Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
Antique Chinese Export Black Lacquer Tea Caddy
Located in Forney, TX
A stunning antique Qing Dynasty Chinese export twin canister tea caddy / decorative table box
Category
19th Century Chinese Qing Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
Materials
Pewter
19th Century Chinese Export Lacquer Tea Caddy
Located in Mt Kisco, NY
The burgundy / brown lacquer is decorated with gold depicting figures and buildings in a landscape
Category
19th Century English Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
Two Chinese Export Lacquer Tea Caddy for the English Trade, Priced Per Tea Caddy
Located in Buchanan, MI
A Chinese Export lacquer tea caddy. Gilt lacquered tea caddy with two pewter canister inserts
Category
19th Century Regency Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
Materials
Wood
H 5 in W 11 in D 8 in
Ying Mee & Co., Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy or Box
Located in Atlanta, GA
Chinese, early 20th century.
An antique red lacquer box with gilt decorated chickens, Chinese
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
Materials
Wood, Lacquer
Rare Quatrefoil Chinese Export Tea Caddy, 19th Century
Located in Charlottesville, VA
Rare quatrefoil Chinese Export Tea Caddy, 19th Century, the lacquer tea caddy with interlocking
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
Materials
Lacquer
19th Century Chinese Canton Export Lacquered Giltwood Tea Caddy on Shishi Feet
Located in Haarlem, NL
Clover or quartreform shaped mid-19th century Chinese canton export tea caddy in gold lacquered
Category
Mid-19th Century Chinese Chinese Export Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
Materials
Pewter
H 5.52 in W 8.67 in D 8.67 in
Two Chinese Export Lacquered Tea Caddy for the English Market, Priced Per Caddy
Located in Buchanan, MI
A two Chinese export lacquered tea caddys for The English Market. With two fitted pewter canisters
Category
19th Century Regency Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
Materials
Wood
H 5.5 in W 12 in D 8 in
19th Century Sea Captain's Tea Caddy
Located in Nantucket, MA
Early 19th century sea captain's tea caddy, circa 1830, made of coramandel wood gathered in the
Category
Early 19th Century American Regency Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
Materials
Wood
19th Century Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy
Located in Brea, CA
19th century Qing Dynasty Chinese export gilt decorated black lacquer tea caddy. Hexagonal shape
Category
19th Century Chinese Qing Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
Materials
Lacquer
19th Century Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy
Located in Brea, CA
Middle 19th century Chinese Export double lacquer tea caddy on stand from the Qing dynasty
Category
19th Century Chinese Qing Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
Materials
Lacquer
Antique Chinese Tea Pot Caddy
Located in New York, NY
Antique Chinese Tea Caddy. Late 19th century early 20th century Elm Wood carved gilt red lacquered
Category
1890s Chinese Qing Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
Materials
Elm
People Also Browsed
Pair of French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Mahogany and Ormolu Cabinets
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most elegant pair of French 19th century Louis XVI st. Mahogany and ormolu cabinets. Each two door one drawer cabinet is raised by a straight base with a fine mottled border and cu...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
Materials
Ormolu
H 35.5 in W 40.25 in D 14.75 in
19th Century English Mahogany Corner Bookcase ~ Curio Cabinet
Located in Dallas, TX
19th Century English Mahogany Corner Bookcase ~ Curio Cabinet will make the perfect choice for utilizing an otherwise empty corner space to one's greatest advantage! Storage below b...
Category
Late 19th Century English Neoclassical Revival Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
Materials
Glass, Mahogany
Nicole Freres 6 tune music box
Located in Zonhoven, BE
Music box made in Switzerland by Nicole Freres in 1852.
The wooden box has marquetry with various exotic woods on the lid, there is a simetric cartouche made of lemon wood in the c...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swiss Early Victorian Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
Materials
Bronze, Steel, Cut Steel, Other, Iron
Regency Burr Yew Tea Caddy
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
A Delightful Early 19th Century, Regency Period, Burr Yew Wood Tea Caddy Of Sarcophagus Form Having Boxwood Strung Decoration, Original Ormolu Handles To Sides And Hinged Top Enclosi...
