Elegant antique French Napoleon III era TAHAN marked 10.5" double well tea caddy with serpentine shaped sides, ebonized veneers and colorful boulle cartouche! We've had this one for a few months, just needing the small mother of pearl escutcheon replaced and here it is. Slightly less than perfect condition but a marked Tahan piece and gorgeous nonetheless. Tahan, maker to royalty and long lauded for the finest of fine. The engraving on the inner brass lock "Tahan, Fournisseur Du Roi" actually translates to "Supplier to the king". This one with undulating sides, the entire piece in what is likely ebonized rosewood veneers (rosewood with ebony finish). Brass strip or string inlays and thicker gilded edging along the lid and base. Centered in the lid is a large boulle cartouche in natural mottled shell, teal or blue enamel and mother of pearl accenting. The interior in finished rosewood with two original lids and remnants of the foil lining in the tea wells.
Very good condition, age considered. There is an age split to the left front canted corner and a few small veneer chips visible along the interior edges mostly. A thin brass strip or string inlay missing from the outer lid. Some crazing to the boulle but nothing missing and no notable lifting of the inlays. As mentioned above, the mother of pearl escutcheon is a replacement and it's shown and comes with an old skeleton key but it's not original and does not turn the lock. Front feet on the base are original but the rear have been replaced/restored with round brass ball feet. See images for all measurements.
