Frederick Kandler Tea Caddy, 1751

This is a beautiful 18th century silver canister made by an important maker of the period.

The silver tea caddy is cylindrical in form with attractive rococo style chasing. It has a hinged cover with clasp where a lock would originally have been fitted in the days when tea was very expensive and thus prevented light-fingered servants from helping themselves! A sign of the rich heritage of this particular Georgian tea caddy is the engraved coat of arms to the front. It is in excellent condition throughout.

The underside of the base is fully hallmarked and the cover has appropriate part marks - both including the script "FK" of the maker.

Charles Frederick Kandler is a mysterious figure and according to Arthur Grimwade in "London Goldsmiths: 1697-1837": "The identity of this highly important maker remains a baffling mystery". He originally entered his mark at Goldsmiths Hall in 1727 in partnership with James Murray and later entered a mark working alone in the name of Charles Kandler. By the late 1730's, the same hand signs the entry books as Frederick Kandler and it is almost certainly the same person.