Regency Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy

This exquisite Regency tea caddy is crafted of tortoiseshell and ivory, two of 18th and 19th centuries' rarest luxury items. Displaying an elegantly modified Bombay shape, the container has two compartments for holding different types of tea leaves, usually one green and one black variety. Topped with ivory-knobbed tortoiseshell caps, the compartments reveal the original foil lining still in place. This lining is made of a tin alloy called "tea pewter," and helped to keep the tea dry and aromatic. A luxurous item crafted to contain a luxurious commodity, this box also features a plush velvet lining on the interior of the lid and delicate ivory bun feet.

Circa 1830

5 1/4" wide x 3 3/8" deep x 3 3/4"

Perhaps most among all beverages, tea is known for its enigmatic beginning, rivaled only by coffee. The colorful story of its accidental discovery by a Chinese emperor has been matched by its subsequent journey to the West. In 1556, Portuguese Jesuit missionary Father Jasper de C

M.S. Rau Antiques

M.S. Rau Antiques has been a French Quarter landmark for almost 100 years earning the trust of discerning antiques collectors worldwide. Our two galleries…

 

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