On a recent buying trip we found a tea caddy in the shape of a picnic basket with two sides that flap open. The royal coat of arms on the lids is that of the King of Hanover, Ernst Augustus who also happened to be the 5th son of King George 3rd. He was the Duke of Cumberland. Remember that the Kings of England came from Hanover. They were selected after Queen Anne died without heirs. The throne passed to the descendants of James VI of Scotland in Hanover. Queen Victoria would have become Queen of Hanover when she ascended the throne but a law prohibited a woman from taking that position and so it was passed to the Duke of Cumberland.After viewing a recent television program on the young restless royals of Europe the focus fell on the Hanover heirs and they declared that because of their need to raise funds they put up the family silver in London and that is how this came to be on the market.
If you would like to see more detailed pictures of the tea caddy take look at:
http://www.silverperfect.com/Inventory/tea%20items/hanovertcaddetail.html
