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Tea Caddies For Sale
Boulle marquetry tea box, Napoléon III period, late 19th century signed Vervelle
Located in GRENOBLE, FR
Beautiful Boulle marquetry and blackened wood tea box / tea caddy, brass pattern inlaid, mahogany veneer inside. Mid 19th century circa 1840 - 1850, typic...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Brass
Antique Regency Rosewood Sarcophagus Tea Caddy With Separate Tea Compartments
Located in Reading, Berkshire
Antique English Regency Rosewood, Sarcophagus Shaped Tea Caddy With Two Separate Tea Compartments and Individual Handled Lids, Centred on Four Bun Feet Circa 1700's
Great patina em...
Category
18th Century British Regency Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Brass
Enamel Tea Caddy Vienna 18th Century with Landscape
Located in Epfach, DE
A very nice enamel tea caddy, Vienna 18th century, paintings with landscape and couples on all sides and on the top and gold ornamentation.
Category
1760s Austrian Rococo Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Enamel
19th Century English Regency Tea Caddy
Located in Charlottesville, VA
A large English tea caddy. It is mahogany with brass feet.
Category
19th Century British Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Brass
Georgian Style Burton-Ching burl Walnut Regency Tea Caddy
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Georgian Style Burton-Ching burl Walnut Regency Tea Caddy
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Georgian Tea Caddies
Materials
Walnut
Antique English Coromandel Wooden Double Tea Caddy by Thomas Lund 19th Century
Located in Dublin, Ireland
A Superb Example of an English Georgian Period Well figured Coromandle Double Interior Section Tea Caddy of flat rectangular outline, generous proportions and outstanding quality, al...
Category
19th Century English Victorian Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Crystal, Brass
Rare 19th Century Chinoiserie Black Lacquer Tea Caddy, circa 1820
Located in Richmond, London
A very rare English Regency period chinoiserie style black lacquer box, exquisitely gilt-decorated with whimsical oriental motifs.
England, early 19th century.
Why we like it
A cha...
Category
Early 19th Century European Chinoiserie Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Wood, Lacquer
18th Century Georgian Period English Mahogany Inlaid Tea Caddy
Located in Forney, TX
Beloved for its aesthetic beauty and exceptionally high quality, Georgian period furniture and decoration are arguably the most sought after and enduring pieces in British history. T...
Category
Late 18th Century English Georgian Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Ebony, Mahogany, Satinwood
Antique Brass Inlaid English Regency Mahogany Double Tea Caddy Box 19th Century
Located in Dublin, Ireland
Superb Example of an English Regency well grained Mahogany Double Tea Caddy of traditional rectangular outline, with lavish brass scrolling inlay decoration and complete fitted inter...
Category
19th Century English Regency Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Brass
Antique Georgian Mother of Pearl Bow Fronted Tea Caddy
Located in Northampton, GB
Regency Circa 1820
From our Tea Caddy collection, we are delighted to introduce to the market this Mother of Pearl Bow Fronted Tea Caddy. The Tea Caddy of beautiful bow fronted form...
Category
Early 19th Century English Regency Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Shell
Circa 1870 Napoleon III French Tea Caddy
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Circa 1870 Napoleon III French Tea Caddy. Fine quality with Old Paris Porcelain fittings - 2 tea caddies & a sugar caddy. The box is inlaid with engraved brass. Each porcelain caddy ...
Category
1870s French Napoleon III Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Brass
Late 19th Century Napoleon III Bombay Wood Marquetry Tea Caddy
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
An antique French tea caddy in Napoleon III style, wit a bended “forme arbalète” lid. The box is veneered with various types of wood, burl wal...
Category
1860s French Napoleon III Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Brass
Antique Drawing Room Tea Caddy, English, Flame, Sarcophagus, Regency, circa 1820
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique drawing room tea caddy. An English, flame mahogany sarcophagus with glass mixer, dating to the Regency period, circa 1820.
Super...
Category
Early 19th Century British Regency Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Wood
English Birdseye Maple Sewing Box
Located in Huntington, NY
Regency birdseye maple sewing box with lions heads handles on each side & lions hairy paw feet with a key.
Category
Early 1800s English Regency Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Brass
Late 19th Century French Wood Veneer Marquetry Tea Caddy
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
An antique French tea caddy in Napoleon III style. The box is made of veneer beechwood, with beautiful grain. The lid is in slayed with lighter maple ...
Category
1880s French Napoleon III Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Beech, Birdseye Maple
Antique Georgian Locking Sterling Silver Tea Caddy Henry Chawner London 1787
Located in Portland, OR
A fine antique Georgian engraved sterling silver tea caddy, by Henry Chawner, London, 1787.
