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Bombe Tea Caddy

Antique English Georgian Style Inlaid Mahogany Bombe Shaped Tea Caddy
Antique English Georgian Style Inlaid Mahogany Bombe Shaped Tea Caddy

Antique English Georgian Style Inlaid Mahogany Bombe Shaped Tea Caddy

Located in Philadelphia, PA

A fine antique Georgian style mahogany tea caddy. Of bombé form with fruit wood inlay, gilt

Category

Early 20th Century English Georgian Tea Caddies

Materials

Brass

Very Fine Biedermeier Period Tea Caddy of Bombe Form in Exotic Woods, circa 1830
Very Fine Biedermeier Period Tea Caddy of Bombe Form in Exotic Woods, circa 1830

Very Fine Biedermeier Period Tea Caddy of Bombe Form in Exotic Woods, circa 1830

Located in Ottawa, Ontario

A very fine and visually striking Biedermeier Period tea caddy of exceptional quality

Category

Antique Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Tea Caddies

Materials

Zebra Wood, Yew, Amboyna, Satinwood

Attractive antique Victorian quality rosewood tea caddy
Attractive antique Victorian quality rosewood tea caddy

Attractive antique Victorian quality rosewood tea caddy

Located in Ipswich, GB

Attractive antique Victorian quality rosewood tea caddy, having an attractive bombe sarcophagus

Category

Antique Early 19th Century Early Victorian Tea Caddies

Materials

Rosewood

Rare Regency Architectural Pressed Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy
Rare Regency Architectural Pressed Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy

Rare Regency Architectural Pressed Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy

Located in Northampton, GB

Architectural Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy. The Tea Caddy of bombe form with flared base, canted corners and pagoda

Category

Antique 1810s British Regency Tea Caddies

Materials

Shell

Recent Sales

18th Century George III Bombe Tea Caddy
18th Century George III Bombe Tea Caddy

18th Century George III Bombe Tea Caddy

Unavailable

H 6.5 in W 10.25 in D 6 in

18th Century George III Bombe Tea Caddy

Located in Richmond, London

A superb mid-18th century George III period bombe tea caddy. English, circa 1760. Why we like it

Category

Antique Mid-18th Century English George III Tea Caddies

Materials

Brass

Antique Regency Bombe Shaped Burr Yew Tea Caddy
Antique Regency Bombe Shaped Burr Yew Tea Caddy

Antique Regency Bombe Shaped Burr Yew Tea Caddy

Unavailable

H 6.5 in W 8 in D 5 in

Antique Regency Bombe Shaped Burr Yew Tea Caddy

Located in Northampton, United Kingdom

Antique bombe shaped tea caddy veneered in burr yew with boxwood edging, has two brass carry

Category

Antique 19th Century British Regency Tea Caddies

Materials

Yew

18th Century 1770 Bombe Fronted Mahogany Twin Lidded Tea Caddy
18th Century 1770 Bombe Fronted Mahogany Twin Lidded Tea Caddy

18th Century 1770 Bombe Fronted Mahogany Twin Lidded Tea Caddy

Located in Windsor, Berkshire

A 18th century 1770 bombe fronted mahogany twin lidded tea caddy, it has it’s original brass feet

Category

Antique 18th Century English Tea Caddies

Materials

Mahogany

18th Century Burl Walnut Tea Caddy
18th Century Burl Walnut Tea Caddy

18th Century Burl Walnut Tea Caddy

Unavailable

H 7.49 in W 8.86 in D 5.71 in

18th Century Burl Walnut Tea Caddy

By Thomas Chippendale

Located in Richmond, London

An early 18th century, George I period bombé-shaped tea caddy in dramatically figured burl walnut

Category

Antique Early 18th Century Welsh Tea Caddies

Materials

Brass

Antique Sterling Silver Tea Caddy, 18th Century
Antique Sterling Silver Tea Caddy, 18th Century

