Lot Essay
The present sign originally formed part of a much larger group of figures symbolising the origins and transport of tea, from the facia of the premises of The Tea Dealer, W. Stewart, a tea dealer on Grainger Street in Newcastle Upon Tyne. As can be seen from the photograph the composition, spanning some 40 feet, was split into three groups portraying "Arabia's Fragrant Coffee, China's Celestial Tea and the Indies Colonial Produce". Beamish The North of England Open Air Museum currently houses part of the lettering from the facia of the shop.
William Stewart aquired 33 Grainger Street in c1851, by 1875 the business had expanded and he also owned shops in Gateshead and Sunderland. In 1866 he became a councillor and in 1876 Sherrif of Newcastle. The business was eventually sold to Ringtons c1936.
It is interesting to note that the camel bearing spices from the East, the staple article of the early grocers trade, appeared on various furnishings of the Worshipful Company of Grocers. A pair of camels in Coade stone, after a design by Joseph Panzetta (fl. 1789-1830), flanked the armorial escutcheon, which dominated the balustrade to the Hall of the Worshipful Company in the City of London.
William Stewart aquired 33 Grainger Street in c1851, by 1875 the business had expanded and he also owned shops in Gateshead and Sunderland. In 1866 he became a councillor and in 1876 Sherrif of Newcastle. The business was eventually sold to Ringtons c1936.
It is interesting to note that the camel bearing spices from the East, the staple article of the early grocers trade, appeared on various furnishings of the Worshipful Company of Grocers. A pair of camels in Coade stone, after a design by Joseph Panzetta (fl. 1789-1830), flanked the armorial escutcheon, which dominated the balustrade to the Hall of the Worshipful Company in the City of London.