Description

Vizagapatam Stag Horn Serpentine Tea Caddy.

The interior of this impressive Vizagapatam Tea Caddy is constructed of sandal wood and veneered with buffalo horn, contains two Ivory lids both engraved & Lac filled with floral borders very similar to pen work decoration.

This eye catching stag horn tea caddy contains 100% of its original lead lining and comes complete with fully working lock & tasselled key.

The fashion for ivory veneering began in Vizagapatam in the middle of the eighteenth century superseding inlay work as the predominant vogue. Tastes developed and the cabinet-making industry met a demand for decorative items in the neoclassical vogue with the stark contrast of black and white, as seen here. This fashion also influenced the style of engraving that decorated these pieces, which became increasingly restrained, “shedding … exotic decorative elements in … favour of motifs that were in fashion in Europe.

Important information below:

If you are purchasing Tortoiseshell or Ivory pieces and are outside the E.U. you must have a CITES certificate in order to import the item into your country. We can obtain these on your behalf at a cost of £50 and these can take up to 14 working days to arrive at our office . Due to the strict exporting rules of these pieces, they may also come with further shipping costs. Please ensure you contact us prior to purchase for a quote.

More information on Tea Caddies can be found on our historypage.

Additional information