Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy
Located in Tampa, FL
Chinese export tea caddy in pomegranate red, made for the English market. This is a beautifully crafted chinoiserie piece with carved brass feet and a richly decorated surface featur...
Pewter
Chinese Export Black Lacquer Tea Caddy
Located in Tampa, FL
An early 19th century Chinese export black lacquer tea caddy, richly decorated with hand painted gilt scenes depicting traditional Chinese architecture, figures and flowering landsca...
Wood, Lacquer
Early 19th Century Chinese Export Lacquer Tea Caddy
Located in Charlottesville, VA
A large octagonal form Chinese export tea caddy in black lacquer decorated throughout in gilt and red with figural garden scenes, pavilions, and dense scrolling foliage. The lid pane...
Wood, Lacquer, Paint
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. circa 1860 Hand-crafted in China for the European market when rare and exotic oriental...
Pewter
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. Together with a larger Chinese export lacquer box with one interior fitted shelf (5" x ...
Wood
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. The caddy stands on four carved wooden feet in the shape of claws. The interior co...
Paper
Early 19th Century Chinese Export Lacquer Tea Caddy in Cylindrical Form
Located in Charlottesville, VA
A Chinese export tea caddy dating from the first half of the 19th century of cylindrical octagonal form in black lacquer with gilt decoration throughout. The body is decorated with f...
Wood, Lacquer
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 lettering and other symbols. Marked to box with maker.
Wood, Lacquer
19th Century Chinese Export Tea Caddy
Located in Charlottesville, VA
A black lacquered tea caddy. Great decoration and has interior compartment.
Wood, Paint
Early 19th Century Chinese Export Lacquer Tea Caddy with Original Lead Liners
Located in Charlottesville, VA
An octagonal Chinese export tea caddy in black lacquer with gilt decoration, raised on four carved gilt paw feet. The lid carries a central figural scene with seated figures among tr...
Wood, Lacquer
$1,580Sale Price|20% Off
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 wood on a black background. Decorated with palace scenes animated with figures engage...
Pewter
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 on the interior. Together with a Chinese export lacquered box with remnants of gilt...
Wood
19th Century Chinese Export Gilt and Lacquerware tea Caddy
Located in Pittsburgh, PA
This China Trade Tea box features intricately painted Chinese scenes, and retains its original hand chased metal liner.
Lacquer
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 Spice Islands China Trade, with sailor's grommet-spliced rope becket handles. The inte...
Wood
19th Century Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy
Located in Brea, CA
19th century Qing Dynasty Chinese export gilt decorated black lacquer tea caddy.
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. octagonal form with hinged lid ,divided interior with metal caddies , mounted on conformi...
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 tea caddy.
Elm
Rare and Fine Antique Japanese Ceramic Ko-Satsuma Chaire Tea Caddy
Located in Atlanta, GA
A ceramic tall chaire (Tea caddies) ko-satsuma type from Edo period Japan circa 18th century. This type of small jar was made of stoneware. Its specific form with raised shoulder and...
Ceramic
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 octagonal shape, with each faceted side featuring a reserve with scholars and beaut...
Brass
19th Century Chinese Victorian Tea Caddy
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Hand-crafted in China for the European market, this Asian-style English black lacquered octagonal hinged tea caddy features a decorative stenciled motif of pagodas and foliage in gil...
Pewter
Unavailable
H 4.73 in W 7.88 in D 5.52 in
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 chinoiserie decoration and cast gilded paw feet. Interior is fitted with a pair of pewter te...
Gold, Sheet Metal
Chinese export tea chest with etched pewter insert
Located in Summerland, CA
This is a rare early 19th-century (c.1820) Chinese antique large lacquered gilt tea chest, containing an original pewter tea caddy liner. The chest is beautifully decorated with vil...
Lacquer
Chinese4Export caddy box
Located in Tacoma, WA
A 19th century Chinese Export black and gilt lacquer chinoiserie caddy box
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, the interior fitted with two putter canisters, all on winged dragon feet.
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 to reveal 2 original pewter tea canisters with lids, all resting on carved stylized...
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 tea chest with canted corners. The caddy in black lacquer with gilt decoration of Ch...
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 pewter inserts, the exterior elaborately decorated overall with figures, flowers and ...
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 foliate designs, the interior with two engraved pewter canisters, the top with stylize...
Black Lacquered Chinoiserie Tea Caddy
Located in Firenze, IT
Wonderful 19th century black lacquered wood and silver plated octagonal shape Chinese Chinoiserie Tea Caddy. Each faceted side featuring auspicious zoomorphs accented with scrolling...
Wood
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-knopped lids and covers, set on mythical bat feet, decorated with panels of figures befor...
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 circles design, in deep red, black, and gilt with internal pewter container with bone ...
Lacquer
Chinoiserie Decorated Tea Caddy
Located in valatie, NY
Chinoiserie Decorated Tea Caddy C1790 Oval Shape with Chinese Lacquer and original chinoiserie engraved tôle liner with twin compartments, round stoppers and chinoiserie engraved cov...
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 pewter interior caddies.
Pewter
Lacquered Box
Located in Lyndhurst, NJ
Gilt lacquer Chinese tea caddy Chinese export lacquer tea caddy on dragon feet from the Qing dynasty.
Lacquer
Chinese Export Antique Lacquer Tea Caddy
Located in Northampton, GB
FREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING Raised on Dragon Feet From our Tea Caddy collection, we are pleased to offer this Chinese Export Lacquer Tea Caddy. The Tea Caddy of curvaceous rectangular ...
Lacquer
19th Century Chinese Black Lacquer Tea Caddy
Located in Tampa, FL
Nineteenth century Chinese chinoiserie black lacquer tea caddy richly decorated in gold. The exterior shows delicate garden scenes with birds, flowers, and foliage painted with fine ...
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 interior mounted on carved decorated dragon form feet, circa 1860.
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 decoration on all sides and original chased pewter lined two-compartment interior, c...
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 throughout with floral decorations, birds and butterflies. Interior with four pewter com...
Pewter
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 decorative lacquer panels on every surface. The top and front depict cranes and foliage w...
Tortoise Shell
Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy
Located in Northampton, United Kingdom
Chinese lacquer Tea Caddy standing on four carved dragon feet with beautiful Chinoiserie panels.
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 exquisitely detailed chinoiserie scenes. Has fully working lock and tasseled key.
Lacquer
Chinese Black Lacquer Tea Caddy
Located in San Francisco, CA
Stunning black lacquer Chinese Tea Caddy
with original insert
beautiful engraving
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 form of a butterfly which, in China, symbolises love and loyalty. Stands on three stu...
Lacquer
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 gold Chinese figures in ceremonial poses, as well as birds and landscapes, all of w...
Lacquer
Large 19th Century Chinese Export Lacquered Tea Caddy
Located in Atlanta, GA
Large 19th Century Chinese Export Lacquered Tea Caddy.
Lacquer
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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