Antique Inlaid Wooden Tea Box, 19th Century

Details

Description

An original antique box/tea container, made of wood and richly decorated with figurative motifs (genre scenes) inlaid into the wood. … Read more An original antique box/tea container, made of wood and richly decorated with figurative motifs (genre scenes) inlaid into the wood. The item served as a tea caddy – a container for storing loose leaf tea.
The box has two internal compartments with separate lids, which is typical for 19th-century tea containers (separation of tea types). The whole thing is locked with a key (the key has not been preserved).
Visible signs of age and use: local losses of inlay, cracks and abrasions in the wood – condition consistent with age, no secondary interventions, original patina preserved.
Dimensions:
width: 19.5 cm
depth: 10.5 cm
total height: 13 cm
body height: 11 cm
Material and workmanship:
solid and veneered wood
marquetry made of various types of wood
interior lined with paper
brass hinges and fittings
Period and origin:
Europe, late 19th / early 20th century
classic tea caddy form
Intended use:
container for loose leaf tea
collector's box
classic / vintage interior decoration
item for antique and arts and crafts collections See less