Tea Caddy
1735-1736 (hallmarked)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
Tea was a highly prized commodity, often kept in locked containers. Elegant tea wares were popular, as tea was made in the drawing room by the hostess rather than in the kitchen by the servants.
Form and Decoration
The distinctive fluted angles and sloping shoulders of this canister mark a development from the traditional forms of the early 18th century, and would appear to have first been used by Paul de Lamerie in 1731 in a highly-individual response to the early stages of the Rococo style. It became a standard form, adopted by many silversmiths in Britain from the late 1730s. The characteristic decorative motifs of asymmetrical C-scrolls, foliage and shellwork have been overlaid onto the canister, emphasising the movement of the curved angles and shoulders of the body. The richly chased cover, shoulders and base are in marked contrast to the central section, which has been left unornamented to accentuate a large expanse of smooth, shimmering surface, ideal for engraving. The heart-shaped cartouche, set within scrolls and different types of foliage, is typical of British engraved ornament of the period, which was based on widely-available French ornamental prints.
Use
The sliding panel of the lid has a hinged handle, and would have been drawn back for filling or dispensing tea leaves. The very precise technical manufacture of these sliding lids would ensure the canister remained completely airtight. The pair to this canister is engraved with the letter 'S', indicating that it held sugar.
Tea was a highly prized commodity, often kept in locked containers. Elegant tea wares were popular, as tea was made in the drawing room by the hostess rather than in the kitchen by the servants.
Form and Decoration
The distinctive fluted angles and sloping shoulders of this canister mark a development from the traditional forms of the early 18th century, and would appear to have first been used by Paul de Lamerie in 1731 in a highly-individual response to the early stages of the Rococo style. It became a standard form, adopted by many silversmiths in Britain from the late 1730s. The characteristic decorative motifs of asymmetrical C-scrolls, foliage and shellwork have been overlaid onto the canister, emphasising the movement of the curved angles and shoulders of the body. The richly chased cover, shoulders and base are in marked contrast to the central section, which has been left unornamented to accentuate a large expanse of smooth, shimmering surface, ideal for engraving. The heart-shaped cartouche, set within scrolls and different types of foliage, is typical of British engraved ornament of the period, which was based on widely-available French ornamental prints.
Use
The sliding panel of the lid has a hinged handle, and would have been drawn back for filling or dispensing tea leaves. The very precise technical manufacture of these sliding lids would ensure the canister remained completely airtight. The pair to this canister is engraved with the letter 'S', indicating that it held sugar.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
|
| Materials and techniques | Silver |
| Brief description | Silver, English from a tea caddy; Silver, English |
| Physical description | Tea caddy, one of a pair with case |
| Dimensions |
|
| Marks and inscriptions | Engraved with the crest and arms of Knife and another family |
| Gallery label | British Galleries:
By the 1730s, the rectangular shape for tea canisters was becoming old-fashioned. However, the silversmith brought it up to date with motifs in the new Rococo style. The chased C-scrolls, shells, masks and floral garlands, and the engraved angled surround for the armorials, all became standard Rococo devices.(27/03/2003) |
| Credit line | Bequeathed by Ethel Gurney |
| Object history | Made by the London workshop of Paul de Lamerie (born in Bois-le-Duc, The Netherlands, about 1688, died in London, 1751) |
| Summary | Object Type Tea was a highly prized commodity, often kept in locked containers. Elegant tea wares were popular, as tea was made in the drawing room by the hostess rather than in the kitchen by the servants. Form and Decoration The distinctive fluted angles and sloping shoulders of this canister mark a development from the traditional forms of the early 18th century, and would appear to have first been used by Paul de Lamerie in 1731 in a highly-individual response to the early stages of the Rococo style. It became a standard form, adopted by many silversmiths in Britain from the late 1730s. The characteristic decorative motifs of asymmetrical C-scrolls, foliage and shellwork have been overlaid onto the canister, emphasising the movement of the curved angles and shoulders of the body. The richly chased cover, shoulders and base are in marked contrast to the central section, which has been left unornamented to accentuate a large expanse of smooth, shimmering surface, ideal for engraving. The heart-shaped cartouche, set within scrolls and different types of foliage, is typical of British engraved ornament of the period, which was based on widely-available French ornamental prints. Use The sliding panel of the lid has a hinged handle, and would have been drawn back for filling or dispensing tea leaves. The very precise technical manufacture of these sliding lids would ensure the canister remained completely airtight. The pair to this canister is engraved with the letter 'S', indicating that it held sugar. |
| Associated objects |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.156:1, 2-1939 |
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| Record created | April 26, 1999 |
| Record URL |
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