An extremely rare George III Divided Basket Tea Caddy made in London in 1796 by John Edwardes III
An extremely rare George III Divided Basket Tea Caddy made in London in 1796 by John Edwardes III
373832
The Tea Caddy is modelled in a very unusual basket form, with incuse sides. The sides are also decorated with alternate panels of vertical lobing and the plain panels display an upper and lower band of engraving including foliate scrolls and flower heads in ovals, all on a matted ground. The arched handle is attached to the main body with bi-furcated acanthus leaf mouldings and the centrally hinged cover is engraved with an unusual bright cut oval design, containing linear bands and a plain central oval. This piece is most unusual, as it has a central division, with two compartments, for different types of tea. The Caddy is a most unusual design and very few were made, unusually only in the workshops of John Emes and John Edwardes III. Edwardes was a very fine silversmith, who specialised in tea wares. The Caddy is fully marked on the base and with the sterling mark on the covers. An extremely rare example of tea caddy design.
Length: 7.1 inches, 17.75cm.
Width: 4.75 inches, 11.88cm.
Height, to the rim: 5 inches, 12.5cm.
Weight: 28oz.
RELATED ITEMS
