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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
19th Century Chinese Canton Export Lacquered Giltwood Tea Caddy on Shishi Feet
Located in Haarlem, NL
Clover or quartreform shaped mid-19th century Chinese canton export tea caddy in gold lacquered wood on a black background.
Decorated with palace scenes...
Category
Mid-19th Century Chinese Chinese Export Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Pewter
$1,580 Sale Price
20% Off
Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy
Located in Tampa, FL
Chinese export tea caddy in pomegranate red, made for the English market. This is a beautifully crafted chinoiserie piece with carved brass feet and a richly decorated surface featur...
Category
1820s Chinese Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Pewter
Fabulous Antique English Penwork Double Compartment Tea Caddy c.1820
Located in Bath, GB
A simply magnificent and grand example of a Regency Penwork Tea Caddy dating 1820.
The caddy stands on it's original large gilded bronze Lion's paw feet and the sides retaining the ...
Category
1820s British Regency Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Wood
$3,909 Sale Price
20% Off
George III Period Mahogany Tea Caddy
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
A Very Good Quality 18th century, Georgian Mahogany Rectangular Tea Caddy, Having Original Brass Handle To Hinged Top, Enclosing Divisions, With Unusual Glazed Panels To Front Bearin...
Category
Mid-18th Century English George III Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Mahogany
Antique Tea Caddy, English, Satinwood, Box, Mixing Glass, Regency, circa 1830
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique tea caddy. An English, rosewood and satinwood container with glass mixer, dating to the late Regency period, circa 1830.
Delightful R...
Category
Mid-19th Century British Regency Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Satinwood
Victorian Tunbridge Ware Tea Caddy
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
A Charming 19th Century Tunbridge Ware Tea Caddy With Attractive Floral Band To Main Body And Parquetry Perspective Cubes To Hinged Lid Enclosing Lidded Interior.
Tea was an extrem...
Category
Mid-19th Century English Victorian Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Other
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 beautiful antique Georgian Burr Yew wood Tea Caddy. The Tea Caddy of rectangular form wit...
Category
Late 18th Century English George III Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Yew
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
Scottish Mauchline Ware Tea Caddy attributed to Smiths
Located in Northampton, GB
Scottish Mauchline Ware
From our Tea Caddy collection, we are delighted to offer this rare Mauchline Ware Tea Caddy. The Tea Caddy of rectangular form extensively decorated with a repeating pinstripe pattern throughout the entire exterior of the Tea Caddy upon a Sycamore carcass. The decoration features a striped effect with alternating classical scrollwork, linked chain and pin striped vertical line transfers in shades of gold, green and red. A shield-shaped escutcheon finishes the exterior of the Caddy. When opened the Tea Caddy reveals a single Caddy compartment with traces of the original foil lining and the Caddy the original full length wooden Cumnock Hinge. The Tea Caddy dates to the late Georgian Period during the reign of George IV Circa 1830. The Tea Caddy is a rare example of early Mauchline Ware especially because of the Type of decoration used and extremely good condition, a superb addition to any collection. We firmly attribute the Tea Caddy to renowned Scottish Mauchline Ware makers Smiths from the extremely close similarities between this Caddy and a previous one in our archives signed by Smiths.
The Tea Caddy comes complete with working lock and tasselled key.
Mauchline Ware was the production of Scottish white-wood products, it was mainly manufactured from the 1820s until 1939. The production of souvenir woodware for the tourist market began in the 1790s with the snuff box industry in Ayrshire. By 1820, Mauchline ware was well established, supplying souvenirs from wood grown ‘on the Field of Bannockburn’, ‘on the Abbey Craig’, ‘on the slopes of Stirling Castle’ and made into sewing requisites, egg cups, trinket boxes and many other kinds of souvenirs, transfer printed with a line drawing of the place. The firm Smith’s who regarded as the the leading and most renowned manufacturer of Mauchline War among a few lesser known and shorter lived companies. They ranged from the basic transfer as on small vases to boxes and smaller household accessories...
Category
Early 19th Century Scottish William IV Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Sycamore
1960's Japanese Tea Caddy Tin Canister
Located in New York, NY
1960's tin tea caddy covered in traditional Japanese woven gold fabric with floral motif. There are two lids, inner and outer to keep tea leaves fresh.
Category
Mid-20th Century Japanese Japonisme Tea Caddies
Materials
Tin
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
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
Rococo Style Repousse Silver Plate Tea Caddy Spoon, U.K., Mid-19th Century
Located in Chatham, ON
Antique Rococo style silver plate tea caddy spoon - featuring repousse shell shaped decoration with leaves - 'c' scrolls to the handle - fine quality workmanship and classic details ...
Category
Mid-19th Century English Rococo Revival Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Silver Plate
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
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 opening to reveal a fitted interior of a glass tea mixing bowl and a tea lidded compa...