Antique Sterling Silver Tea Caddy, 18th Century

Unavailable

H 7.25 in W 5.75 in D 4.5 in

Antique Sterling Silver Tea Caddy, 18th Century

Located in Northampton, United Kingdom

Wonderful bombe shape sterling silver tea caddy, with a green-stained bone handle in the form of a

Category

Antique 18th Century British Tea Caddies

Materials

Sterling Silver

Pressed Tortoiseshell Regency Tea Caddy
Pressed Tortoiseshell Regency Tea Caddy

Pressed Tortoiseshell Regency Tea Caddy

Unavailable

H 6.25 in W 7 in D 4.5 in

Pressed Tortoiseshell Regency Tea Caddy

Located in Northampton, United Kingdom

Exquisite Regency bombe-shaped tea caddy with stunning pressed oval design to the front, with

Category

Antique Early 19th Century British Regency More Furniture and Collectibles

19th Century Anglo Indian Vizagapatam Horn Tea Caddy
19th Century Anglo Indian Vizagapatam Horn Tea Caddy

19th Century Anglo Indian Vizagapatam Horn Tea Caddy

Unavailable

H 8.5 in W 12.5 in D 7 in

19th Century Anglo Indian Vizagapatam Horn Tea Caddy

Located in Northampton, United Kingdom

Bombe shaped Anglo Indian Buffalo Horn Tea Chest. Anglo Indian Vizagapatam Buffalo Horn Tea

Category

Antique 19th Century British Victorian Boxes

Materials

Horn, Glass, Wood

Georgian Bombe Shaped Mahogany Tea Caddy
Georgian Bombe Shaped Mahogany Tea Caddy

Georgian Bombe Shaped Mahogany Tea Caddy

Sold

H 6 in W 10 in D 5.75 in

Georgian Bombe Shaped Mahogany Tea Caddy

Located in Bedfordshire, GB

An Attractive George III Period, 18th Century Mahogany, English Tea Caddy Of Bombe Shaped Form

Category

Antique Mid-18th Century English Georgian Tea Caddies

Materials

Mahogany

18th Century English Antique Mahogany Bombe Shaped Tea Caddy
18th Century English Antique Mahogany Bombe Shaped Tea Caddy

18th Century English Antique Mahogany Bombe Shaped Tea Caddy

Located in Bedfordshire, GB

A very attractive George II period English antique mahogany 18th century tea caddy of bombe shape

Category

Antique Mid-18th Century English George II Tea Caddies

Materials

Mahogany

Regency Period Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy in Bombe Form, c. 1820
Regency Period Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy in Bombe Form, c. 1820

Regency Period Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy in Bombe Form, c. 1820

Located in Atlanta, GA

A Regency period Tea Caddy in Tortoise-shell, the richly-colored exterior constructed in Bombe form

Category

Antique 19th Century English Tea Caddies

Antique English Georgian Bombe Mahogany and Bronze Tea Caddy, 18th Century
Antique English Georgian Bombe Mahogany and Bronze Tea Caddy, 18th Century

Antique English Georgian Bombe Mahogany and Bronze Tea Caddy, 18th Century

Located in Big Flats, NY

18th century, English mahogany tea caddy features traditional bombe shape, raised pagoda top

Category

Antique 18th Century English Georgian Tea Caddies

Materials

Bronze

Regency Chinoiserie Penwork Tea Caddy
Regency Chinoiserie Penwork Tea Caddy

Regency Chinoiserie Penwork Tea Caddy

Sold

H 5.51 in W 8.27 in D 4.92 in

Regency Chinoiserie Penwork Tea Caddy

Located in Northampton, GB

offer this Regency Chinoiserie Penwork Tea Caddy. The Tea Caddy of bombe shape formed from Sycamore with

Category

Antique Early 19th Century British Regency Tea Caddies

Materials

Brass

19th Century, Papier Mache Tea Caddy
19th Century, Papier Mache Tea Caddy

19th Century, Papier Mache Tea Caddy

Sold

H 6 in W 10 in D 8.5 in

19th Century, Papier Mache Tea Caddy

Located in Bedfordshire, GB

A very elegant mid-19th century papier mache tea caddy, of bombe type form, having exceptional hand

