Skip to main content

Tea Caddies

to
49
476
4
4
297
221
Height
to
Width
to
484
484
484
1
1
1
Tea Caddies For Sale
Georgian Ribbed Bucket Tea Caddy
Georgian Ribbed Bucket Tea Caddy

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

Fantastic quality antique regency coromandel wood tea caddy
Fantastic quality antique regency coromandel wood tea caddy

Fantastic quality antique regency coromandel wood tea caddy

Located in Ipswich, GB

Fantastic quality antique regency coromandel wood tea caddy having a quality coromandel wood tea caddy with ringlet carrying handles to both sides and a...

Category

Early 19th Century Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Wood

Antique Tinware Tea Caddy
Antique Tinware Tea Caddy

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

19th c English Chippendale Style Mahogany Tea Caddy with Silver Plate Tea Boxes
19th c English Chippendale Style Mahogany Tea Caddy with Silver Plate Tea Boxes

19th c English Chippendale Style Mahogany Tea Caddy with Silver Plate Tea Boxes

Located in Milford, NH

A nicely carved English mahogany tea caddy in the Chippendale style with dome top and scroll carved corners, silver plate scrollwork escutcheon & handle, the custom interior lined with velour for silver plated tea boxes with acorn & oak leaf knops flanking a central mahogany foil lined tea box with an acanthus knop. The handled top has a monogrammed plate “M...

Category

19th Century English Chippendale Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Silver Plate

18th Century Sterling Silver Locking Tea Caddy
18th Century Sterling Silver Locking Tea Caddy

18th Century Sterling Silver Locking Tea Caddy

By Michael Plummer

Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne

An exceptional, fine and impressive antique Georgian English sterling silver locking tea caddy; an addition to our silver teaware collection. This exceptional antique George III sterling silver locking tea caddy has a navette, paneled shaped form. The body of this silver tea caddy box is embellished with bands of bright cut engraved volute spiraling leaf ornamentation on a matte background to the upper and lower portions; these bands flank a plain undulating bordered panel. The ornamentation to the surface of the caddy alternates with panels of concave vertical fluted decoration. This antique Georgian tea caddy is retains the original hallmarked flush hinged covers; the flush hinge indicates the fine quality of this piece. The cover is embellished with further bright cut engraved undulating borders accented with bud motifs, in addition to simplified borders paralleling the domed paneled portion; the domed portions reflects the incurved shape of the body. This impressive cover is surmounted with a cast sterling silver urn style finial, in the Classic Adams style. The caddy retains the original fitted fully working lock and functional key. This sterling silver tea caddy is a highly desirable shape and style. Condition: This Georgian silver tea caddy...

Category

1790s English George III Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Silver, Sterling Silver

Late 18th Century Georgian English Dome-Top Tea Caddy
Late 18th Century Georgian English Dome-Top Tea Caddy

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

Victorian Rosewood Inlaid Marquetry Tea Caddy
Victorian Rosewood Inlaid Marquetry Tea Caddy

Victorian Rosewood Inlaid Marquetry Tea Caddy

Located in Chelmsford, Essex

For sale is this 19th Century Victorian antique rosewood inlaid marquetry tea caddy sarcophagus-form box, in good condition with marquetry to the top and front with brass star carryi...

Category

Mid-19th Century Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Rosewood

19th Century English Victorian Cormandel Mother of Pearl Tea Caddy, circa 1850
19th Century English Victorian Cormandel Mother of Pearl Tea Caddy, circa 1850

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

English Regency Tea Caddy
English Regency Tea Caddy

English Regency Tea Caddy

Located in Tampa, FL

English Regency tea caddy, circa 1820s. Crafted in richly figured rosewood, this magnificent and highly unusual caddy is distinguished by extensive copper inlay and trim throughout. ...

Category

1820s English Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Copper

Antique George III Sterling Silver Tea Caddies (1768)
Antique George III Sterling Silver Tea Caddies (1768)

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

Antique George III Sterling Silver Tea Caddy (1818)
Antique George III Sterling Silver Tea Caddy (1818)

Antique George III Sterling Silver Tea Caddy (1818)

Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne

An exceptional, fine and impressive antique Georgian English sterling silver tea caddy; an addition to our Early 19th Century silver teaware collection. This exceptional antique Geo...

Category

1810s English George III Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Sterling Silver

Antique Dutch Silver Tea Caddy
Antique Dutch Silver Tea Caddy

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

Pair of Victorian Tole Tea Canisters
Pair of Victorian Tole Tea Canisters

Pair of Victorian Tole Tea Canisters

Located in Essex, MA

Octagonal form with Asian figures! Great old paint.

Category

1850s English Victorian Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Other

19th Century Chinese Black Lacquer Tea Caddy
19th Century Chinese Black Lacquer Tea Caddy

19th Century Chinese Black Lacquer Tea Caddy

Located in Tampa, FL

Nineteenth century Chinese chinoiserie black lacquer tea caddy richly decorated in gold. The exterior shows delicate garden scenes with birds, flowers, and foliage painted with fine ...

