$1,500
H 5.5 in W 12 in D 8.25 in
Antique English Marquetry Inlaid Wood Large Tea Caddy Lined in Metal Desk Box
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique English Marquetry Inlaid Wood Large Tea Caddy / Desk Box Lined in Metal with Working Lock
Wood
19th Century Burl Walnut English Tea Caddy
Located in Tampa, FL
A refined 19th century English tea caddy crafted in richly figured burl walnut, showcasing
Ivory, Wood
Antique mid 19th Century Rosewood tea caddy
Located in Allentown, PA
This is a 19th century handmade Rosewood tea caddy. This tea caddy has his original glass
Wood
19th Century English Blonde Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy
Located in Atlanta, GA
19th Century English Blonde Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy
Tortoise Shell
19th Century Anglo Chinese Padouk Tea Caddy
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
A Rare Mid 19th Century Anglo-Chinese Padouk Wood Rectangular Tea Caddy Having Attractive Silver
Padouk
English Regency Tea Caddy with Original Key
Located in Tampa, FL
A distinguished English Regency tea caddy, likely dating to the 1830s, featuring a red leather
Wood
19th Century English Blonde Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy
Located in Atlanta, GA
19th Century English Blonde Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy
Tortoise Shell
Antique Continental Novelty Pear Fruit Tea Caddy
Located in Northampton, GB
Novelty Fruit Caddy From our Tea Caddy collection, we are delighted to offer this Continental Pear
Cut Steel
Antique Russian Solid Silver Chinoiserie Tea Caddy
By Victor Savinsky
Located in Northampton, GB
Rare Form with Chinoiserie Figures From our Tea Caddy collection, we are delighted to introduce
Silver
Fine quality antique George III tea caddy
Located in Ipswich, GB
Fine quality antique George III tea caddy, having a quality antique George III satinwood tea caddy
Brass
Antique English Georgian Hexagonal Satinwood Tea Caddy
Located in Northampton, GB
Kingwood Inlay From our Tea Caddy collection, we are delighted to offer this Elongated Hexagonal
Silver Plate
English Regency Period Amboyna Wood Tea Caddy
Located in Lambertville, NJ
An English Regency Inlaid Amboyna Tea Caddy with brass mounts. The sarcophagus form with lion
Brass
Fine quality antique Regency rosewood tea caddy
Located in Ipswich, GB
Fine quality antique Regency rosewood tea caddy, having a outstanding quality 19th Century rosewood
Rosewood
A Hand Painted Apple Shaped Tea Caddy
Located in Reading, Berkshire
Stalk A tea caddy is a box, jar, canister, or other receptacle used to store tea. When first
Wood
Antique English George III Inlaid Tea Caddy
Located in Northampton, GB
From our Tea Caddy collection, we are pleased to offer this Georgian octagonal Inlaid Tea Caddy
Boxwood
Quality antique George III mahogany tea caddy
Located in Ipswich, GB
Quality antique George III mahogany tea caddy having a quality antique George III mahogany tea
Mahogany
Antique George III quality mahogany tea caddy
Located in Ipswich, GB
Antique George III quality mahogany tea caddy having a quality antique George III mahogany and
Mahogany
Antique Victorian Brass Mounted Coromandel Tea Caddy
Located in Ipswich, GB
Antique Victorian Brass Mounted Coromandel Tea Caddy with a fitted interior and working key.
Brass
Attractive antique Victorian quality rosewood tea caddy
Located in Ipswich, GB
Attractive antique Victorian quality rosewood tea caddy, having an attractive bombe sarcophagus
Rosewood
Antique English George III Satinwood Tea Caddy
Located in Northampton, GB
With Conch Shell Inlay From our Tea Caddy Collection, we are pleased to offer this superb Georgian
Boxwood, Satinwood, Tulipwood
Georgian Burr Yew Conch Shell Tea Caddy
Located in Northampton, GB
Inlaid with Twin Conch Shells From our Tea Caddy collection, we are delighted to offer this
Yew
Blonde Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy, England 19th Century
Located in Atlanta, GA
Blonde Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy, England 19th Century
Tortoise Shell
English Silver Plate Tea Caddy / Thin Biscuit
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Mid 19th century English sheffield silver plate tea caddy / thin biscuit with exterior design
Silver Plate, Copper
Quality Antique Willian IV Rosewood Tea Caddy
Located in Ipswich, GB
Quality antique 19th Century William IV rosewood tea caddy, having a quality shaped rosewood top
Rosewood
Rare Regency Architectural Pressed Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy
Located in Northampton, GB
Pressed Tortoiseshell Design From our Tea Caddy collection, we are delighted to offer this Regency
Shell
Georgian 18th Century Rosewood Square Tea Caddy
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
An attractive and well figured, late 18th century Square rosewood tea caddy having boxwood
Rosewood
Antique Regency Quality Mahogany Inlaid Tea Caddy
Located in Suffolk, GB
Antique Regency quality mahogany inlaid tea caddy having inlaid satinwood stringing, original
Other
A late George III mahogany tea caddy
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A late George III mahogany tea caddy, of rectangular form the hinged top opening to reveal three
Mahogany
An English Fruitwood Apple Form Tea Caddy
Located in Dallas, TX
A fine novelty fruitwood tea caddy in the form of an apple. lathe turned and with a soft honey
Fruitwood
Antique English Coopered Barrel Advertising Tea Caddy
Located in Northampton, GB
Advertising Tea Barrel Caddy From our Tea Caddy collection, we are delighted to offer an unusual
Brass
$1,800 / item
H 5.5 in W 12 in D 8 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
Wood
Two Compartment Tunbridge Ware Tea Caddy c1860
By Tunbridge Ware
Located in Tunbridge Wells, GB
