This magnificent piece of silverware was acquired by the MNAHA in 2014 and presented to the public for the first time as part of the new permanent exhibition “From Mansfeld to Design”. Our permanent exhibits also include masterpieces by other gold- or silversmiths who worked in the Duchy of Luxembourg, for instance Johann-Christoph Walch (died 1791), Jean Michel Wunderlich (1748-1820) or Jean Louis Fauconnier (1695-1725). The tea caddy shown here was made by Jean-Michel Kutzer (ca. 1700-1766), who married the widow of Jean Louis Fauconnier and took over his workshop in 1729. Kutzer, originally from Bavaria, became the most prolific silversmith of his day in Luxembourg. He probably made this tea caddy in the first years of his establishment in Luxembourg.

This beautiful item is decorated in Régence style. The sides alternate between concave and convex surfaces, showing the silversmith’s mastery of his craft. The caddy reflects the use of imported products such as coffee, chocolate or tea among wealthy families in 18th-century Luxembourg. As a special feature, it has a two-part lid with a double function: a small cap with a pouring spout for measuring out exact quantities of tea, and the entire lid, removable for cleaning the inside of the tin or filling it.

The caddy had been restored before being added to the MNAHA collections. The first restorer removed an unidentified coat of arms that had been engraved probably long after the caddy itself was made. The coat of arms, which can still be seen in old photographs, would have shed additional light on the history of the object.

- Régis Moes