This form of tea-caddy seems to have been popular around 1800, particularly for caddies veneered with various combinations of ivory, tortoiseshell and mother-of-pearl. A related brass-mounted ivory tea-caddy, dated circa 1800 and veneered with panels of ivory and fine tortoiseshell stringing, was acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum in 1919 (inv.no. W.52-1919) and is illustrated in G. Walkling, Tea Caddies, London, 1988, fig. 58.
Two similar tea-caddies were sold anonymously in these Rooms, one on 6 June 1996, lot 3, the other on 6 February 1997, lot 85.