Antique Circa 1760 Georgian English Mahogany Triple Bombe Tea Caddy w/ Key

Up for auction is an antique English Bombe tea caddy from the Georgian era (1714-1837).
The caddy is made of a dark mahogany in a Chippendale style.
The caddy is fairly noteworthy in terms of its "bombe" shape, characterized by the outward bulging design.
This style of caddy was scarcely used, and rather rare during the time period it was constructed.

Additionally, the presence of bun feet underneath the plinth is unusual, as most caddies from this period
simply laid flat, or atop a plinth exclusively. The feet may have been added at a later date, but is not possible to determine.
However, the screws used appear to be period accurate, and match the rest of the caddy.

Age Determination:
The age of the caddy has been determined to be circa 1760, based on the following factors -
The presence of tea pewter within the compartments, a triple compartment design, brass inlay,
bombe shape, lack of decoration or ornamentation, and the materials used.
Additionally, the following can be referred to for a comparable example from 1760 -
Clark and O'Kelly: "Antique Boxes, Tea Caddies, and Society" [FIGURE 304]

Features:
The raised lid features the original brass bail handle, and brass inlay surrounds the keyhole, in addition to brass hinges.
Inside, the roof of the box is decorated with a light brown grosgrain ribbon centered over gathered brown velvet.
Inside are three separate compartments - the two side compartments house the original internal storage boxes,
the third central compartment is missing the box/bowl.

The two boxes have lids that slide into a groove to be secured, and the boxes can be completely removed from the caddy as well.
The box lids feature simple, yet elegant stringing of boxwood and what appears to be either walnut or maple.
The boxes are also lined with lead and tin, referred to as "tea pewter".
This antiquated practice was done to control/maintain the moisture or humidity of the tea leaves.

The panel that spans the width of the box, above the back hinges, appears to be made of a different wood than the rest of the caddy.
We are unable to determine what the specific wood used may be.

Note:
The box has a lock, which does both lock and unlock. A key will be included with the box (as pictured).
This is not the original key, but it is one that has been tested and confirmed to work.

Condition:
Overall good condition for the items age, but does have quite a few areas of damage.
Scratching and chipping of the wood, splitting/cracking of the wood in areas pictured, small square adhesive stain on the very top, the tea pewter (tin & lead) in the two removable boxes has become brittle and flaky. There is light rust on the hinges.
The right compartment has a sliver of wood chipped off that would normally help secure the sliding closure in place (the broken off piece is in our possession and will be sent with the box, it can likely be repaired as the breakage is clean).

Item #6115-08046

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