Category
Early 19th Century English Regency Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
Materials
Yew
Chinese Box, with Flower Pattern Decor, Lacquered 19th Century
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
Small lacquered painted box, with floral decorations in yellow, red and green, it was made in China in the 19th century.
Category
19th Century Chinese Chinese Export Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
Materials
Wood
19th Century Chinese Tea Box
Located in Tampa, FL
A 19th century Chinese chinoiserie tea box with dragon feet and a complete pewter interior
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
Materials
Wood
18th Century Black Lacquer Chinese Cabinet
Located in New York, NY
A monumental 18th century black lacquer and cinnabar embellished cabinet. Brass and steel hardware with three drawers at the base. Fitted wide interior shelves.
Category
Late 18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
Materials
Wood
19th Century Chinese Lacquer Sewing Box
Located in Brea, CA
19th century Chinese lacquer sewing box from the Qing Dynasty. Decorated all over beautifully with intricate designs and images of ancient Chinese people and structures.
Category
19th Century Chinese Qing Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
Materials
Lacquer
19th Century a Unique Gilt Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy
Located in Brea, CA
19th century golden black lacquer Chinese tea caddy with pewter and a key, the special shape body decorated with hand paint courtyard, a very beautiful piece. See more pictures, meas...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Qing Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
Materials
Lacquer
19th Century Chinese Export Lacquered Chinoiserie Cabinet
Located in Downham Market, GB
A Chinese export chinoiserie cabinet.
A wonderful chinoiserie table top cabinet in the most amazing & beautifully preserved, black lacquered & hand painted gilt detailing. The twin d...
Category
Late 19th Century British Chinese Export Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
Materials
Wood
Antique Bow Front Corner Cabinet, English, Wall Cupboard, Georgian, Circa 1780
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique bow front corner cabinet. An English, flame mahogany and oak wall cupboard, dating to the Georgian period, circa 1780.
Exquisite craftsmanship sets apart this sup...
Category
Late 18th Century British Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
Materials
Wood
H 48.23 in W 29.34 in D 20.08 in
19th Century Gilt Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy
Located in Brea, CA
19th century golden black lacquer Chinese tea caddy with pewter and a key, the rectangular-section body decorated with dragons, a very beautiful piece. See more pictures, measures: 7...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Qing Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
Materials
Lacquer
Antique French Louis XVI Mahogany Vitrine ~ Display Cabinet
Located in Dallas, TX
Antique French Louis XVI Mahogany Vitrine ~ Display Cabinet will make a stunning visual statement in any room, calling attention to your prized family heirlooms or cherished collecti...
Category
Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
Materials
Brass
Chinese Kang Table with Ridged Legs, c. 1800
Located in Chicago, IL
This 19th-century hardwood kang table was traditionally used as a convenient working surface for painting, writing, sewing, or eating atop a heated kang platform. The petite table fe...
Category
19th Century Chinese Qing Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
Materials
Wood, Lacquer
19th Century Gilt Lacquer Chinese Tea Caddy
Located in Brea, CA
19th century golden black lacquer Chinese tea caddy with a key, the rectangular-section body decorated with panels of landscapes and patterned decoration throughout retains original ...
Category
Early 19th Century Chinese Qing Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
Materials
Lacquer
Chinese Gilt-Decorated Black Lacquer Sewing Box
Located in New York, NY
The rectangular box with canted corners, opening to a lacquered interior; decorated overall with floral and foliate motifs and cartouches of floral sprays and temples; on gilt claw f...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
Materials
Giltwood, Lacquer
Recent Sales
Intricately Painted Large English Lacquered Tea Caddy
Located in San Francisco, CA
An unusually large 1823 English Regency Chinese export black, gold and red lacquered tea caddy, of
Category
19th Century Chinese Regency Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
Materials
Brass
18th Century Chinese Tea Caddy Export Box Black and Gold Tin
Located in Ettlingen, Baden-Wurttemberg
Beautiful 18th century Chinese export lacquered tea caddy in an octagonal shape with gilt
Category
18th Century German Chinoiserie Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
Materials
Gold, Sheet Metal
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H 4.73 in W 7.88 in D 5.52 in
Chinese4Export caddy box
Located in Tacoma, WA
A 19th century Chinese Export black and gilt lacquer chinoiserie caddy box
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
Materials
Wood
Chinese export lacquer tea caddy
Located in San Francisco, CA
A Chinese export lacquer tea caddy of shaped outline decorated oval and circular figural reserve
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
Materials
Pewter
Fine Chinese Export Tea Caddy
Located in San Francisco, CA
A fine Chinese export tea caddy, the gilt decorated lacquered case in excellent condition opening
Category
19th Century Chinese Chinese Export Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
Materials
Pewter
Chinese Export Lacquer Double Tea Caddy Chest, circa 1840
Located in Downingtown, PA
Chinese Export lacquer double tea caddy chest,
circa 1840.
