Description

Mounted with Silver Dated 1905

From our Tea Caddy collection, we are delighted to offer this Edwardian Tortoiseshell & Silver Tea Caddy. The Tea Caddy modelled as a miniature knife box with a serpentine front and sloped lid. The exterior is veneered in Tortoiseshell with decorative Silver scrollwork mounts and a joining escutcheon surmounted with a loop handle to the lid. The Silver Hallmarked Martin, Hall & Co (Richard Martin & Ebenezer Hall), Sheffield, 1905. The interior of the box with the original Green velvet lining to the lid, Tortoiseshell veneered Lid & Silver handle with the original foil lining to the Tea leaves compartment.

Martin, Hall & Co (Richard Martin & Ebenezer Hall) were Silversmiths, electroplated manufacturers and steel cutters from Sheffield, England. Was founded in 1820 by Henry Wilkinson and John Robers (Wilkinson & Roberts) Wilkinson worked at the business for approximately 16 years and in 1836 left to set up his own Silver firm Henry Wilkinson & Co (see our table lighter here). Robers then entered into partnership with Ebenezer Hall (his apprentice in 1836) under the brand Roberts & Hall. In 1854 Richard Martin (of Martin Brothers & Naylor) and Halls Brother Joshua joined the business as partners and the business became Martin, Hall & Co which became Ltd in 1866. Their factory was located at Shrewsbury Works in Broad St Park, Sheffield with showrooms in Birmingham, Glasgow, London and Sydney. The firm participated in the 1851 Great Exhibition, the International Exhibition (1862), the Sydney Exhibition (1879), the Melbourne Exhibition (1881) and the 1915 British Industries Fair. Alongside the Sterling Silver and electroplated items the firm had a successful cheap line of production on a patented white metal called “Martinoid”. Items made by Martin, Hall & Co were retailed all over the world by high-end brands such as Wordley & Co Liverpool, Charles Nephew & Co Calcutta, West & Son Dublin, Goldsmiths Alliance Ltd Cornhill, Mappin Brothers London and many other firms. After WWI the firm went into liquidation and was struck off the register in 1936. The firm’s remaining assets were believed to have been sold to Frank Cobb & Co in circa 1931.

The term “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 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 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.

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