This very beautiful Georgian tea caddy was manufactured in England at the very end of the 18th Century. The decagonal caddy is crafted from timber and has been veneered with slivers of ivory with tortoiseshell stringing. To the centre front is a blue and white medallion of jasperware attributed to Josiah Wedgwood and depicts 'Charlotte Mourning at the tomb of Werther'. There is an example of a plaque in jasperware depicting Charlotte at the tomb of Werther in the Victoria & Albert museum in London and they note it is taken from the romantic novel by Goethe. The caddy has mother of pearl and gold metal inlay to the outside of the Wedgwood medallion along with some to the top of the lid, and whilst untested the gold is likely to be solid of some kind. There is a handle to the lid, again in a gold coloured metal, likely to be pure. There is also a gold metal escutcheon and octagonal plaque with an engraved crest, likely that of the original owner's. To the inside the caddy retains its internal lid with gold metal handle, however the internal lining of the piece has been removed at some stage in the last 220 years. This absolutely exquisite object would have been originally in the possession of someone of great wealth and social status and is in beautiful antique condition.
Measures - 11cm H x 13cm W x 8cm D