Of fluted oval form with bright-cut floral borders with ...
Category
1780s English George III Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Silver
Georgian Style Burton-Ching burl Walnut Regency Tea Caddy
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Georgian Style Burton-Ching burl Walnut Regency Tea Caddy
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Georgian Tea Caddies
Materials
Walnut
19th Century Chinese Cloisonné Enamel Brass Trinket Box
Located in Marbella, ES
19th century Chinese cloisonné enamel brass trinket box.
Category
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Metal
19th Century English Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy
Located in Atlanta, GA
19th Century English Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy
Category
19th Century English Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Tortoise Shell
Regency Anglo Indian Quill Work Vizagapatam Sandalwood Sewing Box
Located in Huntington, NY
This fine Regency period quill work, bone, ivory & sandalwood sewing box
with intact interior w sewing implements.
Category
Early 19th Century Indian Regency Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Bone, Sandalwood, Ivory
Georgian Novelty Apple Tea Caddy
Located in Northampton, GB
Shaped as an Apple
From our Tea Caddy collection, we are delighted to offer this superb Georgian Apple Treen Tea Caddy. The Tea Caddy carved from Treen as a novelty Apple with a button stalk, shaped body and shaped cut steel escutcheon. When opened the Caddy reveals traces of the original tin foil lining for housing Tea leaves. The Apple Fruit Tea Caddy...
Category
Early 1800s European Georgian Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Wood
Antique Sarcophagus Loose Leaf Tea Caddy, Drawing Room, English, Regency, C.1820
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a fine antique sarcophagus tea caddy. An English, rosewood and satinwood loose leaf tea case, dating to the Regency period, circa 1820. Of distinguished form and richly toned...
Category
1820s British Regency Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Rosewood, Satinwood
Boulle marquetry tea box, Napoléon III period, late 19th century signed Vervelle
Located in GRENOBLE, FR
Beautiful Boulle marquetry and blackened wood tea box / tea caddy, brass pattern inlaid, mahogany veneer inside. Mid 19th century circa 1840 - 1850, typic...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Brass
Antique Georgian Locking Sterling Silver Tea Caddy Henry Chawner London 1787
Located in Portland, OR
A fine antique Georgian engraved sterling silver tea caddy, by Henry Chawner, London, 1787.
Of fluted oval form with bright-cut floral borders with ...
Category
1780s English George III Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Silver
19th Century English Regency Tea Caddy
Located in Charlottesville, VA
A mahogany tea caddy . It has an interesting shape.
Category
19th Century British Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Brass
19th Century Chinese Export Tea Caddy
Located in Charlottesville, VA
A black lacquered tea caddy. Great decoration and has interior compartment.
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Wood, Paint
Georgian Satinwood Tea Chest with Secret Compartments
Located in Northampton, GB
Georgian Tea Chest with Boxwood & Ebony Checkered Stringing
From our Tea Caddy collection, we are delighted to offer this Rare Georgian Satinwood Tea Chest. The Tea Chest of rectang...
Category
Late 18th Century British Georgian Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Silver
Regency Tortoiseshell and Mother of Pearl Serpentine Tea Caddy
Located in Northampton, GB
Featuring Alternating Panels
From our Tea Caddy collection, we are delighted to offer this fine Regency Tortoiseshell and Mother of Pearl Serpentine Tea Caddy. The Tea Caddy of rect...
Category
Early 19th Century English Regency Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Tortoise Shell, Mother-of-Pearl
Handmade Victorian Burr Walnut & Inlay Tea Caddy With Brass Hinges
Located in Reading, Berkshire
A Handmade Victorian Burr Walnut & Inlay Tea Caddy With Brass Hinges
A tea caddy is a box, jar, canister, or other receptacle used to store tea. When first introduced to Europe from Asia, tea was extremely expensive, and kept under lock and key. The containers used were often expensive and decorative, to fit in with the rest of a drawing-room or other reception room. Hot water was carried up from the kitchen, and the tea made...
Category
19th Century British Victorian Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Brass, Zinc
Regency Rosewood Sarcophagus Tea Caddy
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
A Very Attractive Late Regency Period Rosewood Tea Caddy, Of Elegant Sarcophagus Form, Having Domed Lid With Mother Of Pearl Inlaid Decoration, Enclosing Two Lidded Divisions, Raised...
Category
Mid-19th Century English Regency Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Rosewood
19th Century Geometrically Inlaid Double Chamber Tea Caddy
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Double chamber tea caddy with burr walnut sides and back having intricately inlaid geometric top and front. The hinged top opening to a divided interior with two light wood covers wi...
