English Pearwood Tea Caddy, ca. 1795
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GUEST:
This belonged to my grandfather, and I used to see it in the house that I stayed with them in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He died before I was born, so I never even knew him.
APPRAISER:
You think it's a tobacco box?
GUEST:
Right. I know that's what it was used for when my grandfather had it.
APPRAISER:
Very important distinction. When your grandfather used it, it had probably come out of vogue as to what it really is.
GUEST:
Oh, really?
APPRAISER:
It is actually a tea caddy.
GUEST:
Oh, wow.
APPRAISER:
And this is, sort of instantly recognizable to people who collect English furniture and English decorations from the latter half of the 18th century. And it's... literally it's a pear-shaped tea caddy.
GUEST:
Okay.
APPRAISER:
And made of pear wood.
GUEST:
Okay.
APPRAISER:
It's a really interesting form, because on the inside it was lined with foil to protect the tea.
GUEST:
Hmm, okay.
APPRAISER:
And we have a lock in the front here. The reason that they locked up tea during this time period was tea was literally more expensive than gold.
GUEST:
Aha.
APPRAISER:
You didn't want the servants taking a couple of spoonfuls of tea out, so the lady of the house would have the key to open the tea caddy, and as is typical with tea caddies like this, you've got a little bit of damage here on the stem at the top, and around the back here where the hinge is. But that's actually a really good sign of age, because they do make reproductions of these.
GUEST:
Ah.
APPRAISER:
And some original staining. Some of this was a red stain that was around it, and the reason we can tell the old ones also is because it had a plug in the bottom.
GUEST:
Okay.
APPRAISER:
And with this old foil lining. So, it dates from around 1790 or 1800. So, it's a nice 200-year-old tea caddy. What do you think it's worth?
GUEST:
I have no idea.
APPRAISER:
They're more common than you think.
GUEST:
Okay.
APPRAISER:
And when I get them I can get usually around $7,000 or $8,000 for them.
GUEST:
Oh, wow.
APPRAISER:
A very, very popular form.
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