by Frances Allitt
A set of three George II silver tea caddies by the famed English silversmith Paul de Lamerie (1688-1751) was one of the stand-out sales in the opening days of Masterpiece London.
The caddies, in their original fitted walnut case with silver mounts, were originally in the collection of Vice-Admiral Sir Edward Hawke (1705-81). The largest of the three is date marked for 1742, the others for 1744.