CHAPTER 23: TEAPOYS AND OTHER LARGE DOMESTIC TEA CONTAINERS

Figure 23.1: Tea table with a caddy drawer, c. 1790-5. Mahogany veneer with ebonized banding and boxwood stringing; hinged folding top; drawer with three wooden tea canisters with sliding lids, also with ebonized banding and boxwood stringing, and with brass drop-loop handles; shallow compartment for teaspoons at rear and two larger unlined boxes, with loose lids and drop-loop handles, to sides. Height 73.6 cm (29 in); width 94 cm (37 in); depth 47 cm (18 ½ in). Private collection    

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Figure 23.2: Commode with a tea drawer, attributed to William Moore of Dublin, c. 1785. Satinwood veneer with marquetry decoration of bird’s eye maple, pollard oak and rosewood; short tapering legs; three doors, the central one enclosing three oak-lined drawers; middle drawer divided into six compartments – large rectangular compartment in centre, long deep compartment at rear, and four small compartments at each side which contain tinplate tea canisters with hinged lids; canisters with gilt-brass ring handles with backplates bearing Prince of Wales feathers; two canisters at front shaped to fit bow front of drawer. Commode: height 85.7 cm (33 ¾ in); width 159.4 cm (62 ¾ in); depth 59.7 cm (23 ½ in); tea drawer: height 17.8 cm (7 in); width 64.1 cm (25 ¼ in); depth 45.1 cm (17 ¾ in). Bonhams, London 

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Figure 23.3a: Secretaire chest with a tea box, c. 1800. Mahogany veneer with tulipwood crossbanding and herringbone boxwood stringing; (replacement) brass handles; bracket feet; top drawer fitted as secretaire with fold-down front; interior with small drawers with brass knobs and central removable tea box, all veneered with satinwood with tulipwood crossbanding; inlaid ovals of shells on lower drawers and tea box, and initials ‘J I H’ on central upper drawer. Chest: height 104.2 cm (41 in); width 108 cm (42 ½ in); 54.6 cm (21 ½ in). Photo: Ellie Harris 

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Figure 23.3b: Tea box from the secretaire chest shown in Figure 23.3a. Similar decoration but with additional herringbone boxwood stringing on edges; inlaid ovals with shells also on top and sides; top with inlaid fan shapes at corners; (replacement) green baize on base; three silvered stop hinges; interior with five compartments, two rectangular and two square at sides, all lined with tinfoil, and large central one (possibly for metal liner, now missing) lined with later paper; front two at sides with sliding lids and other three with lift-off lids with turned bone knobs; central lid with additional rosewood crossbanding and inlaid shell oval. Tea box: height 14.6 cm (5 ¾ in); width 32.1 (12 5/8 in); depth 24.1 cm (9 ½ in). 

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Figure 23.6: Pembroke table with a caddy drawer, c. 1800. Mahogany; hinged extending flap at either end; square tapering legs; brass socket castors; caddy drawer with brass lion’s head ring handle; drawer containing three rectangular mahogany canisters with hinged lids with oval raised-neck lids. Height 72.4 cm (28 ½ in); width (open) 111.8 cm (44 in); (closed) 53.4 cm (21 in); depth 99.1 cm (39 in). Julia Bennett, Great Dunmow 

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Figure 23.7: Pedestal pembroke table with a caddy drawer, c. 1810. Mahogany, with ebony inlay on base; swept legs; brass lion’s paw feet and castors; drawer at one end with writing slide and inkwell; caddy drawer at other containing four narrow mahogany tea canisters with raised hinged lids and shallow central well for glass sugar bowl. Height 73.7 cm (29 in); width (open) 121.9 cm (48 in); (closed) 66 cm (26 in); depth 100.9 cm (39 ¾ in). Private collection 

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Figure 23.8: Botany Bay oak tea chest-on-stand c. 1815. Chest with Botany Bay oak veneer on pine carcass; tulipwood inlay and boxwood stringing; Old Sheffield plate handle on lid; legs of stand similarly veneered but on oak carcass (stretcher missing); narrow boxwood moulding around top; underside of main lid of chest also Botany Bay oak veneer with boxwood stringing; interior with two canisters with hinged lids veneered with Botany Bay oak, also with boxwood stringing; well for sugar bowl lined with green baize; green baize on base with shield-shaped retailer’s label: ‘Bought at Samuel Jesse’s. Toy Perfume and Fishing Tackle Warehouse at the Rocking Horse, 3 High Street, Exeter’. Chest: height 16.5 cm (6 ½ in); width 30.5 cm (12 in); depth 15.2 cm (6 in). Stand: height 73.6 cm (29 in); width 33 cm (13 in). Private collection 

