A lovely early Victorian mahogany tea caddy dating from the mid 19th century, with a particularly appealing original fitted interior and handwritten presentation inscription dated 1844.
The rectangular mahogany case has a gently domed lid, shaped brass escutcheon and warm, richly aged surface. Opening the main lid reveals a pink-lined interior together with two separate fitted mahogany tea compartments, each retaining its original lift-off lid and turned wooden knob. These twin compartments were traditionally used to keep different varieties of tea separately stored at a time when tea remained a relatively valuable household commodity.
Most interestingly, the underside of the lid carries an old handwritten presentation inscription which appears to read “Mrs William Chisholm / To / John Hume / 1844”, followed by a further period inscription beneath. This gives the caddy considerably more individual history than the majority of surviving examples and supports a mid-19th-century date.
A wonderfully tactile and characterful piece of Victorian domestic history, equally attractive today as a small decorative box for jewellery, keepsakes or other treasured objects.
It measures approximately 19 × 10 × 10 cm (7.5 × 3.9 × 3.9 inches).
The caddy remains in good antique condition with the expected marks, scratches, wear and variations to the polished surface from around 180 years of use. There is some age-related wear and staining to the pink interior lining.
The rectangular mahogany case has a gently domed lid, shaped brass escutcheon and warm, richly aged surface. Opening the main lid reveals a pink-lined interior together with two separate fitted mahogany tea compartments, each retaining its original lift-off lid and turned wooden knob. These twin compartments were traditionally used to keep different varieties of tea separately stored at a time when tea remained a relatively valuable household commodity.
Most interestingly, the underside of the lid carries an old handwritten presentation inscription which appears to read “Mrs William Chisholm / To / John Hume / 1844”, followed by a further period inscription beneath. This gives the caddy considerably more individual history than the majority of surviving examples and supports a mid-19th-century date.
A wonderfully tactile and characterful piece of Victorian domestic history, equally attractive today as a small decorative box for jewellery, keepsakes or other treasured objects.
It measures approximately 19 × 10 × 10 cm (7.5 × 3.9 × 3.9 inches).
The caddy remains in good antique condition with the expected marks, scratches, wear and variations to the polished surface from around 180 years of use. There is some age-related wear and staining to the pink interior lining.