Description

Octagonal Shape

From our Tea Caddy collection, we are delighted to introduce to the market this Green Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy Lund. The Tea Caddy of beautiful octagonal shape with a slightly domed top, silver button final and clasp finished with delicate silver stringing surrounding a green tortoiseshell veneer. When opened the interior of the tea caddy reveals a red velvet inner lid, ivory facings and a single green tortoiseshell lid with a turned mother of pearl handle. The interior of the tea caddy contains traces of the original silver foil lining. The Green Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy dates to the early 19th century during the Georgian period and the latter reign of George III circa 1810 and is firmly attributed to Thomas Lund of London.

Measurements (inches) 4.33 Wide x 3.74 Diameter

Lund was established in London by Thomas Lund in 1804. Initially selling pens and quills the Lund firm became known for the high-quality manufacture of cutlery, writing boxes and other luxury items. William Lund the son of Thomas was also a cutler and dressing case maker, apprentice to William Anderson from who William acquired the premises on Fleet Street, London in 1835.  Thomas and William initially ran their businesses independently, but after Thomas’s death in 1845, William took over the running of both, whilst also expanding his own premises in Fleet Street. When William Lund died in 1872, his son Charles continued the business under the name of William Lund & Son.

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.

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.

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