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Figure 23.9: Coromandel tea chest-on-stand c. 1810. Coromandel wood veneer on pine carcass; tulipwood inlay and boxwood stringing; chest with ivory escutcheon and Old Sheffield plate handle; interior with two coromandel-veneered canisters with hinged lids, also with tulipwood inlay and boxwood stringing; well for cut-glass sugar bowl lined with green baize; underside of main lid also veneered with coromandel; base covered with green baize; legs of stand with brass caps and castors. Chest: height 17.8 cm (7 in); width 29.8 cm (11 ¾ in); depth 14.3 cm (5 in). Stand: height 65.4 cm (25 ¾ in); width 34.3 cm (13 ½ in). Private collection 

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Figure 23.10: Mahogany tea chest-on-stand c. 1820. Solid mahogany chest with recessed panels; interior with two mahogany canisters with removable lids with brass finials; glass sugar bowl; underside of main lid veneered with mahogany; bun feet; reeded pillar support with ring turning; quadripartite base on scrolled feet. Chest: height 20.4 cm (8 in); width 40.6 cm (16 in); depth 20.9 cm (9 in). Stand: height 63.5 cm (25 in). John Thompson, Knaresborough 

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Figure 23.11: Cork tea chest-on-stand, c. 1790. Carved cork chest in the form of an octagonal gothic rotunda with traceried windows, fluted columns, and rusticated walls; hinged lid; mounted on carved mahogany pedestal; top with gadrooned edge; four swept supports, cluster column shaft, and square base on scrolled feet; interior fitted with two small tinplate canisters above a third, larger one; sliding ivory plaque over keyhole bearing Latin inscription ‘TU DOCES’. Height 107 cm (42 in); width (overall) 44 cm (17 ½ in). Stair & Company, London 

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Figure 23.14: Large mahogany tea store, c. 1820, possibly made by Gillow of Lancaster. Mahogany veneer on ash carcass; top cross-banded in rosewood with cushion-moulded frieze; brass lock stamped ‘J. Bramah’ below a ‘crown patent’; stand with tapering legs and brass caps and castors; interior with central compartment containing two removable tinplate canisters with hinged lids and brass drop-loop handles; removable tinplate box at rear with perforated base and removable tray beneath. Chest: height 70.5 cm (27 ¾ in); width 99.5 cm (30 in); depth 53 cm (21 in); tea compartment: height 29.2 cm (11 ½ in); width 32 cm (12 ½ in); depth 40.2 cm (15 ¾ in). Jeremy Ltd, London 

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Figure 23.15: Mahogany tea store, c. 1825. Chest with mahogany veneer on oak carcass with ebonized pear mouldings; ebonized pear escutcheon; elaborate gilt-brass handles at sides; turned mahogany legs with stamped gilt-brass castors; underside of main lid lined with dark blue velvet; three brass hinges; interior lined with mahogany and containing (left) large tinplate container with hinged lid and central drop-loop handle and (right) with two mahogany canisters with gilt-metal press-button fastenings and hinged lids with gilt-metal handles matching those on chest. Chest: height 29.5 cm (11 3/8 in); width 45.4 cm (18 in); depth 35.3 cm (13 7/8 in); over-all height 73.1 cm (28 ¾ in). Private collection 

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Figure 23.16: Mahogany pedestal tea store, c. 1820. Mahogany sarcophagus chest; turned pillar with swept legs with brass caps and castors; brass handles at sides; interior containing large tinplate container with Star of David perforations in base and shallow drawer beneath; two tinplate canisters, one with hinged lid and one quarter-covered; lower edge of rear of chest bears impressed mark of Dublin firm ‘MACK, WILLIAMS & GIBTON D1516’. Chest: height 23.5 cm (9 ¼ in); width 50.8 cm (20 in); depth 38.1 cm (15 in); overall height 61 cm (24 in). National Trust, The Argory, County Armagh  

