Description

George III Circa 1790

From our Tea Caddy collection, we are delighted to offer this George III Red Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy. The Tea Caddy of small rectangular form is composed with octagonal Mother of Pearl panels framed by beautiful red Tortoiseshell and edged in ivory. The top of the Tea Caddy is surmounted by a small silver loop handle and finished to the front with a squared Silver escutcheon. When opened the Tea Caddy reveals a single Mahogany chamfered lid with a turned bone handle, the inside of the lid faced in ivory and the body faced in Kingwood and traces of the original Silver foil lining to the tea compartment. This rare example dates to the late 18th century Georgian period during the reign of George III Circa 1790, an extremely good example perfect for any collection.

The Tea Caddy comes complete with a working lock and tasselled key.

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.

Georgian era was a period in British history dating from 1714-1837, known as the Georgian era after the Hanoverian kings George I, George II, George III and George IV.

Mahogany is the name given to many types of tropical hardwood and can be found in Africa, India and South America, most of which are a red-brown colour with a fine, even grain. This makes it easily workable and gives it a durable finish which attributes to its popularity with many kinds of furniture.

Mother of Pearl is an organic-inorganic composite material produced by some molluscs as an inner shell layer. It is the same material that natural pearls are made from and is desirable due to its strong and resilient makeup along with its beautiful iridescent shimmer.

Kingwood also known as Violetwood, is found in South America and is violet-brown in colour with a darker grain. It is a very dense and hard wood that is only available for smaller items due to the small tree that yields it.

If you are purchasing Tortoiseshell or Ivory pieces and are outside the UK 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 30 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.

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