Description

George III Double Serpentine Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy

From our tea caddy collection, we are delighted to offer this Georgian Tortoiseshell tea caddy with blonde highlights. The caddy of rectangular form with a double serpentine front and pagoda-shaped lid is beautifully decorated with a full tortoiseshell exterior complete with silver stringing to the extremities. Finished with a silver initial plaque and escutcheon and a flared plinth around the base raised upon four tagua nut (vegan ivory) bun feet. The interior is complete with two tea caddy compartments with tortoiseshell lids surmounted with carved mother-of-pearl handles. The tea caddy dates to the Georgian period during the reign of George III (1760-1820) Circa 1820.

The Tortoiseshell Tea caddy comes complete with working lock and key.

Vegan ivory or Tagua nut is a product made from the very hard centre of the seeds of certain palm trees. Vegan ivory is named for its resemblance to animal ivory. Species in the genus Phytelephas (elephant plant), native to South America, are the most important sources of vegetable ivory along with the Caroline ivory-nut palm and Vanuatu, and the real fan palm. A tagua palm can take up to 15 years to mature. But once it gets to this stage it can go on producing vegetable ivory for up to 100 years. In any given year a tagua palm can produce up to 20 pounds of vegan ivory making it an exceptionally sustainable source.

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, the Georgian era after the Hanoverian kings George I, George II, George III and George IV.

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.

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.

Every purchase made from Mark Goodger Antiques is accompanied by a comprehensive suite of documents to ensure your satisfaction and peace of mind. This includes our latest catalogue, a Certificate of Authenticity, detailed care instructions for your chosen item, and an independent invoice for insurance purposes. Additionally, your purchase is protected by our no-hassle, money-back policy, and your item will be fully insured during the shipping process to safeguard against damage or loss.

Additional information