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century English Victorian Tea Caddies

Materials

Other

Large-Scaled English Regency Bombe-Form Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy
Large-Scaled English Regency Bombe-Form Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy

Large-Scaled English Regency Bombe-Form Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy

Located in San Francisco, CA

An exceptional and large-scaled English regency bombe-form tortoiseshell twin tea caddy; the shaped

Category

Antique 19th Century English Boxes

A Shapely English William IV Bombe-Form Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy
A Shapely English William IV Bombe-Form Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy

A Shapely English William IV Bombe-Form Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy

Located in San Francisco, CA

A shapely Englisn William IV bombe-form tortoiseshell tea caddy with wooden bun feet; the coved lid

Category

Antique 19th Century English Boxes

Fine Victorian English Solid / Sterling Silver Tea Caddy - 1896
Fine Victorian English Solid / Sterling Silver Tea Caddy - 1896

Fine Victorian English Solid / Sterling Silver Tea Caddy - 1896

By Lee & Wigfull

Located in Bath, GB

A superb antique English solid silver Bombe shaped tea caddy, beautifully decorated on all four

Category

Antique 1890s British Late Victorian Sterling Silver

Materials

Sterling Silver

Regency Period Elm Curved Bombe Tea Caddy
Regency Period Elm Curved Bombe Tea Caddy

Regency Period Elm Curved Bombe Tea Caddy

Located in Bedfordshire, GB

Divisions To Interior. A really quite beautiful looking Regency tea caddy which is an unusual shape and

Category

Antique Early 19th Century English Regency Tea Caddies

Materials

Elm

Shapely English Victorian Bombe-Form Mahogany Tea Caddy on Bun Feet
Shapely English Victorian Bombe-Form Mahogany Tea Caddy on Bun Feet

Shapely English Victorian Bombe-Form Mahogany Tea Caddy on Bun Feet

Located in San Francisco, CA

A shapely English Victorian bombe-form mahogany tea caddy on bun feet; the shaped lid opening to

Category

Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Tea Caddies

Antique English Georgian Rococo Sterling Silver Tea Caddy
Antique English Georgian Rococo Sterling Silver Tea Caddy

Antique English Georgian Rococo Sterling Silver Tea Caddy

By William Tuite

Located in New York, NY

English Georgian Rococo sterling silver tea caddy, 1766. Bombe with corner leaf-mounted volute

Category

Antique 1760s English Rococo Sterling Silver

Materials

Sterling Silver

BOMBE' TEA CADDY
BOMBE' TEA CADDY

BOMBE' TEA CADDY

Sold

H 6 in W 10 in D 6 in

BOMBE' TEA CADDY

Located in Chicago, IL

AN ANTIQUE ENGLISH, CHIPPENDALE, MAHOGANY BOMBE' FORM TEA CADDY, INTERIOR WITH 2 COVERS AND PLACE

Category

Antique 18th Century and Earlier English Tea Caddies

George II Walnut Bombe Tea Caddy. Circa 1750
George II Walnut Bombe Tea Caddy. Circa 1750

George II Walnut Bombe Tea Caddy. Circa 1750

Located in New York, NY

Rare George II walnut bombe shaped tea caddy. The hinged lid opens to a storage space for

Category

Antique 18th Century and Earlier English Tea Caddies

English Mahogany Bombé Fom Tea Caddy
English Mahogany Bombé Fom Tea Caddy

English Mahogany Bombé Fom Tea Caddy

Sold

H 5.5 in W 10 in D 6 in

English Mahogany Bombé Fom Tea Caddy

Located in Essex, MA

An carved mahogany bombé form tea caddy retaining its original brass bail handle, bat's wing

