Description:
TC534:  Two compartment tea caddy,  the top and front decorated with marquetry in contrasting rosewood and birds eye maple  depicting stylized themes from nature.  Inside the caddy has two lidded compartments. Circa 1830

Origin: UK Circa1830 : Materials: maple and rosewood

Size: It measures 9 inches wide  by 4.9 inches deep and it is 4.4 inches  high: 22.8 cm wide by 12.4 cm deep by11.2 cm high.

Condition: good overall,  working lock and key,  see images. there is some veneer cracking and marks left behind by a worm attack to one side.
As each person has different criteria and antiques by their very nature have wear  please enlarge the images and ask for extra information as needed. 

There are strong similarities between this caddy and a writing box illustrated on our site:

http://www.hygra.com/wb/wbbimrw.htm 

The style of this marquetry is symmetry of natural forms.

 

 

The interior has two lids in maple.

The front of the caddy. The escutcheon is formed as part of the overall design.

There has as been some veneer cracking  and old worm holes to the side which are clearly visible. This does not effect the structural  integrity of the box. 

The back.

The other side.

The top shows clearly the influence of the neoclassical tradition. Although the flowers strive for naturalness, the composition is arranged in a balanced and symmetrical way. The palmette design in the middle of the sides, is a characteristic floral tradition of classical art.  

 The tin foil lining the tea compartments is relatively modern. Traces of the original leading can be seen on the wood above.

The caddy has a working lock and key.

The underside of the lids which were also re-covered with newer foil. 

 The compartment lids have turned hardwood pulls. the one one right seems to be a later replacement.

The underside has been covered with new felt.