Category
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Wood
Rosewood Tea Caddy with Ebony, Ivory and Porcupine Quill Detailing
Located in Hudson, NY
Made of rosewood, this antique tea caddy is distinguished by its porcupine quill detailing. Featuring elements of ebony and ivory dots, the hinge lidded box...
Category
19th Century Indian Anglo-Indian Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Ivory, Ebony
Period Georgian Tea Caddy, Circa 1790-1810
Located in High Point, NC
Circa 1790-1810 period Georgian tea caddy made from Mahogany. The tea caddy has been used well and loved over many centuries. The top has a brass ring with which to lift the lid. ...
Category
Late 18th Century English Georgian Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Mahogany, Satinwood
Georgian Octagonal Inlaid Tea Caddy
Located in Greenwich, CT
Fine George III octagonal tea caddy inlaid with various woods on a harewood ground, the central panels veneered with coucous wood and banded by holly stringing around a kingwood band, vines and berried...
Category
1780s English George III Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Ebony, Kingwood, Harewood, Holly, Burl
Antique Flame Mahogany Empire Tea Caddy Wooden Casket Box 19th century
Located in Sweden, SE
Rectangular shape mahogany veneered casket made in first half of 19th century presumably in Europe. High quality work of applied arts in Neoclassical (Biedermeier) style. The fork of...
Category
Late 19th Century Empire Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Wood, Mahogany
Antique Moroccan Silver Plated Tea Caddy Footed Candy Box
Located in North Hollywood, CA
1920s Antique Moroccan Silver Plated Footed Tea Caddy with hinged lid.
This authentic Moroccan brass silver plated box has a beautiful etched geometri...
Category
Early 20th Century Moroccan Moorish Tea Caddies
Materials
Silver Plate, Brass
Antique Tinware Tea Caddy
Located in Northampton, GB
Simulated Wood Tin Tea Caddy
From our Tea Caddy collection, we are delighted to offer this Tinware Tea Caddy. The Caddy of hexagonal shape fully hand-p...
Category
Late 18th Century British George III Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Tin
George III Burr Yew Tea Chest
Located in Northampton, GB
Lined with Red Velvet Circa 1790
From our Tea Caddy collection, we are pleased to offer this Georgian Burr Yew Wood Tea Chest. The Tea Chest of rectangular form featuring quadrant B...
Category
Late 18th Century English George III Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Cut Glass, Yew
English George III Satinwood Inlaid 'Aesop's Fables' Tea Caddy, circa 1800
Located in Kinderhook, NY
A wonderful and unusual circa 1800 English George III two compartment tea caddy having rectangular satinwood veneered oak case with Kingwood, boxwood, and ebony inlaid borders and 'A...
Category
Early 19th Century English George III Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Brass
Antique Victorian Royal Horse Racing Prize Tea Chest with Silver Tea Caddies
Located in Northampton, GB
Awarded at Fernhill 18th August 1843
From our Tea Caddy collection, we are thrilled to offer this Ebonised Tea Chest given as a Royal Prize is 1843. The Tea Chest of rectangular for...
Category
Mid-19th Century English Early Victorian Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Silver
19th Century Silver Plate Mounted Oak Double Chamber Tea Caddy
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Nineteenth century silver plate mounted oak double chamber tea caddy. The rectangular body with silver plate straps and side handles raised on ball feet and with an engraved, hinged ...
Category
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Silver Plate
English Tortoiseshell Pagoda Form Tea Caddy, Early 19th Century
Located in Atlanta, GA
English Tortoiseshell Pagoda Form Tea Caddy, Early 19th Century
Category
Early 19th Century English Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Tortoise Shell
Circa 1800 English George III Tea Caddy Box
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Circa 1800 large rectangular tea caddy box, English. George III period. Mahogany. Interior with two hinged tea canisters & a sugar well. Nautilus shell inlaid top, paterae oval inlai...
Category
Early 1800s English George III Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Glass, Wood
19th Century English Victorian Cormandel Mother of Pearl Tea Caddy, circa 1850
Located in Banner Elk, NC
English Victorian cormandel tea caddy decorated with mother of pearl and brass studs, circa 1850s. Cormandel was considered one of the most luxurious woods and only used on the fines...
Category
Mid-19th Century English Victorian Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Brass
Vintage Jasperware Christmas Mugs by Wedgwood Set of 4 circa 1970's
By Wedgwood
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage Jasperware Christmas Mugs by WEDGWOOD Set of 4 circa 1970's, Made in England.
Lovely raised applied white jasper design detailing mugs featuring British monuments, Christmas mug from 1972 to 1975.
