Retailer Tiffany & Co. (founded 1837)

Tea caddy

1884-1885

Place madeNew York, New York, United States, North America

Silver, enamels

Overall: 3 1/4 × 4 3/4 × 3 1/4 in. (8.3 × 12.1 × 8.3 cm)

Purchase, Foster-Jarvis Fund and Hoffman Fund

1983.9ab

This dazzling caddy was given to Sarah Morris Fish (1838-1923) by her husband Sidney Webster (1828-1910) to commemorate their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. The gift of this alluring tea caddy, requisite for the tea table, emphasized Webster's importance as a society hostess in New York and Newport. Inventively ornamented inside and out, the caddy is decorated with colorful floral, foliate, and geometric motifs similar to those used to decorate Tiffany and Co.'s enameled Saracenic works.

DescriptionWrought and seamed silver tea caddy in the Islamic-style with niello enamel decoration all over the outer body; oval, boat-shaped body with broad and shallow, concave and convex fluting from foot to rim; chased groove around the center of the body; applied, plain footring; concave shoulder raised to a plain, applied rim; hinged, ovoid lid, flat along the hinged end; outer body is enameled in red, orange and yellow with floral, scroll, geometric and Islamic designs; inner lid in the same shape as the outer with a domed, and sunken center, engraved with floral motifs and lightly enameled in red; knob finial in the center; interior gilt and engraved with all over floral designs; base chased, "S. W./ to. S. M. F. W./ June 7. 1885" in script; makers' marks on the base.

Markingschased: on the base: "S. W./ to. S. M. F. W./ June 7. 1885" in script stamped: on the base: "TIFFANY & Co/ 8053 M 8527/ STERLING SILVER

ClassificationsSILVER