Description

A good early English silver caddy of plain hexagonal design. With sliding top and lift off cap which doubles as a tea measure. Britannia standard silver*. Excellent patina and clear marks. To the base there are some hand engraved initials and the scratch weight. Weight 211 grams, 6.7 troy ounces. Height 13.5 cms. Base 8 x 6 cms. London 1711. Maker John Farnell.

Literature: A Tea Caddy is a box, jar, canister, or other receptacle used to store tea. The word is believed to be derived from ‘catty’, the Chinese pound, equal to about a pound and a third avoirdupois. The earliest examples that came to Europe were Chinese tea canisters in blue and white porcelain with china lids or stoppers.

Tea in the early 18th Century was expensive, and also there was a tax on tea. so early tea caddies were small and made in precious materials such as silver, shagreen or tortoiseshell which reflected the valuable contents within.

Some of the earliest silver examples have sliding bases (or tops) and the cap was used for measuring the tea. By the mid eighteenth century matching sets were available, with two caddies (for green and black tea) and a sugar bowl, all fitted into a wooden or shagreen case, often with silver mounts. During the late 1700’s the locking silver tea caddy was introduced with its own key which the lady of the house kept on the chatelaine around her waist. Double locking tea caddies in silver are rare.

Signed/Inscribed: *Britannia Standard. In 1696, so extensive had become the melting and clipping of coinage that the silversmiths were forbidden to use the sterling standard for their wares, but had to use a new higher standard, 95.8 per cent. New hallmarks were ordered, “the figure of a woman commonly called Britannia” and the lion’s head erased (torn off at the neck) replacing the lion passant and the leopard’s head crowned. This continued until the old standard of 92.5 per cent was restored in 1720. Britannia standard silver still continues to be produced even today and is always prized.

This lovely antique silver tea box is in very good condition with no damage or restoration. Good patina. All original and in good working order. The silver marks on the body are very clear and easy to read. The sliding top is marked with the Britannia and makers mark, the cap has the makers mark. Please note that this item is not new and will show moderate signs of wear commensurate with age. Reflections in the photograph may detract from the true representation of this item.

Maker: John Farnell

John Farnell, London silversmith, apprenticed to John Ash 1706, free 1714. Mark entered as largeworker 1714. 2nd mark (Sterling) 1720. Livery 1728. His mark is often found on hexagonal tea caddies.

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