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Figure 23.17: Mahogany pedestal tea store, c. 1830. Mahogany sarcophagus chest with raised lid with convex sides; pear-shaped pillar of octagonal section on quadripartite base with feet with roundel ornament mounted on castors; brass escutcheon; three brass hinges; interior with central tinplate box with circular perforations in base and shallow drawer beneath, and four tapered tinplate canisters (one missing) with metal ring handles. Chest: height 39.7 cm (15 5/8 in); width 57.8 cm (22 ¾ in); depth 38.4 cm (15 1/8 in); overall height 71 cm (28 in). Private collection 

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Figure 23.18: Pair of mahogany teapoys, 1812, by Gillow of Lancaster. Mahogany chests with convex sides; turned and reeded pillars on quadripartite bases with carved rosettes at the corners; paw feet with concealed casters; left: interior containing two mahogany canisters with hinged lids and with cut-glass sugar bowl; right: spaces for three canisters (now missing). Height 76.2 cm (30 in); width 48.2 cm (19 in); depth 35.6 cm (14 in). The Archive, Blair Castle 

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Figure 23.20: Mahogany teapoy, c. 1830. Carved applied foliage decoration on front and acanthus leaf decoration on sides; turned fluted pillar with acanthus leaf carving below; square base with gadrooned border; gadrooned feet mounted on castors; interior with two mahogany canisters with hinged lids at front, and two cut-glass sugar bowls at rear. Height 74.5 cm (29 ¼ in); width 43 cm (17 in); depth 38 cm (15 in). © Victoria and Albert Museum, London 

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Figure 23.23: Rosewood teapoy, c. 1835. Circular reeded chest with foliate edge; rising lid controlled by catch in locking mechanism; turned foliate pillar support on tripartite base with bun feet; interior with three canisters with loose lids with turned wooden knobs; well, lined with red baize, for sugar bowl. Height 81.9 cm (32 ¼ in); height (when open) 107.7 cm (42 in); diameter 54.7 cm (21 ½ in). Iris & John Fox Collection, Newport Museum & Art Gallery 

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Figure 23.28: Rosewood teapoy, c. 1811. Convex gadrooned sides; egg-and-dart moulding on lid; turned and reeded pillar support with acanthus leaf carving; quadripartite base with carved rosettes; paw feet with concealed castors; underside of lid is veneered with rosewood; interior with two rosewood canisters with hinged lids, and two wells for sugar bowls; wells and surrounding area lined with beige velvet.  Height 81 cm (31 in); width 49 cm (19 ¼ in); depth 36 cm (14 in). Photographed by kind permission of the Earl of Mansfield 

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Figure 23.29: Walnut teapoy, c. 1845, by Thomas Henry Filmer, London. Circular chest with gadrooning at base; turned and reeded pillar on tripartite base with acanthus leaf carving on legs; interior lined with red velvet and containing four circular wells, two largest containing circular walnut canisters with hinged lids; oval brass maker’s label for T.H. Filmer on base of chest. Height 70.8 cm (27 7/8 in); diameter 40.6 cm (16 in). Private collection 

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Figure 23.30: Mahogany teapoy, c. 1835. Rectangular chest with ‘lobed’ corners; turned tapering legs with concentric rings and tassel-like fluting on upper part; brass cup castors; interior containing two wooden canisters with hinged lids and turned ebony knobs, and two wells, lined with dark red Morocco paper and containing replacement sugar bowls. Height 75.6 cm (29 ¾ in); width (inc. lobes) 40 cm (15 ¾ in); depth (inc. lobes) 32.4 cm (12 ¾ in). Private collection 

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Figure 23.31:  Rosewood teapoy, c. 1818. Chest with sloping sides; scrolled supports rising from quadripartite platform with scrolled legs mounted on castors; all scrolls inlaid with brass stringing; brass ring handles on sides; underside of lid lined with deep pink ruched velvet; interior with four rosewood canisters with hinged lids, and two silver-gilt sugar bowls with marks for Emes and Barnard, London, 1818. Height 76 cm (29 15/16 in); width 44.5 cm (17 ½ in). Private collection 

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Figure 23.32:  Mahogany Teapoy, c. 1820. Mahogany with ebony mouldings on edges of chest and ebony inlay on all surfaces; angled pillars rising from small octagonal platform; swept fluted legs mounted on brass lion’s paw castors; underside of lid lined with very dark red Morocco paper; interior containing four mahogany canisters with hinged lids and two wells with plain glass sugar bowls; wells lined with green Morocco paper; twelve slots for teaspoons around the bowls. Height 76.8 cm (30 ¼ in); width 36.2 cm (14 ¼ in); depth 25.7 cm (10 1/8 in). Private collection 