Category

Antique 18th Century and Earlier Tea Caddies

Materials

Brass

Regency Rosewood Bombe shaped Tea Caddy
Regency Rosewood Bombe shaped Tea Caddy

Regency Rosewood Bombe shaped Tea Caddy

Sold

H 6 in W 7.87 in D 5.12 in

Regency Rosewood Bombe shaped Tea Caddy

Located in Bradford on Avon, GB

The rosewood veneered tea caddy with boxwood stringing and ivory escutcheons is complete with the

Category

Antique 19th Century English Regency Tea Caddies

Materials

Rosewood

Bombe' Pressed and Inlaid Georgian Tea Caddy
Bombe' Pressed and Inlaid Georgian Tea Caddy

Bombe' Pressed and Inlaid Georgian Tea Caddy

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

" Pressed " caddies with silver inlay are the rarest and most sought after of all. This is a superior specimen. The interior is fashioned with 2 compartments. It is beautifully sca...

Category

Antique Early 19th Century English Tea Caddies

Materials

Silver

Regency Period Lacquered Tea Caddy
Regency Period Lacquered Tea Caddy

Regency Period Lacquered Tea Caddy

Sold

H 6 in W 10 in D 5.5 in

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

Antique 19th Century English Regency Tea Caddies

Bombe Shaped Penwork Caddy
Bombe Shaped Penwork Caddy

Bombe Shaped Penwork Caddy

Sold

H 6.5 in W 8.5 in D 5.25 in

Bombe Shaped Penwork Caddy

Located in Northampton, United Kingdom

Unusual Bombe shaped coloured Penwork tea caddy. With brass ring handles and four pressed lion pad

Category

Antique 19th Century British Boxes

Regency Padauk Tea Caddy
Regency Padauk Tea Caddy

Regency Padauk Tea Caddy

Sold

H 7 in W 12 in D 6 in

Regency Padauk Tea Caddy

Located in Northampton, United Kingdom

Fabulous regency bombe shaped tea caddy veneered in Padauk with unusual inlaid boxwood fleur de lys

Category

Antique 19th Century British More Furniture and Collectibles

Materials

Brass

Octagonal Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy
Octagonal Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy

Octagonal Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy

Sold

H 7.5 in W 5 in D 5.5 in

Octagonal Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy

Located in Northampton, United Kingdom

Octagonal Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy with bombe shaped sides silver stringing and escutcheon. The tea

Category

Antique 19th Century British More Furniture and Collectibles

Materials

Silver

Victorian Papier Mache Tea Caddy with Gilt Arabesque Decoration c1860
Victorian Papier Mache Tea Caddy with Gilt Arabesque Decoration c1860

Victorian Papier Mache Tea Caddy with Gilt Arabesque Decoration c1860

Located in London, GB

Very fine Victorian papier mache bombe shape tea caddy. On black ground with gilt arabesque

Category

Antique 19th Century British Decorative Boxes

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By GF Modern, Greenapple

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Located in Northampton, GB

With Tuscan Columns & Fan Inlay. From our Tea Caddy collection, we are pleased to offer this Georgian Harewood Tea Caddy. The Tea Caddy of octagonal shape with a Harewood veneer...

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By Alfred Daguet

Located in Palm Beach, FL

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$3,080Sale Price|46% Off

H 19 in W 20 in D 11.5 in

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Antique English George III Inlaid Tea Caddy
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$4,813

H 1.79 in W 1.48 in D 2.33 in

Antique English George III Inlaid Tea Caddy

Located in Northampton, GB

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$7,976

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Located in London, GB

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Located in West Palm Beach, FL

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18th Century Chippendale Mahogany Tea Caddy, Great Britain, Circa 1760
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Located in London, GB

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Burr Yew 19th Century Tea Caddy
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$1,789

H 6 in W 7.5 in D 4.5 in

Burr Yew 19th Century Tea Caddy

Located in Bedfordshire, GB

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H 41 in W 60 in D 29 in

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By Pauly et Cie

Located in Queens, NY

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Located in Charleston, SC

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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.