Category
Early 19th Century William IV Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Rosewood
Chippendale Tea Caddy, c1770
Located in valatie, NY
Chippendale tea caddy, c1770, burl veneered mahogany paneled front and sides with cross banded border raised on original ball and claw cast brass...
Category
Late 18th Century English Chippendale Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Brass
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 patina, restoration to the lid at the hinge. England...
Category
Early 19th Century English George III Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Fruitwood
Box of Chocolates Hand-Painted by Alfred Tolmer, circa 1930
By Alfred Tolmer
Located in Barcelona, ES
Box of Chocolates Hand-Painted by Alfred Tolmer. Manufactured in Spain, circa 1960. In original condition with minor wear consistent of age and use, preserving a beautiful pati...
Category
15th Century and Earlier Spanish Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Paper
$1,156 Sale Price
20% Off
George III Mahogany Tea Caddy with Inlay & Burled Crossbanding
Located in Atlanta, GA
George III Mahogany Tea Caddy with Inlay & Burled Crossbanding, ca. 1790
Category
Late 18th Century English George III Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Mahogany
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
$1,678 Sale Price
35% Off
Regency Inlaid Tea Caddy
By Regency
Located in London, GB
Regeny Heavily inlaid Brass Tea Caddy
This Tea Caddy in Walnut and Elevated on Four Bun Feet
Some Minor Nicks
The Interior Consists of a Tea Compartment with Shedding Paint
Category
Early 19th Century British Regency Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Walnut
$2,177 Sale Price
20% Off
Regency Mahogany Tea Caddy
Located in Greenwich, CT
Fine English Regency mahogany caddy with canted sides and shaped hinged top with ebony stringing and original brass paw feet. Good color and patina.
Category
Early 19th Century English Regency Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Mahogany
Hermes Carnets D'Equateur Tea Box
By Hermès
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rare Hermes "Carnets D'Équateur" multi-color tea caddy in hand painted lacquered wood with jungle motif and stainless steel interior / Made in Vietnam
Original stamp at underside / c...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Tea Caddies
Materials
Wood
Regency Antique 19th Century Sarcophagus Shaped Burr Elm Tea Caddy
Located in Suffolk, GB
Regency antique 19th century burr elm tea caddy having a sarcophagus shaped lip which lifts to reveal two lidded compartments with original turned knobs, standing on small bun feet.
...
Category
Early 19th Century English Regency Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Elm
$1,061 Sale Price
20% Off
Mid 19th Century Silver Plate Tea Caddy Container
Located in Charlottesville, VA
Silver plate tea caddy. A beautiful English traditional accent. It’s well worn with lots of charm.
Category
Mid-19th Century British Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Silver Plate
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Walnut Veneer Parquetry Tea Caddy
Located in Reading, Berkshire
A 19th Century Antique English Victorian Ebonised Walnut Veneer Tea Caddy With Brass Handle & Lining
A Charming tea caddy with decorative walnut veneer parquetry.
A tea caddy...
Category
19th Century British Victorian Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Brass
$1,005 Sale Price
40% Off
1874 Victorian Sterling Silver Locking Tea Caddy
By Thomas White
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive, large antique Victorian English sterling silver locking tea caddy; an addition to our silver teaware collection.
This exceptional antique Victorian sterling silver tea caddy has an oval shaped form.
The upper and lower portions of the body are encompassed with impressive bright cut engraved broad overlapping leaf decorated borders accented with a band of scallop and trefoil ornamentation in addition to protruding stylized leaf designs to the incurves of the body.
The body of this large tea caddy...
Category
1870s English Victorian Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Silver, Sterling Silver
Norwegian Solid Birch Expandable Sewing Stand Organizer Made in Norway MINT
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Norwegian Solid Birch Expandable Sewing Stand Organizer Made in Norway MINT
Category
20th Century Norwegian Mid-Century Modern Tea Caddies
Materials
Birch
Exceptional Georgian Crossbanded Satinwood Tea Caddy w/ Oval Inlaid Shell Panels
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
A fine tea chest or tea caddy in satinwood with crossbanded edges on the lid and all four sides, the lid, front and sides inlaid with ovals of tortoiseshell. The lid, centered with a...
Category
Late 18th Century English Georgian Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Satinwood
Scottish Mauchline Ware Tea Caddy Attributed to Smiths
Located in Northampton, GB
Acorn Design
From our Tea Caddy collection, we are pleased to offer this Scottish Mauchline Ware Tea Caddy attributed to Smiths. The Mauchline Ware Tea Caddy of rectangular form ma...
Category
Early 19th Century Scottish Georgian Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Sycamore
Antique Wang Hing & Co. Chinese Export Silver Tea Caddy
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive antique Chinese export silver tea caddy; an addition to our silver teaware collection.
This exceptional antique Chinese silver tea caddy...
