This is a very strange and rare survivor and in quite exceptional condition.
This is a late 19th-century Victorian tea cosy of an exceptionally large size.
It measures 12 1/2 inches in height - and it is 15 inches wide at the widest point.
It is made of a short-pile black velvet on the outside and is lined inside with a bright sky blue silk material. There is an attractive central floral decoration on the front all made up from glass beadwork- there are decorative borders around and a dedication.
On the back is a black and white speckled glass beadwork cat - with blue whiskers - he is playing with a little ball. I love the little cat - he is such an adorable addition.
It is very clean and there are no damages to the material - and no tears to the lining etc.
This is not just a lovely functional antique tea cosy - which you would pop over a large teapot to keep the heat in and your tea all warm - but it also an interesting historical item.
I think that this tea cosy relates to a certain Scottish lady who had been in Africa working as a missionary - the tea cosy is annotated as being a gift "To Mrs Monteith". Around the arched top, it reads "From Ikorofiong Church".
I am assuming that the work was made by children at the Missionary School as a present for their teacher. The little cat on the back playing with a ball of wool - might be a reference to the lady's cat.
There is a little black velvet loop at the top to lift the cosy off your pot.
Ikorofiong is located at Calabar in Nigeria and was favoured by the United Presbyterian Church of Scotland. There is many interesting articles describing the establishment of the mission in the late 19th century by Scots missionaries.
Apart from being a rare and a very attractive antique textile - it is also very interesting historically.
Victorian beadwork tea cosies are highly collectable - so this strange African one is priced at a very fair price - you won't find another like it - and better still it is highly decorative and functional.
HAPPY TO POST INTERNATIONALLY, PLEASE GET IN TOUCH WITH ME IF YOU WOULD LIKE A POSTAGE QUOTE OUTSIDE OF THE UK.