Sycamore Apple Tea Caddy

Description

An oversized sycamore fruit form tea caddy dating to circa 1800, turned from solid sycamore with a rounded body and a natural patination acquired over more than two centuries. Likely of Continental origin, the caddy follows the popular fruit form associated with tea caddies produced during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

The exterior is modelled as an apple with a pronounced button stalk to the top and an slightly inverted base allowing the caddy to stand securely. The warm colour of the sycamore wood has deepened with age, highlighting the naturalistic carving of the form.

Opening through the original steel hinge reveals an interior retaining traces of the original silver foil lining. The front is fitted with a naïve oval escutcheon, slightly offset from the centre, a naive feature showing the hand made nature of the tea caddy.

Tea caddies in apple form were produced in a variety of sizes, though examples of this large scale are less commonly encountered.

View the full Tea Caddy Collection.

Mark Goodger Antiques has handled Georgian, Regency and Victorian tea caddies for decades, covering examples in tortoiseshell, pressed horn, burr woods, fruitwood, japanned surfaces, Tunbridge ware and silver. Our stock regularly includes sarcophagus forms, bombe shapes, novelty fruit caddies and rare interior configurations.

Through continued study of construction methods, veneer combinations, period inlay techniques and interior composition, we place particular emphasis on authenticity and correct attribution. Understanding which materials were used together, how interiors were finished, and how hinges and mounts were constructed is essential when assessing genuine eighteenth and nineteenth century tea caddies.

Breaking Myths

It is commonly believed that the Fruit Tea Caddies are made from fruitwood and are of English original however they are in actually made from Sycamore wood and are Continental.

Measurements

 11cm High x 12.5cm Diameter (4.33 x 4.92 inches)

What is Sycamore Wood?

Sycamore is also known as Harewood is a member of the Maple family, found in Europe. It is light yellow in colour and is often a very clean wood, with a straight, fine grain. The wood is often pippy. However, these pips are usually a very similar colour to the rest of the wood making them hardly visible.

For further information see our Woods Encyclopaedia on Sycamore Wood.

Why Buy from Mark Goodger Antiques?

With over thirty five years of specialist experience, Mark Goodger Antiques is recognised internationally as a leading authority in antique boxes and related works of art. Every item offered has been personally selected by Mark, whose knowledge and judgement are trusted by collectors, institutions, museums, interior designers, and fellow dealers worldwide.

Every purchase is supplied with a full supporting package for clarity and reassurance. This includes a Certificate of Authenticity, a detailed condition and care guide specific to your item, our most recent catalogue, and a separate invoice suitable for insurance and valuation purposes. Each piece is carefully examined prior to sale to ensure accuracy of description and quality.

Your purchase is fully insured during transit and protected by our straightforward money back guarantee, allowing you to buy with complete confidence. We pride ourselves on transparency, expertise, and long term relationships with our clients, many of whom return to us repeatedly over decades.

When you buy from Mark Goodger Antiques, you are purchasing from a specialist family business built on knowledge, trust, and an unrivalled focus on antique boxes.

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