English Georgian Chinroserie Tortoise Shell Tea Caddy with Ball Feet, C. 1800
Located in Charleston, SC
English Georgian Chinroserie bow front tortoise shell tea caddy with a hinged tiered lid, Chinese landscape mother of pearl inlays with flanking pagodas, fences, & foliage trees, cen...
Foil
Green Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy
Located in Dallas, TX
Green tortoiseshell tea caddy from England. With two interior covers raised on four silver ball feet. Circa 1870.
Silver
$6,947Sale Price|20% Off
Georgian Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy
Located in Northampton, GB
Oval Tea Caddy with Silver Mounts From our Tea Caddy collection, we are delighted to offer this Georgian Silver and Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy. The Tea Caddy is of oval shape with a To...
Silver
English Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy
Located in Dallas, TX
A lovely bow front tortoiseshell tea caddy inlaid with mother of pearl flowers and topped with a silver badge. English, circa 1870.
Silver
Beautiful Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy
Located in GB
A fine Regency period rectangular tea caddy, veneered in panels divided by fine metal stringing. Silver metal escutcheon and key. Complete with an initialled plaque on the lid and ro...
Ivory, Tortoise Shell
Impressionist Still Life Painting, Oil on Canvas, Circa 1860
Located in Winter Park, FL
In the background is a tall pewter candlestick, a tortoise shell tea caddy with small key, and large blue Delft baluster form vase, all on white linen tablecloth with openwork lace b...
Canvas, Giltwood, Paint
Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy, England Circa 1820
Located in Dallas, TX
An exceptional early nineteenth-century tortoiseshell tea caddy of fine Georgian craftsmanship, presented in fabulous condition. Rich coloration and a beautiful natural patina highli...
Tortoise Shell
Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy With Sunburst Design
Located in Dallas, TX
Circa 1870, English tortoiseshell tea caddy with sunburst design. It is absolutely the finest one I’ve ever owned! No cracks no restoration absolutely mint.
Tortoise Shell
English Regency Pagoda Form Tea Caddy
Located in Lyndhurst, NJ
Unusual pagoda form caddy finely figured veneers. Interior lids are original and match the exterior of the caddy, resting on brass ball feet
Tortoise Shell
19th Century English Blonde Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy
Located in Atlanta, GA
19th Century English Blonde Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy
Tortoise Shell
19th Century English Blonde Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy
Located in Atlanta, GA
19th Century English Blonde Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy
Tortoise Shell
Blonde Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy, England 19th Century
Located in Atlanta, GA
Blonde Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy, England 19th Century
Tortoise Shell
19th Century English Serpentine Front Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy
Located in Atlanta, GA
19th Century English Serpentine Front Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy
Tortoise Shell
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
Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy With Inlaid Mother Of Pearl
Located in Dallas, TX
Tortoiseshell tea caddy with inlaid mother of pearl from England. Metal lined under two lids. Excellent condition, circa 1860.
Tortoise Shell, Mother-of-Pearl
Tortoise shell tea caddy
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Tortoise shell tea caddy with ivory feet. Red velvet lined top.
Unavailable
H 5.25 in W 6.5 in D 4.25 in
Antique Tortoise Shell Inlay Tea Caddy, 2 Well - Tortoiseshell
Located in South Coast, CA
Mid-1800s, perhaps earlier, the breathtaking old early Victorian tortoise shell tea caddy you see here is complete, in really fine condition (very slight imperfections consistent wit...
Wood, Ivory, Mother-of-Pearl
Large Antique Victorian Tortoise Shell 7" Double Well Tea Caddy
Located in South Coast, CA
Mid-1800s, perhaps earlier, the fabulous old early Victorian faux tortoise shell tea caddy you see here is complete, in really fine condition (very slight imperfections consistent wi...
Tortoise Shell 19th Century English Tea Caddy with Brass Feet
Located in Stamford, CT
19th century, Blonde color, English tea caddy with original lids small repaint on top right corner. Please note of wear consistent with age.
Tortoise Shell
Regency Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy
Located in Northampton, United Kingdom
Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy with pagoda top, serpentine front, silver stringing and escutcheon. Standing on four Tagua nut feet. The interior features two compartments with most of the...
Bone, Tortoise Shell
Rare Antique Red Tortoiseshell and Silver Oval Tea Caddy
Located in Northampton, United Kingdom
Very rare, striking red tortoiseshell and silver oval tea caddy with beautifully engraved solid silver edging, escutcheon and ring pull handle. The silver edge on the opening of the...
Silver
Unavailable
H 5.91 in W 7.49 in D 4.73 in
Fine Regency George IV Period Tortoiseshell & Mother of Pearl Inlaid Tea Caddy
Located in Bradford on Avon, GB
The top is crisply inlaid with floral mother of pearl patterns and sterling silver borders. The tea caddy top is chamfered with a sarcophagus rectangular form and a silver escutcheon...
Tortoise Shell, Mother-of-Pearl
Miniature Boulle Work Caddy
Located in Newcastle Upon Tyne, GB
A 19th century miniature boulle work box in the shape of a sarcophagus tea caddy. The wood box is beautifully decorated with boulle work (heavy brass inlaid into tortoise shell) w...