A large rectangular-shaped footed
Category
Mid-19th Century Chinese Chinese Export Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
Materials
Lacquer
Good Chinese Export Red and Gold Lacquer Tea Caddy
Located in San Francisco, CA
A good quality China trade gold and red lacquer tea caddy retaining its original engraved lidded
Category
Mid-19th Century Chinese Chinese Export Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
Materials
Lacquer
Oval China Trade Tea Caddy
Located in San Francisco, CA
An attractive Chinese export gilt lacquer oval tea caddy decorated overall with black and gilt
Category
1820s Chinese Chinese Export Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
Black Lacquered Chinoiserie Tea Caddy
Located in Firenze, IT
Wonderful 19th century black lacquered wood and silver plated octagonal shape Chinese Chinoiserie
Category
19th Century Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
Materials
Wood
19th Century Chinese Export Tea Caddy
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
The finely lacquered piece is fashioned with fine gilt pen work and it raised
upon four "bat" form
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
Materials
Pewter
A fine Chinese export black and gilt lacquered tea caddy
Located in San Francisco, CA
A fine Chinese export black and gilt lacquered tea caddy of oblong octagonal form with ivory
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
Chinoiserie Decorated Tea Caddy
Located in valatie, NY
Chinoiserie Decorated Tea Caddy C1790 Oval Shape with Chinese Lacquer and original chinoiserie
Category
18th Century and Earlier Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
Lacquer and gilt tea caddy
Located in San Francisco, CA
China trade lacquer tea caddy with gilt decoration on a black ground, carved feet and original
Category
19th Century English Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
Materials
Pewter
Lacquered Box
Located in New York, NY
Gilt lacquer Chinese tea caddy
Chinese export lacquer tea caddy on dragon feet from the Qing
Category
19th Century Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
Materials
Lacquer
Chinese Export Tea Caddy
Located in San Francisco, CA
A Chinese export gilt and black decorated tea caddy of typical form fitted with an engraved pewter
Category
1860s Chinese Chinoiserie Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
Materials
Lacquer
Chinese Export Silver Lacquer Tea Caddy, circa 1800
Located in Kinderhook, NY
Chinese export tea caddy having rare silver lacquer and hand-painted polychrome figural landscape
Category
Late 18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
19th Century Chinese Pewter Tea Caddy
Located in Pasadena, CA
A Chinese pewter tea caddy, circa 1850s. A rectangular-shaped box with canted corners, decorated in
Category
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
Materials
Pewter
Tea Caddy in Black Lacquer with Floral Decorations
Located in Kastrup, DK
Chinese tea caddy with body in polychrome lacquered wood on a black background.
Decorated
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Chinese Export Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
Materials
Pewter
Chinese Chinoiserie Decorated Footed Tea Caddy with Pewter Interior Tea Boxes
Located in Wells, ME
Chinese early 19th century period chinoiserie decorated footed tea caddy. This elaborately hand
Category
Early 19th Century Chinese George III Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
Materials
Pewter
Late 19th Century Chinoiserie Style Lacquered Tea Caddy
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
An antique hand-painted Chinoiserie lacquer tea caddy, with Chinese artistic influences. The
Category
1870s French Chinoiserie Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
Materials
Lead
Rare Chinese Export Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy, circa 1840-1850
Located in London, GB
A rare Chinese export tortoiseshell tea caddy made for the Dutch market.
