NEWCASTLE. An extremely rare & important George III Serpentine Tea Caddy made in Newcastle in 1783 by Langlands & Robertson.
NEWCASTLE. An extremely rare & important George III Serpentine Tea Caddy made in Newcastle in 1783 by Langlands & Robertson.
374265
The Tea Caddy is modelled in the very unusual serpentine form with shaped sides decorated with bright cut floral festoons and garlands enclosed by two linear and flower head bands. This design is repeated on the hinged cover which is unusually cut out of the top of the caddy. The cover terminates in a most unusual cast rosehip finial and both the front and reverse, of the main body, are engraved with an oval cartouche, one containing a contemporary Armorial. The Tea Caddy is in excellent condition and is fully marked, with a crisp set of hallmarks, on the base.
Tea Caddies made outside of London, in the Provincial centres, are extremely rare and this is the only one we have known from Newcastle over the years. We are pleased to say that this is the third time, in the last fifty years, we have offered this piece for sale. In the Directory of Newcastle Goldsmiths by Dr Margaret A.V. Gill, only one Tea Caddy is mentioned as being sent for assay by Langlands and Robertson and most probably relates to this piece. The Laing Art Gallery, in Newcastle, were interested in purchasing this piece from us in 1996, however their purchase funds were fully committed to prior projects at that time and they missed it. It is a oustanding piece of English Provincial silver.
Height: 4 inches, 10cm.
Length: 5.5 inches, 13.75cm.
Width: 4 inches, 10cm.
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