Tunbridge Ware Tea Caddy Carew Castle Pembrokeshire c1870

Description

Heading : Tunbridge Ware Tea Caddy Rare Depiction Carew Castle (Pembrokeshire) c1870
Date : c1870
Period : Victorian
Origin : Tunbridge Wells attributed to Henry Hollamby
Decoration : Has a classic floral “Berlin Woolwork” frieze to all four concave sides on the lower half of the body depicting vine leaves and fruit; the hinged lid features a six-square geometric band within banded and plain keylines. again around all four sides; the rounded and flat-ended lid has an eleven-square geometric border bounded with pairs of banded and plain keylines. surrounding a scarce topographic mosaic of Carew Castle in Pembrokeshire set in to a golden satinwood surround. The lids of both internal compartments have five-square geometric bands within continuous keylines to all four edges and small turned handles; both have almost all of their original tin-foil lining. The keyhole has a domed stickware escutcheon (and a working key).
Size : 14.6 cm high – 25 cm wide – 16.2 cm deep 
Condition : Very good with regard to tile completeness – very few missing pieces; the back (hinged) face seems to have been splashed with black ink (as does the front to a lesser extent – there is also a patch on the top of the lid) and this has been lacquered over
Restoration : Professionally cleaned and polished
Weight : 848 grams

Notes : Pieces of this style are generally attributed to Henry Hollamby – in this instance. the Carew Castle image is known to be one of his; it’s based on an unattributed etching published by J Newman & Co of Watling Street (operating between 1843 and 1871). The image has been foreshortened for the sake of composition – the bridge is actually some 150 yards upstream of the castle rather than being almost directly adjacent to it as shown.