Antique English Mahogany Tea Caddy with Reuge Swiss Music Box

Antique English mahogany tea caddy with a fitted three-compartment interior, brass hardware, carrying handle, working lock with key, and an oval shell-form decorative inlay to the inside of the lid. The brass hinges are stamped “Hodges Patent,” a fitting documented on English Victorian furniture and boxes.

The center compartment has been fitted with a later mechanical music-box movement by Reuge of Sainte-Croix, Switzerland, with the original “REUGE MUSIC” control visible on the underside. Reuge has produced Swiss mechanical music movements since the 19th century.

Date: late 19th century, with later Reuge musical movement
Origin: England
Material: mahogany with brass fittings
Interior: three fitted lidded compartments; center compartment houses the music movement