Vintage collectable 1970's Wedgwood of England pale blue Jasperware mugs...
Category
Late 20th Century English Late Victorian Tea Caddies
Materials
Porcelain
Late 19th Century Chinoiserie Tea Tin
Located in High Point, NC
Late 19th century chinoiserie tea tin from England.
Category
Late 19th Century English Late Victorian Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Tin
George III Satinwood Double Tea Caddy with Oval Conch Shell Inlay on Lid
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
George III satinwood two chamber tea caddy of fine figure and color edged with a darker wood string inlay, the top inlaid with a large ovel enclosing a conch shell, the bottom edge i...
Category
Late 18th Century English George III Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Satinwood
Blue and Yellow Chinoiserie Tea Caddy
Located in New York, NY
Blue and yellow chinoiserie tea caddy. Charming Prattware shaped tea canister in a blue cast paste with blue, yellow and moss green decoration fe...
Category
Early 19th Century English Chinoiserie Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Pottery
Large Georgian Mahogany Tea Caddy
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
A good quality Georgian 18th century mahogany rectangular tea caddy having replacement brass axe drop handle to hinged lid enclosing cavity with attractive inlaid decoration throughout.
Tea was of course a very precious commodity throughout the 18th and 19th centuries and the purpose of a tea caddy was not just to preserve the and extend the life of the precious tea leaves...
Category
Late 18th Century English Georgian Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Mahogany
Mother of Pearl Tea Caddy
Located in Dallas, TX
This beautifully crafted mother of pearl tea caddy from circa 1860 is a true testament to English craftsmanship and elegance. The exterior glows wi...
Category
1860s French Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Mother-of-Pearl, Wood
Tea Caddy - Elie Bleu Paris
By Elie Bleu
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
A beautiful vintage tea caddy, made by the French brand Elie Bleu Paris.
The box is made of beautifully veneered / greened wood with black piping. Th...
Category
Early 2000s French Modern Tea Caddies
Materials
Silver Plate
Gilt Tole Tea Canisters
Located in New York, NY
Set of three, English, 19th century tole canisters with painted and gilt finish, original patina.
18" height, 10.5" width of base.
Category
19th Century English Antique Tea Caddies
Early 19th century Regency mahogany tea caddy
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Early 19th century regency mahogany tea caddy circa 1820.
Made using flame mahogany veneers. Brass handles with star motif to the sides. Canted corners strung with satinwood. Sta...
Category
Early 19th Century English Regency Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Mahogany
Antique Drawing Room Tea Blender's Box, English, Loose Leaf Caddy, Regency, 1820
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique drawing room tea blender's box. An English, mahogany loose leaf caddy, dating to the Regency period, circa 1820.
Highly decorative craftsmanship accentuates this ...
Category
1820s British Regency Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Boxwood, Mahogany
Early 19th Century English Regency Rosewood Mother-of-pearl Tea Caddy
Located in Forney, TX
An elegant fine quality English Regency period tea caddy. Circa 1815
Born in the early 19th century, exquisitely hand-crafted from the finest exotic rosewood, rectangular sarcopha...
Category
Early 19th Century Regency Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Mother-of-Pearl, Rosewood
Chinese Export Tea Caddy, Lacquered Wood with Gilded Decorations
Located in Kastrup, DK
A beautifully crafted Chinese export tea caddy made of wood with black lacquer, richly adorned with gilded motifs featuring classical Chinese scenes of people, houses, and more.
The ...
Category
Late 19th Century Qing Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Wood
Stunning Late 1800s Gothic Revival Walnut & Brass Tea Caddy Box W. Great Patina
Located in Lisse, NL
A very pleasing, late 19th century, double compartment tea caddy.
This marvellous and rare tea caddy is in very good condition and the burl walnut has a truly warm, deep and rich pa...
Category
Late 19th Century English Gothic Revival Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Bronze, Brass
Antique 1912 Duncan & Scobbie Birmingham Sterling Silver Tea Canister Caddy 177g
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique 1912 Birmingham sterling silver tea canister / tea caddy / snuff by Duncan & Scobbie. Oval body with footed base and lid.
Dimensions:
3.5" x 2.5" x 3.75" (Width x Depth x He...
Category
1910s Edwardian Vintage Tea Caddies
Materials
Sterling Silver
Oval Sheffield brass tea caddy, c. 1820-30
Located in Kenilworth, IL
Late Georgian period oval brass tea caddy with applied rope edging on the upper edge of the lid and the rim. Centered on the lid is a sterling pineapple finial. The foot of the caddy...