Brass
Unavailable
H 6.5 in W 7.38 in D 5.25 in
Fine Regency period tortoise-shell bow-fronted double tea-caddy
Located in Cambridge, GB
Fine Regency period tortoise-shell bow-fronted double tea-caddy; veneered with richly mottled shell panels divided by inlaid pewter lines and ivory bands, mounted with a silver escut...
Tortoise Shell
Regency Starburst Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy
Located in Northampton, United Kingdom
Stunning Regency starburst pressed bow fronted Tortoiseshell tea caddy, with silver initial plate to the centre of the star burst front and silver plated ball feet and finial and sil...
Silver
Regency Tortoise Shell Tea Caddy
Located in San Francisco, CA
An attractive Regency period tortoise shell tea caddy the top inlaid with a silver central piece and with pewter stringing, the divided interior now with a marbleized paper lining an...
Tortoise Shell
19th C. English Regency Tortoise Shell Tea Caddy
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Early 19th c. English Regency Tortoise Shell Tea Caddy with Mother of Pearl Inlay and Ivory Bun Feet.
Tortoise Shell, Ivory, Mother-of-Pearl
19th Century English Bone Inlaid Tortoise Shell Tea Caddy
Located in Richmond, VA
Great 19th century English bone inlaid tortoise shell tea caddy with painted interior and metal feet.
Tortoise Shell
19th Century English Tortoise Shell Tea Caddy
Located in Bradenton, FL
19th Century Tortoise Shell Tea Caddy. Caddy is rectangular in shape and opens to a divided interior with silver inlay.
Tortoise Shell
Sold
H 3.25 in W 4 in L 3.25 in
19th Century English Tortoise Shell Tea Caddy with Bone Feet and Interior
Located in Richmond, VA
19th century English tortoise shell tea caddy with bone feet and interior.
Bone, Tortoise Shell
19th c. English Regency Tortoise Shell Tea Caddy
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Early 19th c. English Regency Tortoise Shell Tea Caddy with Ivory Bun Feet and Sterling Inset.
Tortoise Shell, Ivory
19th c. English Tortoise Shell Tea Caddy with Ivory Bun Feet
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Early 19th c. English Tortoise Shell Tea Caddy with Ivory Bun Feet and Red Velvet Interior.
Ivory
Sold
H 6 in W 8 in D 5 in
Antique English Tortoise Shell Tea Caddy with Inlaid Mother of Pearl circa 1870s
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique English tortoise shell tea caddy with inlaid mother of pearl, Circa 1870-1880.
Tortoise Shell
Tortoise Shell Tea Caddy
Located in Dallas, TX
a large tea caddy covered in tortoise with ivory as edging on box top and underside of lid, inset in center of top, and set as keyhole escutcheon.
Lidded tea boxes and crysta...
Brass
George III Tortoise Shell Tea Caddy
Located in Dallas, TX
a tea caddy with block front made of tortoise shell with silver trim, ivory feet and knobs blonde tortoise sides and back, darker front and top
Silver, Foil
William IV Tortoise Shell Tea Caddy
Located in Petworth, West Sussex
A William IV tortoiseshell and ivory veneered tea caddy, circa 1840. Octagonal shape, the lid with sloping sides, flat top fitted with knop finial, the interior with two lidded compa...
Tortoise Shell
Tortoise Shell Tea Caddy
Located in Atlanta, GA
(3) Tortoise Shell Tea Caddies all Sold Separately. ALL WITH SILVER FOIL LINED COMPARTMENTS WITH TORTOISE SHELL LIDS. MOTHER OF PEARL KEY PLATES. LOCKS AND KEYS ARE IN WORKING OR...
Tortoise Shell, Ivory, Bone, Mother-of-Pearl
English Regency Green Tortoise Shell Tea Caddy
Located in Bradenton, FL
Very rare English Regency green turtle shell tea caddy, 19th century. Rare dome shaped green tortoiseshell tea caddy inlaid with silver stringing segmenting the tortoiseshell panels,...
Shell
Regency Tortoise Shell Tea Caddy
Located in Essex, MA
Arched pagota shaped lid opening to two lids with ivory finials. Rectangular case with ivory stringing and ball feet.
Tortoise Shell, Ivory
English Regency Style Tortoise Shell Tea Caddy with Original Interior
Located in Ft. Lauderdale, FL
This fine English tea caddy dates to circa 1850. Is clad by brass stringed tortoise shell panels on all sides and raised on brass feet.
Brass
Blonde Tortoise-Shell Tea Caddy with Fitted Interior, c. 1880
Located in Atlanta, GA
An English Regency style Tea Caddy in Blonde Tortoise-Shell, retaining its original fitted interior compartments, and dating from the late 1800s.
Charming Tortoise Shell Tea Caddy C. 1900's
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Tortoise shell and ivory tea caddy complete with key and inside covers.
Tortoise Shell, Ivory
George III Bone Stringed Tortoise Shell Tea Caddy on Brass Ball Feet
Located in Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Resting on four brass ball feet this fine Georgian tea caddy features book matched tortoise shell on all visible surfaces elegantly stringed with bone along the edges.
Brass, Zinc
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.