lacca povera decoration which is the Italians version of decoupage. It is hand-painted and lacquered with cut-outs of various ...

An exceptional, fine and impressive antique Dutch silver tea caddy; an addition to our silver teaware collection This exceptional Dutch silver tea caddy has been realistically modelled in the form of a classic antique wine cooler...

An exceptional, fine and impressive antique Georgian English sterling silver locking tea caddy; an addition to our silver teaware collection. This exceptional antique George III sterling silver locking tea caddy has a navette, paneled shaped form. The body of this silver tea caddy box is embellished with bands of bright cut engraved volute spiraling leaf ornamentation on a matte background to the upper and lower portions; these bands flank a plain undulating bordered panel. The ornamentation to the surface of the caddy alternates with panels of concave vertical fluted decoration. This antique Georgian tea caddy is retains the original hallmarked flush hinged covers; the flush hinge indicates the fine quality of this piece. The cover is embellished with further bright cut engraved undulating borders accented with bud motifs, in addition to simplified borders paralleling the domed paneled portion; the domed portions reflects the incurved shape of the body. This impressive cover is surmounted with a cast sterling silver urn style finial, in the Classic Adams style. The caddy retains the original fitted fully working lock and functional key. This sterling silver tea caddy is a highly desirable shape and style. Condition: This Georgian silver tea caddy...

Featuring Alternating Panels From our Tea Caddy collection, we are delighted to offer this fine Regency Tortoiseshell and Mother of Pearl Serpentine Tea Caddy. The Tea Caddy of rect...

Tortoiseshell tea caddy with inlaid mother of pearl from England. Metal lined under two lids.  Excellent condition, circa 1860.