Tea caddy with key

Date1750-1770

Terms

Tea Caddies
Brass
Pewter
Tin
Velvet
Wood
London

Dimensions15.23 × 25.38 cm (6 × 10 in.)

Credit LineTea Caddy, likely London, England, 1750-1770. Concord Museum Collection, Gift of Cummings E. Davis; H800.

Object numberH800

DescriptionEbony, pine, tinned steel, pewter, brass, wool velvet. Wood box with hinged lid, holds three removable tinplate canisters. Box flat on all sides, with molding at edge of lid. Corners of box have elaborate cut and stamped decoration. Brass ball and claw feet at corners. Key escutcheon cut and pierced brass. On top of lid is bail handle with cut, pierced, and stamped brass plate. All brasses have bird's head motif, handle plate also has shells. Inside lined with green velvet, trimmed with galloon. Side canisters are rectangular with round openings at top, covers sit loosely over opening. Center canister is wider, with curved lid hinged around wire at back. Key for lock inside center canister.