Victorian Papier Mache Tea Caddy

A fine quality Victorian papier mache tea caddy featuring a painted scene of Derwent Water in the Lake District. The tea caddy is of exaggerated sarcophagus form with a wide splayed base curving into a slender middle and topped with a cushion shaped lid. The piece is typically decorated with swags and flowers heightened with wonderful gilding. The lid is hand painted with an exquisite landscape scene of Derwent Water and is one of the best such scenes you will see on papier mache. The interior of the box is black in colour with mother of pearl handles to the tea compartments. The whole is a really lovely and rare example of a Victorian tea caddy.