S/3514 Antique Treen 19th Century Pear Wood Cup

An extremely interesting pear wood cup, having a cover of a moulded and stepped design, surmounted by a decorative bone finial. The cup, with a small protruding lip, is raised on a well turned support on a circular stepped and dished base. Whether it was used for the storage of spices, or as a tea caddy, we are not sure. In Treen for the Table by Jonathan Levi, there is a somewhat similar , but earlier example circa 1790, on page 186. He suggests that it could be a tea caddy or a sugar urn. The colour and patination is wonderful, a truly distinctive item.

Sold 8¼ in. (21 cm.) High
4 in. (10 cm.) Diameter English Circa 1860