The exterior has
Category
1840s Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
Materials
Tortoise Shell
Chinese 19th Century Chinoiserie Decorated Teacaddy with Interior Tea Boxes
Located in Wells, ME
This Chinese Export early 19th century chinoiserie decorated lacquered teacaddy retains its
Category
Early 19th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
Materials
Lacquer, Wood
Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy
Located in Northampton, United Kingdom
Chinese lacquer Tea Caddy standing on four carved dragon feet with beautiful Chinoiserie panels
Category
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
Chinese Export Lacquer Tea Caddy
Located in Northampton, United Kingdom
Small Chinese export lacquer tea caddy standing on four dragon feet. Each side is adorned with
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
Materials
Lacquer
Chinese Black Lacquer Tea Caddy
Located in San Francisco, CA
Stunning black lacquer Chinese Tea Caddy
with original insert
beautiful engraving
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
19th Century Lacquer Chinese Tea Caddy
Located in Northampton, United Kingdom
Unusually shaped lacquer tea chest with a raised form panel of a melon. Beautifully decorated with
Category
19th Century British Victorian Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
Materials
Lacquer
Antique Chinese Butterfly Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Chest, 19th Century
Located in Northampton, United Kingdom
A rare Chinese tea chest decorated with East Asian scenes, including temples and pagodas. In the
Category
19th Century Chinese Victorian Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
Materials
Lacquer
Large 19th Century Chinese Export Lacquered Tea Caddy
Located in Atlanta, GA
Large 19th Century Chinese Export Lacquered Tea Caddy.
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
Materials
Lacquer
Black Lacquer Tea Caddy
Located in Seattle, WA
Black lacquer tea caddy, with lead insert.
Category
18th Century and Earlier Chinese Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
Antique Chinese Melon Tea Caddy
Located in Northampton, United Kingdom
Chinese lacquer melon tea chest decorated with flowers, leaves and birds in gold, standing on three
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
Materials
Lacquer
19th Century Chinese Export Tea Caddy
Located in Kilmarnock, VA
An early 19th century black lacquer Chinese Export tea caddy with its original fitted double
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
Materials
Wood, Lacquer
Regency Period Lacquered Tea Caddy
Located in Peterborough, Northamptonshire
Attractive Regency period lacquer tea caddy, the bombe base below a stepped lid, well cast gilt
Category
19th Century English Regency Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
Chinese Export Lacquer Tea Caddy with Original Pewter Interior
Located in London, GB
Chinese Export Lacquer Tea Caddy with Gilt & Polychrome Decoration -Engraved Pewter Interior with
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
Materials
Wood
Chinese Export Tea Caddy, circa 1840
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Fine Chinese export tea caddy with original gold paint and lacquer finish, and original lead tea
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
19th Century Chinese Export Melon Form Tea Caddy
Located in Dallas, TX
A rare melon form Chinese export lacquerware tea caddy and liner, circa 1830s, comprising six
Category
1830s Chinese Chinese Export Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
Lacquer Tea Chest
Located in Northampton, United Kingdom
Chinese lacquer tea chest in the shape of a melon, standing on three carved dragons' feet
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
Materials
Lacquer
Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Chest, 19th Century
Located in Northampton, United Kingdom
Chinese lacquer tea chest standing on four carved dragons feet, decorated with beautiful very
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
Materials
Lacquer
A 19th Century Chinese Export Brown Lacquer Fan-shaped Tea Caddy
Located in New York, NY
Fitted with two conforming pewter cannisters; decorated throughout with gilt chinoiserie figures set within stylized borders; on gilt metal winged paw feet.
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
Rare Chinese Export Lacquer Tea Caddy in the form of a Temple Jar c.1840
Located in London, GB
Chinese export lacquer tea caddy in the form of an ancient, hexagonal temple jar. Richly decorated
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
Materials
Pewter
Regency Period Papier Mâché Tea Caddy
Located in Peterborough, Northamptonshire
An attractive Regency period papier mâché and mother-of-pearl inlaid tea caddy, multiple serpentine
Category
19th Century English Regency Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
Regency period Tole Ware Caddy
Located in Peterborough, Northamptonshire
.
