Description

Georgian Circa 1830

From our Tea Caddy collection, we are delighted to offer this Belgian Spa Tea Caddy. The Tea Caddy of rectangular form with canted corners is veneered in Sycamore wood. Each panel of the Tea Caddy is hand painted with intricate birds seated upon branches with a scrolling leafy vine bordering the lid. To the top of the lid a beautifully hand painted floral arrangement shows flowers blossoming out of a basket. The interior of the Tea Caddy contains four lids, two veneered in further Sycamore and two with a silver foil lining all surmounted by a turned handle. The Tea Caddy dates to the later stages of the Georgian period during the reign of William IV circa 1830.

This Tea Caddy comes with a fully working lock and tasselled key.

Spa was born from a coming together of nature in the Principality of Liege which is nestled on the edge of the Hautes Fagnes in the heart of the Ardennes forest. It contains a wealth of iron ore and water sources that date back pre Roman era. Over many years travellers would come from far and wide to visit the area for holidays, history and a host of tourist activities. Artisans started to produce works to sell to these travellers and Spa work was born, often incorporating scenes from the local area and useful components such as sewing kits.

Penwork (pen and ink) was used on boxes to illustrate picturesque scenes and, at times, to document a vacation or visit to a foreign country. The prints would often depict people, landscapes, birds, insects, plants, flowers, and animals, as well as stories from Greek mythology or depictions of spa towns. Each of these drawings was very accurately drawn and beautifully varnished with shellac. It is likely that some penwork was commissioned by professional artists. Many of these works were highly detailed, showcasing the skill and expertise of the artist. Penwork was primarily a pastime practised by women (some of whom were just as skilled as the professionals) which explains the presence of so many examples throughout history. These works demonstrate the mastery of the artist in producing intricate details and an attractive finish. This is why the tradition of penwork has been passed down through generations.

Sycamore is a member of the Maple family, found in Europe. It is light yellow in colour and is often a very clean wood, with a straight, fine grain. The wood is often pippy. However, these pips are usually a very similar colour to the rest of the wood making them hardly visible.

With every purchase from Mark Goodger Antiques, you will receive our latest catalogue, a Certificate of Authenticity, detailed care instructions for your chosen piece and an independent invoice (for insurance purposes) will be enclosed. As well as being protected by a no-hassle, money-back policy, your piece will be entirely insured during the shipping process to ensure the safety of your item.

Additional information