A three compartment satin-birch tea caddy with lidded interior and inlaid with oval marquetry medallions depicting fruit on the top and a vase of flowers on the front. Circa 1795

It measures 9.8  inches wide  by 5.1  inches deep and it is 5.1 inches  high. 25cm wide by 13cm deep by 13 cm high.

 

Detail: Stylized arrangement of naturalistic flowers. 

Detail: The top is most unusual in that the marquetry depicts fruit, suggesting a note of the good life enjoyed by the Georgian upper classes.  

Detail: the  caddy is bound with very fine lines of stringing enclosing crossbanding in kingwood, expertly mitered.

Detail: The inside of the lid is also decorated with a marquetry oval panel of a classical arrangement.

The lids are a later replacement although this adjustment appears to have been made early on in the life of the caddy. 

It is possible that the owner stopped using sugar when the politics of sugar production became an issue, especially in the early 19th century.     

The interior retains much of its original leading.

The line showing the original divisions is just visible. It is obvious that the central part was wider to allow for the bowl recess.