Antique early 20th century art nouveau copper/wood and lead lined tea caddy. This wonderfully decorative tea caddy is adorned with rouposse flowers and has 4 small charming feet. Some age related wear.
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Tea was an expensive commodity in the early 20th century. The smaller the tea caddy usually means the older it is.
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Size: 15 cm tall 10 cm square.
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Some further cleaning may enhance the item.  Personally I love the aged patina.
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Repoussé, meaning "pushed out" in French, is an ancient metalworking technique where designs are hammered into a sheet of metal from the back to create raised relief, dating back to the 3rd millennium BCE and used across various cultures and periods.
Here's a more detailed look at the history of repoussé:
Origins and Early Use:
The technique of repoussé has been practiced since the 3rd millennium BCE, with evidence found in the Middle East and later across various regions including Greece, Rome, and parts of Asia.
Materials and Applications:
While gold and silver are commonly used in modern repoussé, ancient examples utilize bronze, tin, and copper. Repoussé has been used to create a wide range of objects, including drinking vessels, armor, ritual objects, and decorations for buildings and important items like sarcophagi.
Notable Examples:
Tutankhamun's Mummy Mask: A famous example of repoussé is the mask of the mummy of Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun.
Gundestrup Cauldron: This Celtic cauldron, dating back to 150 BC and 1 AD, featured repoussé relief on thirteen separate silver panels lining the inside and outside of the vessel.
Bronze Greek Armor: Classical pieces using repoussage and chasing include bronze Greek armor plates from the 3rd century BC.
The Statue of Liberty: The Statue of Liberty, created by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, is a well-known piece of art made using the metal repoussé technique.
Techniques and Tools:
Repoussé involves hammering the back of the metal sheet to create a raised design on the front. Tools like hammers and various shaping tools are used to achieve the desired form and design.
Global Spread:
The repoussé technique spread to various cultures and regions, including the native tribes of America, Greece, France, Rome, and southeastern Asia.
Popularity in Europe:
Repoussé gained widespread popularity in Europe during the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries.
Modern Usage:
Repoussé continues to be used by jewelers, silversmiths, and other metalworkers today, creating intricate and artistic objects.
 
Art Nouveau, meaning "new art" in French, was an international movement flourishing around the turn of the 20th century, from roughly 1890 to the eve of World War I, characterized by organic, flowing lines and a rejection of historical styles.
Here's a more detailed overview:
1. Origins and Development:
Reaction to Industrialization and Academic Art:
Art Nouveau emerged as a reaction against the prevailing historical styles of the late 19th century and the perceived decline of craftsmanship due to industrialization and mass production.
Arts and Crafts Movement:
The Arts and Crafts Movement in Britain, championed by William Morris, played a significant role in paving the way for Art Nouveau, emphasizing the value of craftsmanship and rejecting the mass-produced nature of industrial objects.
Spread Across Europe:
The style quickly gained popularity in various countries, adopting different regional names, such as Jugendstil in Germany, Secession in Austria, and Modernismo in Spain.
International Style:
Art Nouveau is seen as an international style, with centers in Brussels, Paris, and Munich, showcasing diverse interpretations and styles.
2. Key Characteristics:
Organic and Flowing Lines:
Art Nouveau is characterized by its use of long, sinuous, and organic lines, often inspired by nature, particularly plants and flowers.
Floral and Natural Motifs:
Natural forms, such as flowers, leaves, and animals, were commonly featured in Art Nouveau designs.
Asymmetrical Compositions:
Art Nouveau designs often featured asymmetrical compositions, contrasting with the symmetry found in earlier art styles.
Integration of Structure and Decoration:
Art Nouveau aimed to unite architecture and decoration, creating a "Gesamtkunstwerk" (total work of art).
Emphasis on Craftsmanship:
Practitioners of Art Nouveau sought to revive the value of good craftsmanship and produce genuinely modern designs that reflected the utility of the objects they were creating.
3. Areas of Influence:
Architecture:
Art Nouveau influenced architecture with buildings featuring intricate designs, curving lines, and organic motifs.
Graphic Design and Illustration:
Art Nouveau found fertile ground in graphic design, with posters, book illustrations, and magazine designs featuring flowing lines and natural motifs.
Applied Arts:
Art Nouveau extended into various applied arts, including furniture design, jewelry, glass design, and interior decoration.
4. Decline and Legacy:
Rise of Modernism:
As tastes shifted towards new artistic directions in the 1920s, Art Nouveau fell out of favor, replaced by Art Deco and the development of 20th-century modernist styles.
Revival and Modernism:
Art Nouveau experienced a revival in the 1960s and is now seen as an important predecessor to modernism. tea caddy is a box, jar, canister, or other receptacle used to store tea. When first introduced to Europe from Asia, tea was extremely expensive, and kept under lock and key. The containers used were often expensive and decorative, to fit in with the rest of a drawing-room or other reception room. Hot water was carried up from the kitchen, and the tea made by the