English

circa 1790 - 1800

18th century period oval shaped tea caddy.

The top is fitted with a gilded loop handle and engraved with HC.

The decorated green background is finished all over with black painted borders finished in white painted 'Grecian' style motifs.

The top opens to reveal the original floating lid with a trade mark gilded oval rim.

The oval shaped border is decorated with circular portraits of African women in traditional headwear. The wreath-like theme that surrounds the image on the back of the caddy is different because both the figures are copied from ancient drawings found in the British Museum.

The caddy has an anthemion border to the base which follows through from the top section.

The tea caddy is made by Henry Clay. Around 1785 he acquired retail premises in London's Covent Garden. George III was one of his patrons and Clay adopted the title 'Japanner to His Majesty'.

For the original plate drawings inspiring this tea caddy see Royal Academy of Arts object number 17/4725, colour plate of woman's head, companian black figured leykythos Sir William Hamilton (1730-1803) and companian hydria woman's head with cap London, British Museum GR (BM Vases F 227)

Dimensions

Height 13.00cm (5.12 inches)

Width 13.00cm (5.12 inches)

Depth 7.20cm (2.83 inches)

Stock No: 19047