Category
1890s Hong Kong Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Silver
French 1920s Metal Storage Bin with Decorative Hand Painted Portrait of a Woman
Located in Santa Monica, CA
French 1920s metal storage bin with decorative hand painted portrait of a woman.
Category
Early 20th Century French Tea Caddies
Materials
Tin
$597 Sale Price
20% Off
19th Century Chinese Export Lacquer Tea Caddy
Located in Mt Kisco, NY
The burgundy / brown lacquer is decorated with gold depicting figures and buildings in a landscape. The caddy stands on four carved wooden feet in the shape of claws. The interior contains a single pewter canister...
Category
19th Century English Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Paper
19th Century, Rosewood & Brass Scent Box
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
A charming and particularly good quality mid-19th century, Victorian Period, rosewood perfume scent box, with attractive brass bound decoration and hinged li...
Category
Mid-19th Century English Victorian Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Brass
Antique Teapoy English William iv Rosewood Work Box, 19th Century, circa 1835
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique teapoy, an English, William IV, rosewood work box dating to the early 19th century, circa 1835.
Superb color in the polished rosew...
Category
Early 19th Century English William IV Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Rosewood
Antique Dutch Silver Tea Caddy
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive antique Dutch silver tea caddy; an addition to our silver teaware collection
This exceptional Dutch silver tea caddy has been realistically modelled in the form of a classic antique wine cooler...
Category
1890s Dutch Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Silver
Antique Chinese Lead & Bronze Tea Caddy With Glass Covered Panels
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Antique Chinese 9-sided lead & bronze tea caddy with 18 hand-painted panels (behind glass) with ornate frames. Raised seal mark on base. The tea caddy with a removable domed lid and ...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Tea Caddies
Materials
Bronze, Lead
Art Deco Box, 1930, France
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
We have specialized in the sale of Art Deco and Art Nouveau and Vintage styles since 1982. If you have any questions we are at your disposal.
Pushing the button that reads 'View All ...
Category
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Tea Caddies
Materials
Wood, Mirror
English Sheffield Silver Plate Covered Round Shape Tea Caddy
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Discover the epitome of refined elegance with our extraordinary English Sheffield silver pate covered round shape tea caddy / biscuit box. This exquisite piece seamlessly blends fu...
Category
1890s English Art Deco Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Silver Plate
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 and Key. Circa Late 19th Century. Measurements: 5.5" H x 12" W x 8.25" D.
Category
Late 19th Century Unknown Other Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Wood
18th Century Chippendale Mahogany Tea Caddy, Great Britain, Circa 1760
Located in London, GB
A mid-18th century Chippendale period figured mahogany tea caddy, ebony beaded and mahogany cross-banded throughout, having concave-shaped lid retaining original brass carrying handle.
Category
Mid-18th Century Great Britain (UK) Chippendale Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Mahogany
Victorian Silver Mounted Mother-of-Pearl Tea Caddy
Located in Astoria, NY
Victorian Sterling Silver Mounted Mother-of-Pearl Tea Caddy, struck with maker's mark for Cornelius Desormeaux Saunders and James Francis Hollings, London, 1895, with silver "Tea" la...
Category
1890s English Victorian Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Silver
Pretty antique Victorian mahogany conch shell inlaid tea caddy
Located in Ipswich, GB
Pretty antique Victorian mahogany conch shell inlaid tea caddy, having a quality antique Victorian inlaid tea caddy with pretty conch shell inlay to the lid opening to reveal three c...
Category
19th Century Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Mahogany
Antique Austrian Silver Tea Caddy, circa 1955
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive antique Austrian 800 standard silver tea caddy; an addition to our silver teaware collection.
This exceptional Austrian silver tea caddy has an...
Category
1950s Austrian Vintage Tea Caddies
Materials
Silver
Late 18th Century Georgian English Dome-Top Tea Caddy
Located in Dublin, IE
A Fine Georgian Dome-Top Tea Caddy. A beautifully preserved Georgian period single–compartment tea caddy, veneered throughout in richly figured tortoiseshell with a striking mottled ...
Category
Late 18th Century English Georgian Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Wood
Antique Georgian Paper Scroll Tea Caddy
Located in Northampton, GB
Framed In Boxwood
From our Tea Caddy collection, we are delighted to offer this exceptional Georgian Paper Scroll Tea Caddy. The Tea Caddy of e...
Category
Late 18th Century English George II Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Glass, Boxwood, Paper
Vintage 1940s Spanish Silver Fish Sugar Box
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A magnificent, fine and impressive, large vintage Spanish silver sugar box realistically modelled in the form of a fish; an addition to our animal related silverware collection
This magnificent and large vintage Spanish silver box has been realistically modelled in the form of a fish.
This impressive fish shaped box has an articulated body, allowing the fish's position to be customised.