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Figure 23.33: Botany Bay oak teapoy with Tunbridge ware decoration, c. 1810. Botany Bay oak veneer with boxwood stringing; lid decorated with perspective cube work of various woods; turned and carved solid Botany Bay oak pillar; square stepped base on brass brass paw feet; silvered hinges; underside of lid lined with tinfoil; interior of chest containing two canisters with hinged lids and unusual centrally placed hinges; bases of wells for canisters lined with pink paper; two cut-glass sugar bowls with wells lined with green baize; narrow lidded compartment, lined with pink velvet, between the wells, probably for sugar tongs. Height 82.5 cm (32 ½ in); width 38.5 cm (15 in); depth 33.5 cm (13 ¼ in). Private collection 

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Figure 23.34: Rosewood teapoy, c. 1810. Rosewood with brass inlay of scrolling foliage on all surfaces; lion’s head ring handles at sides; lyre support with brass strings on quadripartite platform on four swept legs with lion’s paw castors; underside of lid lined with pink ruched velvet; interior containing four wooden canisters with brass-inlaid hinged lids, and two wells for glass sugar bowls lined with dark pink velvet. Width 36.2 cm (14 ¼ in); height (of chest) 21.5 cm (8 ½ in); depth 29.5 cm (11 5/8 in). W.R. Harvey & Co. Antiques, Witney 

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Figure 23.35: Rosewood and brass teapoy, c. 1815. Decorated both externally and internally with brass inlay of arabesque patterns on a rosewood ground; brass ring handles on sides; splayed pillar support on quadripartite platform with four scrolled feet mounted on castors; underside of lid lined with red velvet; interior with four hinged-lid canisters with brass inlay on all surfaces; two glass sugar bowls in wells with bands of brass-inlaid rosewood above red velvet lining. Height 80 cm (31 ½ in); width 34 cm (13 ½ in); depth 32 cm (12 ½ in). Norman Adams, London 

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Figure 23.36: Burr elm teapoy by J. London of Bristol c. 1840. Sarcophagus chest with swept sides and carved foliate border around base; raised lid with (later) octagonal inlay; circular burr elm escutcheon; octagonal tapering pillar with petal-like motifs at base; quadripartite platform with carved scroll feet mounted on concealed brass castors; underside of lid veneered with burr elm; interior containing four canisters with hinged lids and red baize-lined well for sugar bowl; base of right-hand front compartment with maker’s label of ‘J. London, Cabinet & Chair Maker, Upholsterer & Undertaker, 81 Stoke’s Croft, Bristol, Picture Frames and Choice Fancy Goods’. Height 81 cm (32 in); width 47 cm (18 ½ in); depth 33 cm (13 in). Tennants Auctioneers, Leyburn 

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Figure 23.37: Oak teapoy, c. 1816, attributed to George Bullock. Oak with ebonized mouldings; wide band of brass-inlaid decoration of ivy leaf pattern on lid; chest supported on turned tapering legs terminating in castors; turned stretchers with square lozenges and central floral rosettes; underside of lid lined with red velvet; interior containing two wooden canisters with hinged lids, two circular wells for sugar bowls and central rectangular well (now empty); all wells also lined with red velvet. Height 72 cm (28 ¼ in); width 58.5 cm (23 in); depth 46.5 cm (18 ¼ in). © Christie’s Images Ltd 

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Figure 23.38: Oak Teapoy, c. 1850, attributed to Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin. Front of chest inlaid with ebony panel with floral marquetry of various woods; lid veneered with burr walnut with wide inlaid border and circular floral insets at corners; back of chest plain oak; large elaborate brass escutcheon; oak trestle-end supports with circular insets carved with owner’s initials ‘JK-S’, for Janet Kay-Shuttleworth of Gawthorpe Hall, Lancashire; trestle ends strengthened with shaped ‘through’ stretcher; feet mounted on brass castors; interior containing two walnut canisters with hinged lids, and cut-glass sugar bowl in well lined with red velvet. Height 77.2 cm (30 3/8 in); width 44.7 cm (18 3/4 in); depth 29.8 cm (11 3/4 in). The National Trust, Gawthorpe Hall, Lancashire 

