Antique Rosewood Sarcophagus Tea Caddy
Antique Rosewood Sarcophagus Tea Caddy
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A beautiful English tea caddy in figured rosewood. What you notice first is the shape. The sides sweep outward at the bottom in a big graceful curve, ending on small silver ball feet. That curved silhouette is unusual. Most English tea caddies from this period have straight sides, which makes this one feel more sculptural and a lot more interesting on a shelf or table. The rosewood is gorgeous, with strong flame and stripe figure that really shows on the curved base panels. Lift the lid and you find two separate tea compartments inside, each with its own original little lift-off lid and small turned wooden knob.
The caddy is in good honest antique condition with wear consistent with roughly 150 to 180 years of use. The figured rosewood veneer is intact across the exterior with no significant losses, though the surfaces show light craquelure and a number of minor scratches and abrasions, most visible across the curved lid and base sweeps. The original silvered ball feet are all present, with wear to the silvering at the high points exposing the underlying metal. The brass piano hinge is sound and original, retaining its hand-cut slot-head screws. Inside, both lift-off caddy lids are present with their original turned ebonized knobs. The interior rosewood veneer is in better condition than the exterior, as is typical, with good color and figure retained. The lid does not sit perfectly flush when closed, sitting up approximately an eighth of an inch at one edge, visible from the side but not from the front or top. The base is the original dark-stained softwood with no labels or maker's marks. There is no lock, no escutcheon, and no key. There is no central mixing bowl well or glass mixing vessel; the two tea compartments are divided by a solid wood center post, which is original to the construction.
Shipping & Returns
All antique and vintage items are shipped from our warehouse in Bluffdale, Utah. Each piece is carefully packed by hand using archival materials and custom crating when necessary.
Shipping costs are calculated at checkout based on the size and weight of the item. Local pickup is available at the AMD Warehouse.
All sales of antique and vintage items are final due to their unique, one-of-a-kind nature. Illuminé candles and The Collector's Guide may be returned within 14 days of delivery if unopened and in original condition.
If your piece arrives damaged, please photograph the damage immediately (including packaging), contact us within 48 hours at austynmariedesign@gmail.com, and do not discard any packaging.
Important Info About Antique & Vintage
Every antique and vintage item we carry has lived a life before arriving in your home. These are not factory-made products. They are objects with history, character, and the marks of time.
Age-appropriate wear, patina, minor imperfections, and signs of previous use or repair are inherent to antique and vintage items and are not considered defects. These characteristics are part of what makes each piece unique and are often what give it its beauty and value.
We describe the condition of each piece as accurately as possible in the listing. If you have specific questions about a piece before purchasing, please reach out. We are always happy to provide additional photos or details.
Colors may appear slightly different on screen due to monitor settings and photography lighting. We do our best to represent each item accurately.
