Copper and brass tea caddy with turtle shell top.

Hello everyone. Once again I am way out of my element but this looks interesting. Google lens says it's a tea caddy. 11" wide, 7" deep, 7"from the ball feet to the hinge, 12 1/2" from the ball feet to the top of the finial. I cannot see any marks at all. A lot of what looks like remnants of polish or copper cleaner in most crevices. The hinge has been soldered and has separated with only a small bit still connecting the 2 parts, making me very cautious opening it. When lifting the lid or when I turned the whole things on its side to take pics, brown/tan dust and small particles sift out from the joint holding the shell and finial in place. I assume the shell is degrading.

Any direction will help me figure out how to clean this up and price it to sell. I did find one that sold for $200 (Invaluable 2020).

Thanks folks!
Linda

 

Don't clean it. Whatever value it retains will be reduced if you do, as it creates a bright, shiny finish that puts most collectors off.
Plus, as you observed, the turtle shell quite probably is already suffering some loss, which cleaning will only accelerate. Words of wisdom, Let it Be.

 

Maybe just tea dust?

Are you saying the turtle shell is a real one, not just metal designed to look that way? Turtle shells are bone with sort of a keratin coating that is constantly renewing itself. Both materials are highly durable; don't think they would turn to powder with age alone. To be confusing, the material we refer to as tortoiseshell comes from sea turtles. Your shell is from a land tortoise.

 

that's rather weird.....nice.....but weird !!!

 

I believe it is a real turtle shell. It is much warmer to touch than the metal and is very hard. The underside of the lid is a solid piece of metal with no communication between the tea compartment and the underside of the shell. The shell is surrounded by the brass frame around it but is loose within it, it shifts ever so slightly in it.
I would never use metal polish on something like this. I would like to get as much of the old polish/cleaner out of crevices if I can do it without damaging or compromising the caddy if that is an appropriate move. I used clear water on a paper towel to see if some would come off but it doesn't appear to have done anything.
Thanks for the input everyone.
Linda

 

That's what old toothbrushes are for. I wouldn't mess with it much either.