The body of this vintage sugar box is embellished with separate dorsal and pectoral fins, in addition to rows of chased scales and anatomical features.
This vintage silver fish box retains the original hinged cover/head, featuring the original large bead eyes.
Such large examples are rare to the market and becoming increasingly difficult to locate.
Condition
This silver fish shaped box is an exceptional gauge of silver, exceptional quality and in exceptional condition.
The Spanish hallmarks...
Category
1940s Spanish Vintage Tea Caddies
Materials
Silver
Georgian Ribbed Bucket Tea Caddy
Located in Northampton, GB
Rare and unusual George III tea caddy in the form of a ribbed bucket.
The tea caddy of beautiful shape with a ribbed exterior carved from alternating panels of plain Sycamore and...
Category
Late 18th Century British George III Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Cut Steel
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.
Category
Early 19th Century Early Victorian Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Brass
Antique George III Sterling Silver Tea Caddies (1768)
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive pair of antique George III English sterling silver tea caddies by Pierre Gillois; an addition to our Georgian silverware collection.
These except...
Category
1760s English George III Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Sterling Silver
Ceramic Zebra And Monkey Teapot , hand made in South Africa
Located in North Miami, FL
Introducing the Ceramic Zebra Teapot from Imvelo Natural Art, a remarkable fusion of artistry and cultural heritage from South Africa. Hand-sculpted by Bernard and hand-painted by Sn...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary South African Modern Tea Caddies
Materials
Ceramic
Rare Quatrefoil Chinese Export Tea Caddy, 19th Century
Located in Charlottesville, VA
Rare quatrefoil Chinese Export Tea Caddy, 19th Century, the lacquer tea caddy with interlocking circles design, in deep red, black, and gilt with internal pewter container...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Lacquer
Circa 1765 George III Period Tea Caddy Box, English
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Circa 1765 George III period tea caddy box, English. Small & complete example raised on original bracket feet. Mahogany. Original hardware & lock with key. Contains 2 origina...
Category
1760s English George III Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Tin
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
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 satinwood inlaid stringing tea caddy with a lift up lid opening to reveal the original ...
Category
19th Century George III Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Mahogany
Impressive William IV Sarcophagus Form Tea Caddy in Contrasting Exotic Woods
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Large and impressive William IV tea caddy of sarcophagus form in exotic woods. The exterior in nicely grained contrasting dark and light woods bordered with gadroon moldings and with...
Category
Mid-19th Century English William IV Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Wood
Georgian Sterling Silver Tea Caddies
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A magnificent, fine and impressive pair of antique Georgian English sterling silver tea caddies - boxed; an addition to our silver teaware collection
These magnificent, fine and impressive antique Georgian silver tea caddies each have an oblong, bomb shaped form.
The surface of each antique tea caddy is embellished with impressive chased and embossed scrolling floral and foliate decoration, incorporating paralleling undulating borders framing each side.
The decoration to the body of each incorporates two cartouches, one displaying the contemporary engraved coat of arms depicting an oval escutcheon supported by a savage and a greyhound collared and chained, displaying firstly a stag's head and secondly three bars below three roundels.
The coat of arms bears the motto 'Data fata secutus' - Following the destiny allotted to me*.
These heraldic markings are surmounted with the crest of a mountain in flames, surmounted with the motto 'ÂLuceo non uro' - I shine, not burn*.
The cartouche to the opposing side of each caddy is ornamented with an impressive contemporary engraved crest of a greyhound courant.
The remaining two sides of each impressive antique caddy...
Category
1750s British George II Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Sterling Silver
19th century English Rosewood Tea Caddy with Mother of Pearl Inlay
Located in Savannah, GA
Tea Caddy made of rosewood with extensive mother-of-pearl decoration to the top and front. Special features include bun feet and unusual handles on either side with mother-of-pearl b...
Category
1810s English Regency Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Mother-of-Pearl, Rosewood
$995 Sale Price
37% Off
Mid 19th century Chinese export hand painted tea caddy
Located in Allentown, PA
This is a mid 19th century handpainted Chinese export tea caddy. This tea Caddy stands on four hand carved miniature foo dog sculpted feet. This tea caddy has its original pewter lin...
Category
Mid-19th Century Chinese Chinese Export Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Wood
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.
More Ways To Browse
Tea Bin
Antique French Tea Caddy
Antique Japanese Tea Box
Antique Japanese Tea Caddy
Footed Tea Caddy
Tea Caddy Stand
Tea Caddy With Key
Antique Apple Boxes
Antique Fruitwood Tea Caddy
Bombe Tea Caddy
Chinese Pewter Tea Caddy
Fruit Tea Caddy
Monkey Teapot
Tortoiseshell Box 18th Century
Japanese Canister
Pewter Canister
Wooden Canister
Antique Coffee Bean Dispenser