A cased set of George II sterling silver tea caddies and sugar box, London 1755 by George Methuen (reg. 3rd Aug 1743)

The pair of tea caddies and slightly larger sugar box of four-sided inverted baluster form upon four cast openwork acanthus scroll feet. The domed four-sided pull off lids surmounted by a cast and chased crest of a lion rampant. The bodies with embossed decoration of floral swags to the upper section and rocaille with foliate C scrolls to the base. The corners with flat chased and textured acanthus leaves. The lids with flat chased floral borders below rocaille work sprays and acanthus leaf corners. All housed in a leather work case, rectangular base with a hinged trapezoid top. The case fitted with unmarked silver furniture of a lock plate escutcheon (key deficient) and hinge mounts, each of oval form with engraved feathered edge, an opposable lid handle formed as four C scrolls centred with a chased scallop shell, all raised upon four ball and claw feet (each fitted with three silver screws, apart from one with two deficient). The interior with three compartments, all red velvet lined. The exterior with pressed leather work of trailing foliate scrolls with rosettes and acanthus leaf borders, edged with ovolo. Each fully marked underneath, the lid with maker’s mark and lion passant only.

Case length (at feet) – 28.7 cm / 11.35 inches

Sugar box height – 15.5 cm / 6.15 inches

Weight – 991 grams / 31.86 ozt