Tea chest and canisters

Glassware

-

Boscobel House and Gardens

Name/Title

Tea chest and canisters

Entry/Object ID

G 66.4

Description

Pair of oval cut-glass tea canisters (or caddies) with vertically faceted sides and three equally spaced horizontal cut bands. The oval silver-mounted openings have hinged lids with bright-cut engraved bands and a central oval enclosing script initials "SMD". Three London hallmarks, lacking a date letter, include a raised "PC" in a recessed rectangle. The rectangular box with hinged lid has satinwood veneer sides and top and inlaid bands in a guilloche pattern at all of the edges. A silver handle is mounted in the center of the top, and an oval silver mount, engraved with script initials "SMD", is mounted above the keyhole, which shows no evidence of having had an escutcheon. The interior is fitted to receive the oval tea canisters and lined in velvet, originally a salmon-pink color, now faded to a tan.

Category

Glass

Acquisition

Accession

G 66.4

Source or Donor

Department of Parks, City of New York

Acquisition Method

Loan

Credit Line

On Loan from Department of Parks, City of New York

Made/Created

Artist

Unknown

Date made

circa 1786

Place

City

London

Country

England

Continent

Europe

Dimensions

Dimension Description

Box

Height

6 in

Width

7-1/4 in

Depth

5-3/8 in

Dimension Description

Canisters

Height

4-7/8 in

Width

4-1/8 in

Depth

2-7/8 in

Material

Glass, Silver, Pine, Satinwood, Light and dark inlay

Condition

Notes

canister "B" is cracked in two places, now held together by the silver mount, and has a third stress crack. The lid hinge is broken. Canister "A" has a broken hinge. Sections of the inlaid bands are missing.

Provenance

Notes

Purchased from John Folgham, London, September 6, 1786 On loan from Dyckman House, Department of Parks, City of New York