Pair of Tea Caddies in Box
active 1695-1715
Thomas Ash
British
Rectangular with canted corners and molded borders, with octagonal domed caps with baluster finials, the bases sliding open to reveal removable pewter liners, the sides engraved with elaborate foliate scroll cartouches headed by shells, with female masks below and flanked by winged female busts, enclosing a coat of arms, each engraved under the bases M-T and Pr 12=3.
The box of rectangular form, covered in black-stained shagreen and raised on four silver paw feet, the front fitted with a shaped silver key plate and hasp, the top with a shaped silver plate engraved with a crest, with swing handle, the interior lined with green velvet with silver gadrooning.
Silver and pewter; box: silver, wood, shagreen, and velvet