Eridge Castle Tunbridge Ware Tea Caddy c1860

Description

Heading : Two compartment Tunbridge ware tea caddy
Date : c1860
Period : Victoria
Origin : Tunbridge Wells. Kent
Decoration : The cover decorated with Hollamby’s version of Eridge Castle within keylines. The cover bordered by a mosaic chain pattern. The side panels of the cover are decorated with geometric banding. The side panels of the main body of the piece are decorated with a band of naturalistic swags within keylines. The underside with retailers label for W H Tooke. Liverpool.
Size :  13.2cm height. 23×13.5cm base.
Condition : Good. no missing tesserae and minimal lifting. There is a small indentation to the left of the escutcheon as one faces it. Otherwise just general light wear commensurate with age. Working lock and key
Restoration : None
Weight :  666 grams

William Tooke was a jeweller and goldsmith in Liverpool. he also manufactured desks and other woodwares and it is unsurprising that he wanted to stock the very popular Tunbridge ware in his Merseyside store. The box itself is almost certainly the work of Henry Hollamby.