Tea box - Directoire - Boxwood, Brass, Ebony, Mahogany, Walnut - Around 1800

A Dutch tea caddy manufactured during the short transition period from Louis XVI to Empire, the so-called Directoire period around 1800. A typical style characteristic of this period is the diamond shape. The tea caddy is made of solid oak and glued with different types of wood. All have a mahogany diamond shape rimmed with boxwood piping and the corners are of walnut, all lined with ebony & boxwood piping and the whole again framed with mahogany. The tea caddy has the original brass hinges and handle decorated with the typical Neoclassical style features such as the leaf motifs and pearl edges. The lock and lock eye were once replaced for the current (late) 19th century version. Old (small) well-executed restorations were carried out on the mahogany of the frame edge. The entire tea caddy has beautiful warm contrasting colours and a beautiful silk gloss! The item will be sent well packed and insured.