George III Antique Silver Caddies in Box, London 1761.

Object Description

A very attractive set of antique silver tea caddies of straight sided form in a beautifully lacquered chinoiserie locking box. Hand engraved to the silver is a finely executed foliate shell design and all boxes have hinged lids with a family coat of arms and greyhound crest. The 2 side cannisters are for black and green tea and the centre box is for mixing and/or sugar.

Total weight of 3 boxes 1225g, 39.3 troy oz.
Side caddies height 12.3cm. Base 9.3cm x 5.8cm.
Centre caddy height 12.3cm. Base 9.3cm x 5.8cm.
London 1761.
Maker William Abdy.
Sterling silver.

Marks. The caddies are stamped underneath the body with a full and matching set of English silver hallmarks, underneath the lids with lion and maker’s mark. The maker’s mark W.A is possibly for William Abdy.

Arms. For the Marker family of Uffculme.

Maker: William Abdy

William Abdy I, London silversmith, free by redemption 1752. Livery 1763. 1st mark as smallworker 1763. 2nd & 3rd marks 1767, 4th & 5th marks 1769. 6th mark (2 sizes, 1779. 7th mark as plateworker 1784. Died 1790.

His son William Abdy II, free by patrimony, entered his 1st mark in 1790 shortly after his father’s death. 2nd mark (2 sizes) 1790. Moved to Wilson St, Finsbury in 1821. Livery 1791-1823.

Free Shipping Worldwide

Object Literature

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. 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. Some of the earliest silver examples have sliding bases (or tops) and the cap was used for measuring the tea. By the mid 18th century matching sets were available, with two caddies (for green and black tea) and a sugar bowl, all fitted into a wooden or shagreen case, often with silver mounts.

Object Condition

The silver tea containers are all in very good condition with minimal signs of wear commensurate with age, the hinges work well and are fully functional. The wooden box is in good working condition, it has the original key, the painted finish shows wear but we think this is very charming.

Object Details