Important & Rare Irish Well Figured Coromandel Double Tea Caddy with lavish Polished Brass Mounts, complete with original fitted interior. Trade label: To the Vice Regal Court "Austins" Dressing Case Manufactory, 39 Westmoreland Street, Dublin. Condition: Very good condition for such an early piece, all brass is present, no associated studs, original polished surface with good patination. Few light water stains at back, lock and key are present, key does not turn. Width: 8.5" (22cm). Height: 4.5" (11.5cm). Depth: 4.75" (12cm). COROMANDEL: also known as Makassar Ebony, is a member of the genus Diospyros and one of the plants commonly known as ebony. Coromandel ebony wood is variegated, streaky brown and black, nearly always wide striped. It is considered a highly valuable wood for turnery, fine cabinet work and joinery. The tree grows up to 20 meters under favourable circumstances, although such trees are rarely seen nowadays. Since Coromandel ebony has been a woodworkers favourite for centuries, most of it has been felled and used in high quality furniture. The natural area of distribution are some Indonesian islands.As this exceptionally beautiful species of the Ebonies has been much appreciated by woodworkers all over the world through the past 2 centuries it has now become a very scarce and expensive timber. The small available amounts on the market have led to very high prices, Makassar ebony nowadays belongs to the highest priced timbers on the world, the region of growth is quite restricted. |
