Social History — 1786
Tea chest
This tea chest was made by William Potter. The two canisters fitted inside and would be used for different types of tea. Potter created the outside design by inlaying thin sheets of various types of wood in a process known as 'marquetry'. It depicts Carlton House, which was the Prince Regent's residence until he became king in 1820. He spent a fortune decorating this building which overlooked St James's Park. The inside of the chest resembles the interior of the house.
Potter raffled this chest attracting fifty subscriptions at a rate of two guineas. Subscribers included a number of prominent aristocrats: the Dukes of York, Queensberry and Cornwall and Lady Elizabeth Foster. Prince Augustus Frederick and Lord Nelson's mistress Lady Hamilton also took part. In the end Potter won the chest himself by entering sixteen times! It then remained in his family and was sold to the London Museum by a relative in 1912.
- Category:
- Social History
- Object ID:
- A7547/1
- Object name:
- tea chest
- Object type:
- Artist/Maker:
- Potter, William
- Related people:
- Related events:
- Related places:
Cornhill, City of London, London [City of London], City of London
- Production date:
- 1786
- Material:
wood
- Measurements/duration:
- H 180 mm, W 302 mm, D 152 mm (overall)
- Part of:
- —
- On display:
- —
- Record quality:
- 100%
- Part of this object:
- —
- Owner Status & Credit:
Permanent collection
- Copyright holder:
digital image © London Museum
- Image credit:
- —
- Creative commons usage:
- —
- License this image:
To license this image for commercial use, please contact the London Museum Picture Library.