Object Description
The pair of Tea Caddies are of an unusual oval form with upwardly curved rim. The sides are beautifully engraved with an upper and lower band of bright cut scrolls and foliate motifs on a scratch engraved and prick dot ground. Each side is engraved with an unusual bright cut cartouche with incuse corners. One cartouche is vacant and the other is engraved with a contemporary Scottish Crest with the Motto “Nil Conscire Sibi – Conscious of no wrong” above. The curved, slightly domed, cover is engraved with an outer band of identical to those shown on the sides and terminates in a Neo Classical urn finial, also engraved with bright cut designs. The caddies are most unusual as they open from the side, not in the usual manner from the front. The caddies are each in excellent condition and are fully marked in the foot and with the maker’s mark and sterling mark on the cover.
The pair of caddies are contained within a most breath taking satinwood case with hallmarked hinges and escutcheon shaped handle and reeded oval mounts. It is most unusual to find fully hallmarked hinges, and handle, which accurately date the case, as the same as the caddies. The interior is lined with the original silk, velvet and gold braid.
William Frisbee was an exceptional maker whose work is of the finest quality in terms of design and production. He was apprentice to John Crouch and was in partnership with the great Paul Storr from 1792-1798. He died in December 1820. The Tea Caddies are in excellent, crisp, condition with clear hallmarks.
The Tea Caddies:
Height: 6.25 inches.
Length: 5.75 inches.
Width: 3.9 inches.
Weight: 32oz.
The Case:
Length: 10 inches.
Width: 7 inches.
Height: 7 inches.