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Figure 23.39: Oak teapoy, c. 1850, by Holland & Sons, London. Top of chest inlaid in ebony with scroll work and central roundel with monogram ‘T.C.P.’; double-column ring-moulded trestle ends strengthened with central shelf; interior containing two wooden canisters with hinged lids flanking two wells for sugar bowls lined with maroon Morocco paper; impressed mark for ‘HOLLAND & SONS’ to right of brass lockplate. Height 78 cm (30 ¾ in); width 43 cm (17 in); depth 31 cm (12 ¼ in). Private collection 

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Figure 23.40: Tunbridge Ware combined teapoy and work table, c. 1820. Front, back and sides of chest veneered with Vandyke pattern parquetry in various woods within narrow border of rosewood crosses set against pale border of holly; lid veneered externally and internally with central square of cube work surrounded by plain rosewood border, with outer wider border of Vandyke pattern parquetry; U-shaped rosewood support, encompassing upholstered work bag, supported on short turned pillar terminating in quadripartite platform four swept legs mounted on lion’s paw castors; plinth also with Vandyke pattern parquetry; silvered hinges; unusual brass lock stamped ‘THOMSON H.M. G.R. PATENT’, with a crown above; interior containing two canisters with hinged lids decorated with parquetry, and two wells for glass sugar bowls. Height 79 cm (29 ½ in); width 39 cm (15 ¼ in); depth 34 cm (13 ¼ in). Private collection, photograph courtesy of Sotheby’s  

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Figure 23.41:  Tunbridge Ware teapoy, c. 1860, attributed to Robert Russell of Tunbridge Wells. Burr walnut inlaid in various woods with distinctive lobed gothicised marquetry; chest supported on square pillar with chamfered edges rising from quadripartite base with concave insets at corners; pillar and base with marquetry decoration; large ebonized bun feet; base of chest lined with yellow paper; marquetry decoration repeated on underside of lid; interior containing two rosewood canisters with hinged sycamore lids, each inlaid with a butterfly, and two wells for cut-glass sugar bowls; all four wells lined with paper with shell motif in blue and gold; yellow paper also on bases of canisters. Height 70.2 cm (27 in); width 16.5 cm (6 ½ in); depth 39.4 cm (15 ½ in). Bracketts Fine Art Auctioneers, Tunbridge Wells  

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Figure 23.42: Whitewood teapoy with penwork decoration, c. 1820. Lid of chest decorated with pastoral scene within a narrow foliate inner border flanked by a wider outer border of floral design; sides of chest decorated with rustic scenes including castles, ruins, mountains and seascapes, enclosed within same border as lid; swept tapering legs decorated with penwork on all sides; silvered hinges; underside of lid similarly decorated; interior containing two whitewood canisters with hinged lids, also decorated on all surfaces with rustic scenes, and two wells for glass sugar bowls; all wells lined with green baize;. Height 14 cm (5 1/2 in); width 71.8 cm (28 ¼ in); depth 35.6 cm (14 in). Private collection 

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Figure 23.43: Papier mâché teapoy, c. 1850. Chest with convex sides and turned column support; quadripartite platform base on bun feet with concealed castors; papier mâché on all surfaces, japanned with bronzed background and decorated with elaborate rococo revival gilding and painted garden flowers and exotic birds; some flowers in central motif on lid inlaid with mother-of-pearl (originally painted); raised mother-of-pearl escutcheon; L-shaped hinges; interior of chest japanned black; underside of lid decorated with floral motif; four canisters with lift-off lids painted with flowers, and two wells for glass sugar bowls. Height 80 cm (31 ½ in); width 47 cm (18 ½ in); depth 34 cm (13 3/8 in). © Victoria and Albert Museum, London

Figure 23.44: Campaign teapoy, c. 1820. Mahogany with brass-inlaid stringing, rosewood panels, and boxwood and ebony inlay; chest supported on four detachable turned and ring-moulded legs, mounted on brass castors; two halves of the hinged lid form trays when open; interior containing two canisters with hinged lids flanked by baize-lined wells for glass sugar bowls; larger spaces at front probably designed to hold tea equipage. Height 76.2 cm (30 in); width 58.4 cm (23 in); depth 38.1 cm (15 in). Private collection