Description

Eglomised Panel of The Houses of Parliament in London, England

From our Tea Caddy collection, we are delighted to introduce to the market this rare example Tortoiseshell London Houses of Parliament Tea Caddy. The Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy or rectangular shape with curved corners raised upon four silvered ball feet with a slightly domed lid finished in Tortoiseshell veneer with silver stringing. To the top of the tea caddy there is a rare insert panel featuring an eglomised depiction of ‘the new houses of parliament’ as described to the lower right of the image. The image looks on at the houses of parliament from the river themes with boats to the foreground, the houses of parliament to the mid ground which includes, westminster bridge and big ben to the right hand side and westminster abbey in the background on the left hand side. The interior of the Tea Caddy contains two lidded tea compartments with turned handles and with both the lid and base faced in ivory. The Tortoiseshell London Houses of Parliament Tea Caddy dates to the first half of the 19th century Georgian period during the latter reign of William IV circa 1835.

The Tortoiseshell London Houses of Parliament Tea Caddy comes complete with a working lock and tasselled key

Measurements (inches) 5.12 High x 6.3cm Wide x 3.94 Deep

Literature Mark Goodger 25th Anniversary Catalogue page 16

Eglomise is a technique of gilding the back of a sheet of glass

The Houses of Parliament officially the Palace of Westminster is the meeting place of the Parliament of the United Kingdom located in London, England. It is nicknamed the Houses of Parliament after the House of Commons and the House of Lords who occupy the building. The Elizabeth Tower of the palace, nicknamed Big Ben, is a landmark of London and the United Kingdom and the palace also consists of House of Commons, House of Lords, Westminster Hall, St. Stephen’s Hall, Central Lobby, Queen’s Robing Room, Victoria Tower, Royal Gallery, Norman Porch and the Members Lobby amongst many other areas.

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.

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