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Description:
Ref: 734TC http://hygra.com/box/734TC/ 

Hexagonal shaped single compartment tea caddy veneered with satin birch crossbanded with kingwood 
to top and front sides and inlaid to top with a depiction of crossed branches, Circa 1790.

The inlay is inserted directly into the wood and it is extraordinarily fine. It is made up of two branches in the symmetrical neoclassical tradition, featuring delicate small leaves. They could be a stylised rendition of a tea plant, or perhaps olive leaves. There are subtle variations in the colour of the inlay, from brown to golden to shades of green. The green is of a natural and not dyed colour. Such wood was obtained by master craftsmen by selecting wood which had been attacked by a fungus which changed its colour to green. 

This caddy is illustrated at figure 290 of Antique Boxes Tea Caddies Society 

Origin: ;  Circa: 1790 ; Materials: .

Size:  18.5 cm wide by 9.7 cm by 13 cm:  7.3 inches wide by  3.8 inches by  5.1 inches.

Condition: good overall; Slightly misaligned on top. Stringing repaired here and other over a period of years. working lock and key; see images

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Front view: the stringings are complex: a crossbanding of kingwood with separating boxwood lines. 

The lid is lined with green velvet. The caddy retains much of its original leading.

The escutcheon is ebony. The caddy has a working lock and key.

The inlay is inserted directly into the wood and it is extraordinarily fine. It is made up 
of two branches in the symmetrical neoclassical tradition, featuring delicate small leaves. 
They could be a stylised rendition of a tea plant, or perhaps olive leaves. There are 
subtle variations in the colour of the inlay, from brown to golden to shades of green. The 
green is of a natural and not dyed colour. Such wood was obtained by master craftsmen by 
selecting wood which had been attacked by a fungus which changed its colour to green. 

 Around the edges of the top there is a crossbanding of kingwood and a stringing of boxwood. 

A

The caddy has a working lock and key.

The caddy retains some of its original lead lining. 

The straight grain of the quartered spruce structure wood is visible in this image.

The underside is covered with green felt.