Tea caddy

Dateca. 1783

MediumSpanish cedar, dark wood inlay, bass, ivory or bone, textile (modern)

Dimensions4 x 6 x 5 3/16 inches

Credit LineGift of John A. Hyman: The John A. Hyman Study Collection.

Object number2004-100

DescriptionOctagonal tea caddy of Spanish cedar with black wooden inlaid strips at each corner of sides and lid; pointed vertical oval inlaid bone or ivory escutcheon on front panel; hinged lid with brass hinges and octagonal brass plaque in center of top engraved with "This CADDY and/ BRASS PLATE with THE HINGES/ are parts of the/ Spanish Floating Batteries and/ Cannon destroyed before Gibraltar/ Decr. 13, 1782"; lid lined in modern blue velvet; modern green felt on bottom; traces of foil lining inside caddy.
MarkingsMounted on the lid, an octagonal brass plate inscribed: "This CADDY and/ BRASS PLATE with THE HINGES/ are parts of the/ Spanish Floating Batteries and/ Cannon destroyed before Gibraltar/ Decr. 13, 1782"
ProvenanceGift from John A. Hyman as part of the Hyman Collection, bought via E-bay from Walnut Antiques, PO Box 754, Brewster, MA 02631, 23 September 2004.