Antique George III Green Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy

From our Tea Caddy collection, we are delighted to offer this Georgian Green Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy. The Tea Caddy is finished in vibrant green Tortoiseshell to the exterior with Silver stringing, a silver vacant initial plaque and a silver escutcheon. The interior is faced in Boxwood surrounding the two tortoiseshell-fitted lids mounted with splayed bone handles. Removing the lids reveals the tea storage compartments with the visual signs of the original lining. The tea caddy dates to the Georgian period during the reign of George III (1760-1820) Circa 1790.

The Tea Caddy comes complete with working lock and Tasselled Key.

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.

Georgian, a period in British history dating from 1714-1837, the Georgian era after the Hanoverian kings George I, George II, George III and George IV.

Boxwood “Buxus sempervirens” can be found in Europe, Northwest Africa and Southwest Asia. It is a light cream that turns darker to brown when exposed to light. The trees are very small meaning it is suited to smaller projects like edging or inlay instead of veneers.

Measurements (centimetres) 11cm High x 17.5cm Wide x 9.5cm Deep