A Superb Quality Mid 19th Century Burr Walnut Tea Caddy Having Original Brass Mounted Decoration And Domed Lid Enclosing Two Removable Lidded Compartments And Glass Mixing Bowl.

Makers Stamp – “Parkins & Gotto, 24 + 25 Oxford Street, London.”

Parkins & Gotto began life with premises at 2 Hanway Street and also 25 Oxford Street around 1845, principally as stationers, but very quickly grew to offer a large variety of items for sale. These items ranged as widely as dressing cases, jewelery boxes and luggage, through to toys and homewares. Sometime between 1845 and 1860 they expanded their operation out into number 24 Oxford Street and added 26 and 27 around 1865.

In 1868 they advertised an ability to supply 1000s of presents to suit every purpose, taste and pocket and 3 years later they boasted the largest stock in Europe in their advertisments. By now these items ranged from writing boxes and tea caddies to library tables and books.

This lovely tea caddy dates to around 1860 and is constructed, as one would expect, from excellent quality and decorative burr walnut veneers. It also boasts some lovely decorative brass mounts which would have been a relatively expensive decoration themselves.

Tea was an extremely precious commodity throughout the 18th and 19th centuries and the purpose of a tea caddy was not just to preserve the and extend the life of the precious tea leaves, but also to enable the owner to lock away those aforementioned valuable tea leaves, keeping them safe from the house staffs potential wandering hands.

This tea caddy comes with a fully functioning lock and key, plus has been cleaned and traditionally waxed polished by our highly skilled and well trained specialist antique furniture restorers in our workshops before being offered for sale.

Circa 1860.

Height 7in.
Width 13in.
Depth 6in.