Hanau-Style Dutch Scene Repoussé Silver Plate Tea Caddy
Hollowware - Tea Caddy / Jewelry Box · Likely B.M. (B. Muller & Co) or Neresheimer of Hanau, Germany; often imported and re-marked by retailers.
Pattern: Tavern Scene / Dutch Genre Relief Pattern
Type
Hollowware - Tea Caddy / Jewelry Box
Maker
Likely B.M. (B. Muller & Co) or Neresheimer of Hanau, Germany; often imported and re-marked by retailers.
Material
Silver-plated base metal (likely nickel silver or brass) or low-grade 800 silver; visible plating wear suggests silver plate over a darker base.
Dimensions
Approximately 4.5 inches length, 3.5 inches height; weight varies between 250-400 grams depending on whether it is solid or plated.
Description
This rectangular box features elaborate, crowded scenes of 17th-century village life, depicting figures drinking and dancing. The domed lid and panels are bordered by delicate beading. This style was highly popular in the late Victorian era as a romanticized tribute to the Old Masters.
Key Features
Characteristic 'Dutch Scene' repoussé work; pseudo-antique aesthetic; Hanau manufacturing markers.
Material & Composition
Silver-plated base metal (likely nickel silver or brass) or low-grade 800 silver; visible plating wear suggests silver plate over a darker base.
Finish & Decoration
High-relief repoussé and chasing featuring Neoclassical/Baroque revival Dutch tavern and village festival scenes; beaded borders and domed lid.
Hallmarks & Stamps
Typical Hanau pseudo-hallmarks (often mimicking 18th-century French or Dutch marks) located on the base or interior rim; may include a '925' or '800' if solid, or 'EPNS' if plated.
Construction Details
Cast panels that have been soldered together; lid is hinged; visible seams at the corners indicate assembly from pre-stamped or cast plates.
Functional Features
Piano-style hinge, domed friction-fit lid with small thumb-lift; originally intended to store loose leaf tea but currently used as a decorative box.
Handle & Grip Details
Simple integrated lip/thumb-piece on the lid; no secondary handles; sits on four small cast bun feet.
Craftsmanship Details
Mass-produced via casting but hand-finished to provide the illusion of hand-wrought repoussé; typical commercial quality of the period.
Authentication Indicators
Lack of crispness in the casting suggests a later production or a plated version of a solid silver original. Pseudo-hallmarks are a hallmark of Hanau production.
Origin & Manufacturing
Hanau, Germany; known for high-quality copies and revival pieces that imitated earlier styles for the export market.
Era & Period
Hanau Silver Revival / Historicism (late 19th to early 20th century).
Age Estimate
Circa 1890-1920 based on the revival style and construction techniques.
Cultural Significance
Reflects the late 19th-century European obsession with 'Historicalism,' where wealthy families sought items that looked like 17th-century heirlooms.
Condition Notes
Good to Fair condition. Extensive 'pitting' or wear is visible on the lid's front edge, where the silver plating has worn through to the base metal. Minor tarnish in crevices.
Value Estimate
$100 - $250 USD if silver-plated; $400 - $800+ if confirmed as 800/925 Hanau silver.
Care & Maintenance
Clean with a very soft damp cloth; avoid abrasive silver polishes as the plating is already thin and further polishing may remove the remaining silver layer.
Similar Pieces
Genuine 18th-century Dutch tea caddies (usually smaller and hand-hammered) or modern pewter reproductions (much lighter and without the silver luster).
Interesting Facts
Hanau silversmiths were famous for not being bound by strict guild laws, allowing them to create 'pseudo-hallmarks' that often confuse modern collectors into thinking pieces are much older.