Tea Caddy in Penwork Regency Period

Description Sycamore Carcass with Penwork Decoration  From our Tea Caddy collection, we are delighted to offer this excellent Regency period tea caddy decorated with coloured penwork. The tea caddy of sarcophagus form is raised on gilt brass claw feet and constructed with a sycamore carcass and hinged lid. The exterior is finely decorated with vibrant penwork, featuring leafy vine scrollwork panels with bellflowers to the sides. The lid is further enriched with polychrome penwork depicting florets and is finished with twin gilt brass loop handles. The interior retains painted decoration to the underside of the lid, showing three blossoming flower heads with two buds. The body is fitted with twin lidded tea compartments with turned lids, each originally lined in silver foil to preserve the tea. The tea caddy dates to the early nineteenth century Regency period, circa 1815, and survives as a particularly well preserved example of penwork decoration. Sycamore (European Sycamore) Sycamore, also known as European sycamore or sycamore maple, is the timber of Acer pseudoplatanus, a maple species native to Europe and parts of southwestern Asia. Despite the name, it is unrelated to American sycamore and belongs firmly to the maple family. The wood is valued for its pale, clean appearance and fine, even texture. Sycamore is typically used as sapwood, which ranges from near white to soft golden or light reddish tones. In some examples the grain can develop attractive figured effects such as curly or rippled patterning, which has long been favoured for decorative veneers and fine box work. Sycamore has a generally straight grain, works cleanly, and takes a smooth finish, making it well suited to veneered surfaces, small boxes, musical instruments, and detailed interior items. While not suitable for damp conditions, it performs well in dry environments and has been widely used in European cabinet work for centuries. For further information please see our woods encyclopaedia on Sycamore. Penwork Penwork decoration was used on boxes and small objects to illustrate picturesque scenes, decorative motifs and fashionable imagery of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Designs commonly depict people, landscapes, birds, insects, plants and flowers, as well as classical subjects, allegorical scenes, and views associated with spa towns and places of leisure. The decoration was executed using fine pen and ink, often with coloured washes, before being sealed beneath layers of clear varnish, commonly shellac. This process protected the surface while giving the decoration depth and clarity. The drawings are typically highly precise, reflecting the steady hand and careful planning required to achieve such detailed results on small wooden surfaces. Penwork was produced both by professional decorators and by accomplished amateurs. It was a popular pastime among educated women during the Georgian and Regency periods, though many examples show a level of technical control that suggests professional involvement or specialist training. As a result, penwork boxes survive in considerable numbers and form an important decorative tradition within British box making of the period. Regency Period The Regency period refers to the years 1811 to 1820, when King George III was deemed unfit to rule and his son governed as Prince Regent, later King George IV. In decorative arts and furniture, the term is often used more broadly to describe the late Georgian style from around 1795 to 1837, characterised by refined proportions, classical influence, and the use of light coloured timbers, veneers, and elegant ornament derived from Greek and Roman sources. Why Buy from Mark Goodger Antiques? With over thirty five years of specialist experience, Mark Goodger Antiques is recognised internationally as a leading authority in antique boxes and related works of art. Every item offered has been personally selected by Mark, whose knowledge and judgement are trusted by collectors, institutions, museums, interior designers, and fellow dealers worldwide. Every purchase is supplied with a full supporting package for clarity and reassurance. This includes a Certificate of Authenticity, a detailed condition and care guide specific to your item, our most recent catalogue, and a separate invoice suitable for insurance and valuation purposes. Each piece is carefully examined prior to sale to ensure accuracy of description and quality. Your purchase is fully insured during transit and protected by our straightforward money back guarantee, allowing you to buy with complete confidence. We pride ourselves on transparency, expertise, and long term relationships with our clients, many of whom return to us repeatedly over decades. When you buy from Mark Goodger Antiques, you are purchasing from a specialist family business built on knowledge, trust, and an unrivalled focus on antique boxes.