CHAPTER 24: A CASE STUDY OF A WELL-DOCUMENTED TEA CHEST

Figure 24.1:  Gothic Revival tea chest by G. Betjemann & Sons, c. 1860. Coromandel wood veneer on mahogany carcass; gilt-brass mounts, some inset with Wedgwood plaques; shield-shaped brass mount above lock, from which engraving has been erased. Height 21 cm (8 ¼ in); width 34.3 cm (13 ½ in); depth 20.3 cm (8 in). Private collection 

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Figure 24.3: Interior of chest. Elaborately engraved gilt-brass hinges and lockplates; small brass plate set between hinges on inner edge (Figure 25.5); underside of lid lined with pink watered silk; two domed canisters with press button fastenings and gilt brass mounts, one inscribed ‘BLACK’, the other ‘GREEN’; bases of canisters covered with dark blue leather; wells for canisters lined with satinwood edged with ebony, with blue velvet at base; central well lined with blue velvet and fitted with cut-glass sugar bowl.