Provenance
The word Tea Caddy is believed to be derived from catty, the Chinese pound, equal to about a
Category
19th Century British Regency Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
Chinese Tea Caddy
Located in Northampton, United Kingdom
Unusual shaped Chinese export tea caddy.Each of the eight segmented sections are decorated with
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
Materials
Lacquer, Wood
Chinese Tea Caddy
Located in Northampton, United Kingdom
Wonderful Red Lacquered Chinese Tea Caddy decorated with Warriors, contains two removable engraved
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
Chinese Lacquer Melon Shaped Tea Chest Tea Caddy
Located in Northampton, United Kingdom
Chinese lacquer melon tea chest decorated with chinoiserie scenes in gold, standing on three carved
Category
19th Century Chinese Victorian Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
Materials
Lacquer
Chinoiserie Lacquer Tea Caddy Box
Located in Summerland, CA
19th century lovely red lacquer tea caddy box. Hand painted in gilt chinoiserie of peacocks and
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
Materials
Lacquer
Chinese Export Melon Form Tea Caddy
Located in Dallas, TX
Lovely and rare red melon form Chinese export tea caddy, circa 1830, with original melon fitted
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
Chinese Lacquer Tea Chest
Located in Northampton, United Kingdom
Chinese lacquer Tea Caddy standing on four carved dragon feet with beautiful Chinoiserie panels
Category
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
Chinese Export Red Lacquer Paktong Bone Tea Chest, 19th Century
Located in Northampton, United Kingdom
A rare Chinese export lacquer tea chest, with beautiful red panels decorated with Chinese figures
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies
Materials
Lacquer
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Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies For Sale on 1stDibs
An assortment of antique Chinese lacquer tea caddy tea caddies is available at 1stDibs. Frequently made of wood, metal and lacquer, all antique Chinese lacquer tea caddy tea caddies available were constructed with great care. Antique Chinese lacquer tea caddy tea caddies have been made for many years, and versions that date back to the 19th Century alongside those produced as recently as the 19th Century. Regency antique Chinese lacquer tea caddy tea caddies are consistently popular styles.
How Much are Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy Tea Caddies?
Prices for antique Chinese lacquer tea caddy tea caddies start at $796 and top out at $18,880 with the average selling for $1,763.
Finding the Right tea-caddies for You
There are lots of uses for your vintage, new or antique tea caddies, but they can certainly serve their original intended purpose if needed.
When tea first gained popularity during the 1800s, and teatime became commonplace in homes all over England, it was an expensive commodity owing to excessive taxation. (This, of course, inevitably yielded a black market for tea leaves.) Tea drinkers hoarded their precious goods, which began to arrive in London ports from China during the 17th century, under lock and key. In luxury homes, tea leaves were stowed away in a decorative jar or canister called a tea caddy that was fitted with a lock, or, alternatively, the container was kept in a secured chest or storage cabinet.
Tea was thought to be not just a delicious drink but also to have medicinal benefits. The Chinese had been praising the healthy properties of tea, and wealthy Europeans were eager to discover its benefits for themselves during their ritual afternoon tea. The idea of “teatime” wasn’t a social event in upper-class British homes until the 1830s or 1840s. During Queen Victoria’s reign, small baked treats might be served with your beverage, and teakettles and coffeepots were part of tea services that could include teacups, saucers, a milk pot and other accessories.
When tea cultivation was relegated to British colonies such as India, and the British East India Company could no longer hold onto its trade monopoly with China, tea was no longer a ritual confined to the wealthy. Today, antique and vintage tea caddies are collector’s items all over the world.
Tea caddies weren’t unique to Europeans. The earliest pieces originated in China. Surviving hand-painted examples from China or elsewhere in Asia made of porcelain might feature enameled landscapes or other designs. At the Taft Museum of Art, there are striking enameled 18th-century-era tea caddies of copper that were given to the institution in 2014. Wooden tea caddies materialized over time and were seen as sturdier than their ceramic counterparts.
Today, there are all kinds of ways to use a vintage tea caddy if you’re passing on tea. They’re a welcome decorative flourish on the mantel in your living room, for example. A metal tea caddy, lined with a plastic bag, can be used to cultivate an herb garden on your kitchen windowsill. An old wooden tea caddy can help keep your paper clips or pushpins organized on your desk too. If you’re always on the go, a tea tin is good for packing earbuds, hand sanitizer, gum or whatever else that might get easily lost in a roomy crossbody messenger bag or other shoulder bag.
Teatime or not, find antique and vintage mid-century modern tea caddies, tortoiseshell caddies and more on 1stDibs.
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