Georgian Cut Lead Crystal Tea Caddy Mixing Bowl c.1820

This is a handsome example of a lead crystal tea caddy mixing bowl, also possibly used to contain sugar, and dating to around 1820.

The bowl is of classic cylindrical form, narrowing as it approaches the thickened, discoid foot. The latter has a polished pontil and is unmarked.

The bowl is cut at the rim with a band of vertical notches, which sit on a circumferential mitre cut. There is a band of ten large arch-shaped panels; five alternate panels have a plain facet cut, and the other five are cut with a central vertical line flanked by angular wedges. This panel of arches sits on a further circumferential mitre cut, which in turn surmounts a band of fifteen (15) facets with curved lower margins.

Bowls such as this would have been sat in the centre of a tea caddy, and are thought to have either been used to blend the tea, or to hold the sugar. Tea caddies tended to be lockable, owing to the high value of both tea and sugar at the time.

It has a height of approximately 12.1cm, with a diameter across the rim of about 10.2cm and across the foot of about 7.1cm.

It has an unwrapped weight of 430g.

It is in fair condition for its age. The bowl has been well used and has numerous fine scratches to the interior and underside of the foot. There is the occasional very small nick or chip to the design. It also has some faint water staining, which gives it a slightly cloudy appearance. This wear is reflected in the price.