Exquisite & rare antique Georgian to Victorian era tortoise shell tea caddy, a single well with unique octagonal shape with ribbed or fluted dome topped lid, Dieppe style carved ivory floral & foliate finial and wonderful condition! We're always pleased to find and offer these wonderful antique shell items from the early to mid-1800s, whenever we're fortunate enough to find them. Tea caddies of this period, likely English as we believe this one to be, were foil lined as you see here in an attempt to keep the moist tea from warping the casket and also to work as a barrier to keep the moisture in the leaves. It remains, as you see it, superb for its fine shell as well as for its historic significance and inherent beauty. Fine interest in a group of shell caddies, owing to size, or just enjoy it as a decorative desk or table-top accent. Glorious old shell and highly unique!
Very good to excellent condition for age & materials. There appears to be a bit of cracking to the domed top but it's all intact & solid. The caddy retains its original inner tortoise shell veneered lid with ivory ball handle and the majority of the foil lining is intact. A few small nips to the shell but, as you can see, this one has been well cared for over the years. It is possible that the ivory finial is either not original or has been reattached. No key at this time though we'll keep looking and add to the listing if we find one that works. See images for all measurements.
IMPORTANT NOTE regarding antique tortoise shell or ivory: We are great supporters of protection for endangered species in our modern world. We never buy or sell anything 100 years or newer; we donate to anti-poaching organizations; we don't hunt; we conserve in ways that impact global warming (we're totally solar at home), knowing those measures also protect the animals in the wild today. We also recognize the vast cultural history we preserve with our care and reverence for these antique objects, and agree with CITES that objects over 100 years of age have nothing whatsoever to do with species depletion in our current world. We do hold a USDFW import/export license, as well.
Our offering exceeds the age limitation of "more than 100 years of age", and is well within the exemption for CITES regulation. If imported, met the CITES regulation. This item will be handled and shipped from our Utah business, and is not available for shipment internationally, nor within the USA to California, NY, Nevada, Hawaii, New Jersey, Oregon, Washington if it contains ivory, sorry. Please see our small print for more details.