Heading : Tunbridge ware tea caddy c1860 Date : c1860 Period : Victoria Origin : Tunbridge Wells
Wood
19th Century English Papier Mâché Tea Caddy
Located in San Francisco, CA
Lovely old papier mâché tea caddy with inlaid mother-of-pearl and hand-painted decoration, England
Mother-of-Pearl, Paper
19th Century English Regency Mahogany Tea Caddy
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th century English Regency Mahogany Tea Caddy with Flame Motif on four Bun Feet. Lock is signed
Mahogany
Regency Rosewood Tea Caddy, England, circa 1830
Located in San Francisco, CA
A rosewood tea caddy with Bombay shape and canted top. Having a pair of lion mask brass handles on
Rosewood
19th Century English Rosewood Teapoy Tea Caddy
Located in San Francisco, CA
An unusual and large William IV rosewood teapoy or tea caddy in beautiful original condition. The
Rosewood
Antique English Green Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy Georgian Period
Located in Northampton, GB
FREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING Green tortoiseshell tea caddy dating to the Georgian period, circa 1790
Shell
Georgian Hexagonal Shaped Mahogany Tea Caddy 18th Century
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
A Very Good Quality Late 18th Century, George III Period, Mahogany Hexagonal Shaped Tea Caddy
Mahogany
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
Pewter
19th Century English Serpentine Front Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy
Located in Atlanta, GA
19th Century English Serpentine Front Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy
Tortoise Shell
Georgian Yew Tea Caddy With Floral Inlaid Decoration
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
A Fine Quality George III Period, Late 18th Century, Yew Wood Tea Caddy Of Octagonal Form, Having
Yew
Antique English Tea Caddy in Penwork Regency Period
Located in Northampton, GB
FREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING The tea caddy of sarcophagus form is raised on gilt brass claw feet and
Sycamore
Georgian 18th Century Yew Wood Octagonal Tea Caddy
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
An Extremely Attractive 18th Century George III Period Burr Yew Wood Octagonal Tea Caddy, Having
Satinwood, Yew
Georgian Antique Original English Paper Scroll Tea Caddy
Located in Northampton, GB
Free Worldwide Shipping George III Circa 1780 From our Tea Caddy collection, we are delighted to
Wood, Paper
Georgian 18th Century Satinwood Tea Caddy Butterfly Inlay
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
A Very Good Quality And Attractive Late 18th Century George III Period Satinwood Tea Caddy, With
Satinwood
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
Wood, Lacquer, Paint
Antique Gillows Tea Caddy, Ebony & Satinwood, Circa 1795
By Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Late Georgian/Regency Period Tea Caddy "Optic/Medallion" Tea Caddy Attributed to Gillows of
Foil
Antique English Georgian Glazed Silk Embroidered Tea Caddy
Located in Northampton, GB
Octagonal Shape with Glazed Panels From our Tea Caddy collection, we are delighted to bring to
Glass, Wood, Boxwood, Satinwood
18th Century Star Inlaid Mahogany Georgian Tea Caddy
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
A Very Good Quality Georgian 18th Century Mahogany Rectangular Tea Caddy, Of Good Colour And Patina
Mahogany
19th Century Chinese Export Lacquer Tea Caddy
Located in Mt Kisco, NY
. The caddy stands on four carved wooden feet in the shape of claws. The interior contains a single
Paper
Outstanding Quality Antique Victorian Burr Walnut Tea Caddy
Located in Suffolk, GB
Outstanding quality antique Victorian burr walnut tea caddy having a fabulous burr walnut box with
Walnut
19th Century Mahogany Tea Caddy With Divided Interior
Located in Charlottesville, VA
Rectangular mahogany tea caddy featuring a beveled lid with raised handle, resting on small bun
Mahogany
Elegant English Sterling Silver Tea Caddy - London 1902
By Horace Woodward & Co. Ltd.
Located in Bath, GB
A stunning tea caddy, oval in shape with a simple elegant body and domed lid, both upper and lower
Sterling Silver
Quality antique Victorian tunbridge ware inlaid tea caddy
Located in Ipswich, GB
tunbridge ware inlaid tea caddy with beautiful detail to the box opening to reveal two receptacles for tea.
Wood
18th Century Creamware Pottery Red-Printed Tea Caddy
Located in Downingtown, PA
Rustic Charm in Refined Form: An 18th-Century Creamware Red-Printed Tea Caddy, Circa 1765–75 This
Creamware
English 19th Century Domed Top Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy
Located in Atlanta, GA
English 19th Century Domed Top Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy with Silver Inlay and Ball feet
Tortoise Shell
Antique George III Sterling Silver Locking Tea Caddy
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive antique Georgian English sterling silver locking tea caddy; an
Sterling Silver
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.
The French sculptor shaped dense blocks into tactile forms meant to be used and held.
After synthetic dyes changed fashion, home goods and printed matter, it was only a matter of time till glass caught up.
The brilliantly simple design turns a modest bouquet into a major statement.
The Greek tragedian is said to have been handsome in his day.
Even for those who don’t indulge, elegant smoking accessories and audacious art portraying cigar enthusiasts hold a nostalgic allure.
It’s an excellent example of the sought-after ceramics coming out of South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province.
Thanks to its new leadership, the Spanish maker of figurines, busts and lighting is on a mission to update the art of porcelain for the 21st century.
The free-form stoneware piece is inspired by the magnolia tree and its associations with home.