A Substantial Victorian Double Compartment Tea Caddy Brighton c1850

Description

Heading : Substantial Victorian Double Compartment Tea Caddy 
Date : c1850
Period : Victorian
Origin : England – probably Brighton
Decoration : A rectangular box with a version of the iconic Tunbridge Ware isometric cube pattern to the outer faces and to the inside of the lid; broad inset veneer borders or kingwood (or similar) with continuous key-line stringing to the edges of lid. front and two short sides; internally; two lift-out caddies. with piano-hinged lids. and a central circular well for a mixing bowl (not present); the caddy lids and well cover are all decorated with a small. well-executed chequerboard pattern; the whole sits on four brass screw-in feet.
Size : 30.5 x 15.4 x 16.3 cm
Condition : Excellent; well-made with all the tesserae in position; some of the larger cube-pattern pieces are very slightly warped. parallel to the grain direction. but they are all firmly seated; mixing bowl not present; working lock and key.
Restoration : None
Weight : 2188 grams

Notes : The cube pattern on this piece lacks the sophistication of recognised Tunbridge Ware versions. using fewer. larger tiles in its construction and with much less variety in the types of wood used. The form of the box – particularly the two caddy boxes themselves – have lead us to identify this as one of the pieces from a common source. which may well be the Childs & Son partnership of Brighton