George I Antique Silver Tea Caddy, London 1720.

Object Description

A good early English silver tea box of plain rectangular design with the plain hexagonal design typical of the early 1700’s. It has a sliding base and the lift off cap which doubles as a tea measure. Britannia standard silver. Excellent patina and the heavy gauge silver feels good in the hand.

Weight 229g, 7.3 troy oz.
Height 12.7cm, 5 ins. Base 8.1cm x 5.9cm.
London 1720.
Maker John Wisdome.
Britannia standard silver – purity 95.8%*.

Marks. Stamped on the body close to the base with a full set of English silver hallmarks; the base with maker and lion mark stamped on the inner surface.

Maker: John Wisdome

John Wisdome, London silversmith, apprenticed to John Leach 1694, free of the Haberdashers Company in 1700. 1st mark as largeworker 1704, address Watling St. 2nd mark 1717 same addfress. 3rd (Sterling) mark 1720, 4th 1723. Heal records him as a plateworker, Watling St, 1704 till death in 1731.

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Object Literature

A Tea Caddy is a box, jar, canister, or other receptacle used to store tea. The word is believed to be derived from ‘catty’, the Chinese pound, equal to about a pound and a third avoirdupois. The earliest examples that came to Europe were Chinese tea canisters in blue and white porcelain with china lids or stoppers. Tea in the early 18th Century was expensive, and also there was a tax on tea. so early tea caddies were small and made in precious materials such as silver, shagreen or tortoiseshell which reflected the valuable contents within.

*Britannia Standard. In 1696, so extensive had become the melting and clipping of coinage that the silversmiths were forbidden to use the sterling standard for their wares, but had to use a new higher standard, 95.8 per cent. New hallmarks were ordered, “the figure of a woman commonly called Britannia” and the lion’s head erased (torn off at the neck) replacing the lion passant and the leopard’s head crowned. This continued until the old standard of 92.5 per cent was restored in 1720. Britannia standard silver still continues to be produced even today and is always prized.

Object Condition

The box is in very good condition with minimal signs of wear compatible with age. The lid slides easily. All fully functional.

Object Details