18th Century Henry Clay Papier Mache Tea Caddy

Octagonal Papier-Mache Tea Caddy with Classical Figures Circa 1800 From our Tea Caddy collection, we are thrilled to offer this Henry Clay Octagonal papier-mache Tea Caddy. The Tea caddy decorated to the exterior with a central scene showing seated classical figures and cherubs. The top and bottom with Entwined diaper borders that are repeated on the hinged, silvered-handle top. The intior features a floating lid with a mounted silvered handle. Although unsigned we firmly attribute the Tea Caddy to renowned London maker Henry Clay. The Tea Caddy comes complete with working lock and key Henry Clay was an assistant to one of the pioneers in papier-mache by the name of John Baskerville who started to imitate the highly polished items, that were being imported from Japan, using lacquered...

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...

Lovely old papier mâché tea caddy with inlaid mother-of-pearl and hand-painted decoration, England, 19th century.

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...