Category
Early 19th Century British Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Sterling Silver, Brass
Antique English Silver Tea Caddy - Sheffield 1893 - Atkin Brothers
Located in Bath, GB
A handsome Victorian solid / sterling silver tea canister with a repousse decoration to both body and pull-off lid.
The tea caddy is fully hallmarked for the well renowned silversmi...
Category
1890s British Late Victorian Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Sterling Silver
French Napoleon III Boulle Tea Caddy
Located in Northampton, GB
Single Tea Caddy Compartment
From our Tea Caddy collection, we are delighted to bring to market this Antique French Boulle Tea Caddy. The Tea Caddy o...
Category
Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
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
Stringing and key escutcheon with original brass
Hinges to...
Category
Late 18th Century English Georgian Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Rosewood
18th Century Mahogany Tea Caddy
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
A late 18th century, Georgian, Mahogany tea caddy having extremely attractive inlaid conch shells, banded and strung decoration, with hinged lid enclosing lidded interior retaining partial paper foil lining.
This particular caddy is relatively plain and simple in design, but the attractive inlaid decoration lifts it significantly.
The condition remains relatively good and clearly it has been well loved throughout its life.
Tea was a precious commodity throughout the 18th and 19th centuries and the purpose of a tea caddy was not just to preserve the and extend the life of the precious tea leaves, but also to enable the owner to lock away those aforementioned valuable tea leaves, keeping them safe from the house staffs potential wandering hands.
This 18th century tea caddy...
Category
Late 18th Century English Georgian Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Mahogany
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 Lift Up Lid Enclosing Two Divisions And Exceptional Floral Inlaid Deocration To Oval...
Category
Late 18th Century English George III Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Yew
Set of 6 Mindanao Brass Silver Betel Boxes, Philippines
Located in Dallas, TX
Presenting an amazing set of 6 Mindanao brass silver betel boxes, Philippines.
Betel chewing was prevalent in the southern Philippines as in much o...
Category
Late 19th Century Philippine Islamic Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Silver, Brass, Copper
Regency Rosewood Sarcophagus Form Tea Caddy
Located in Huntington, NY
Regency rosewood sarcophagus form Tea Caddy. With circular
Brass keyhole escutcheon plate.
Category
Early 19th Century English Regency Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Brass
Antique English George III Tortoiseshell and Silver Tea Caddy
Located in Northampton, GB
Small oval tortoiseshell Tea Caddy with applied pressed silver with a rippled design. The front has an ornate silver escutcheon. The tortoiseshell & silver tea caddy interior contains most of its original tin lining with a rippled silver surround incorporating the hinge, and a single floating tortoiseshell lid with silver ball handle which rests on the tea to keep it fresh.
This delightful little oval tea caddy...
Category
Early 19th Century British Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Silver
Tea Caddy English George III
Located in Cheltenham, GB
English George III triple tea caddy with untouched patina colour and original brassware standing on ogee feet with 3 section interior.
Category
18th Century English Georgian Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Brass
19th Century Geometrically Inlaid Double Chamber Tea Caddy
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Double chamber tea caddy with burr walnut sides and back having intricately inlaid geometric top and front. The hinged top opening to a divided interior with two light wood covers wi...
Category
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Wood
Blonde Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy, England 19th Century
Located in Atlanta, GA
Blonde Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy, England 19th Century
Category
19th Century English Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Tortoise Shell
18th Century Mahogany Tea Caddy
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
A late 18th century, Georgian, Mahogany tea caddy having extremely attractive inlaid conch shells, banded and strung decoration, with hinged lid enclosing lidded interior retaining partial paper foil lining.
This particular caddy is relatively plain and simple in design, but the attractive inlaid decoration lifts it significantly.
The condition remains relatively good and clearly it has been well loved throughout its life.
Tea was a precious commodity throughout the 18th and 19th centuries and the purpose of a tea caddy was not just to preserve the and extend the life of the precious tea leaves, but also to enable the owner to lock away those aforementioned valuable tea leaves, keeping them safe from the house staffs potential wandering hands.
This 18th century tea caddy...
Category
Late 18th Century English Georgian Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Mahogany
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 Tortoiseshell exterior mounted with engraved silver stringing, a silver shield plaque below the silver escutcheon and a silver looped handle. The interior features a floating tea shelf...
Category
Early 1800s English George III Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Silver
Superb Quality Antique Victorian Burr Walnut and Brass Mounted Tea Caddy
Located in Suffolk, GB
Superb quality antique Victorian burr walnut and brass mounted tea caddy having a superb quality antique Victorian burr walnut tea caddy with a d...
Category
19th Century English Victorian Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Brass
Vintage, New and Antique Tea Caddies
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.