Antique French Napoleon III era marquetry tea caddy box with two compartments. Featuring burl amboyna wood with tulipwood veneers, decorated in brass and ebonized wood inlays. Opens to a mahogany finished interior and a pair of matching lids with rosewood inlay, under these are secondary lids known as floating lids which would sit directly on the tea to help keep the tea leaves fresh. Revealing silver foil lined compartments. Retains a working lock and key. Measures 9 1/8" length x 4 3/4" width x 4 5/8" height.
In overall good antique condition with general wear commensurate with age and use. Evidence of old worm holes as shown. On the sides of the box, there is bowing between the wood and brass edging. To the interior, there is an age related crack on the inside of the lid.