Description

George III Circa 1800

From our Tea Caddy collection, we are delighted to offer this Rare George III Blonde Tortoiseshell Tea Chest. The Tea Caddy of rectangular form finished in Blonde Tortoiseshell to the exterior with Ivory edging, book matched veneer to the front and a quarter veneered top with silver stringing and a rare central diamond shaped inlay of Green Tortoiseshell surrounded by four Fleur-de-lis. The Green Tortoiseshell is surmounted by a sheffield silver plate oval handle matching the shaped escutcheon to the front. The green tortoiseshell featured on the blonde Tea Chest is a rare characteristic. The Tea Chest contains a red velvet inner lid and Boxwood facing with two removable Tea Caddies with Blonde Tortoiseshell lids edged in ivory containing traces of the original silver foil lining. The Blonde Tortoiseshell Tea Chest dates to the late George III period and the turn of the 19th century circa 1800.

Boxwood “Buxus sempervirens” can be found in Europe, Northwest Africa and Southwest Asia. It is a light cream that turns darker to brown when exposed to light. The trees are very small meaning it is suited to smaller projects like edging or inlay instead of veneers.

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.

Fleur-de-lis is a heraldic charge loosely in the shape of a lily flower (in French, fleur and lis mean ‘flower‘ and ‘lily‘ respectively). Most notably, the fleur-de-lis is depicted on the traditional coat of arms of France.

George III was King of Great Britain and Ireland from October 1760 until his death in 1820. It was under the rule of George III that the Acts of Union 1800 unified Great Britain and Ireland into the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.

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.

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.

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.