A German brass-mounted kingwood and mahogany tea box probably by the workshop of Abraham Roentgen, circa 1760

With small construction cracks. Age cracks, minor losses and minor restaurations to veneer. In good overall condition.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

In early seventeenth-century Europe, when the habit of tea drinking reached the continent, green and black tea leaves were usually kept in separate containers: until the end of the 1600s in Chinese porcelain jars and from 1680s onwards silver canisters were preferred. From the early eighteenth century, also lockable tea chests, such as the present lot, were made. These boxes were often partially lined with velvet or silk, contained tightly-fitted silver, wood or brass canisters and were occasionally fitted with a secret compartment to hide the strainer, such as the present lot. The 'Teeschatulle' or tea box was among the earliest pieces of furniture known made by Abraham Roentgen. Between 1755 and 1790 the Roentgen workshop produced over a hundred boxes ranging in size, a number of which were equipped with secret drawers. Knowing that Abraham Roentgen described himself as an englischer Cabinet Macher, it is not surprising that most of his tea boxes follow English models with their sarcophagus shape, cavetto lids and restrained use of mounts and escutcheons. These tea boxes were much prized and sought-after by his customers. In fact, when in 1768 a lottery was held by the Roentgens to ease their atelier's financial problems, they included twelve such boxes as prizes (Zwolf Stuck kostbare eingelegte Thee-Schatullen mit einer Schieb Lade, welche von selbst herausspringt, a St. 6 Duc), indicating that they relied on the popularity of these items and believed that these works would entice customers into purchasing tickets. A number of similar boxes of comparable shape by Roentgen are illustrated D. Fabian, Abraham und David Roentgen, Bad Neustadt, 1996, p. 247. A related tea caddy by the workshop of Abraham Roentgen sold Sotheby's Amsterdam, 11 April 2006, lot 44.