Category

1820s Chinese Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Lacquer

Antique Georgian Sterling Silver Locking Tea Caddy
Antique Georgian Sterling Silver Locking Tea Caddy

Antique Georgian Sterling Silver Locking Tea Caddy

By Charles Aldridge & Henry Green

Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne

An exceptional, fine and impressive antique Georgian English sterling silver locking tea caddy; an addition to our silver teaware collection This exceptional antique Georgian sterling silver tea caddy has a cylindrical form. The upper and lower portions of this Aesthetic style silver tea caddy is embellished with bands of bright cut engraved floral bud designs; further vertical bands segment the body into five equal portions, each encompassed with undulating wrigglework borders. The anterior portion of the body is ornamented with a bright cut engraved rectangular cut cornered cartouche encompassed with a radiating simplified floral and scrolling foliate decoration and featuring the contemporary engraved crest of a lion's head collared and erased. The further four segments bear Chinoiserie bright cut engraved Chinese symbols representing the four seasons: spring (? / chun), summer (? / xia), autumn (? / qiu) and winter (? / dong). This antique silver tea caddy retains the original hallmarked flush hinged cover; the flush hinge indicates the fine quality of this piece. The cover is encompassed with further bands of bright cut engraved decoration, reflecting the designs to the body. This impressive cover is surmounted with the original, exceptional carved wood and sterling silver pineapple...

Category

1780s British George III Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Silver, Sterling Silver

Antique Austrian Silver Tea Caddy, circa 1955
Antique Austrian Silver Tea Caddy, circa 1955

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

Antique German Silver Bear Sugar Box
Antique German Silver Bear Sugar Box

Antique German Silver Bear Sugar Box

Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne

An exceptional, fine and impressive, rare antique German silver bear sugar box; part of our continental ornamental silverware collection This exceptional and rare antique German silver sugar box have been realistically modelled in form of a bear. The box has been embellished with fine embossed decoration reproducing the details of the bear's fur and anatomical features. This exceptional antique silver box is fitted with the original push fit head/cover. Condition This antique silver bear box is an exceptional gauge of silver, exceptional quality and in exceptional condition. The German Hanau hallmarks to the underside of one foot are very clear. Reflections in photographs may detract from the true representation of this German silverware...

Category

Early 1900s German Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Sterling Silver

Enamel Tea Caddy Vienna 18th Century with Landscape
Enamel Tea Caddy Vienna 18th Century with Landscape

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

English Early Tea Caddy
English Early Tea Caddy

English Early Tea Caddy

Located in Tampa, FL

English early large and beautifully decorated tea cadd with its compartments lids with ivory knobs top on the lids. Beautifully inlaid on the front of the escutcheon. The interior me...

Category

1810s English Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Wood

Georgian Sterling Silver Tea Caddies
Georgian Sterling Silver Tea Caddies

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 'Luceo 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

Pear form Tea Caddy
Pear form Tea Caddy

Pear form Tea Caddy

Located in Huntington, NY

Late 18th Century George III Pear form Fruitwood Tea Caddy With wooden stem, and an iron keyhole, escutcheon plate, its interior with remnants of the original silver leaf. The pi...

Category

Late 18th Century English George III Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Iron

19th Century English Regency Tea Caddy
19th Century English Regency Tea Caddy

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

Rare 19th Century Antique Black Walnut Tea Caddy
Rare 19th Century Antique Black Walnut Tea Caddy

Rare 19th Century Antique Black Walnut Tea Caddy

Located in New Orleans, LA

This caddy has the beautiful warm, strong colors of black walnut. A handsome decorative box, to be sure.

Category

Late 19th Century English Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Walnut

1874 Victorian Sterling Silver Locking Tea Caddy
1874 Victorian Sterling Silver Locking Tea Caddy

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

Pair of Chinese Mahogany Tole Hinged Figural & Foliage Bird Tea Bins, Circa 1840
Pair of Chinese Mahogany Tole Hinged Figural & Foliage Bird Tea Bins, Circa 1840

Pair of Chinese Mahogany Tole Hinged Figural & Foliage Bird Tea Bins, Circa 1840

Located in Charleston, SC

Pair of Chinese mahogany tole demilune hinged poly chromed tea bins with gilt figural stenciling and decorative landscape scenes with foliage and bird motif, M...

Category

1840s Chinese Chinese Export Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Brass, Metal

Antique Dutch Silver Tea Caddy, Hand-Crafted, Repousse Design, 1920
Antique Dutch Silver Tea Caddy, Hand-Crafted, Repousse Design, 1920

Antique Dutch Silver Tea Caddy, Hand-Crafted, Repousse Design, 1920

Located in Montreal, QC

Of oval outline; the body repousse with scenes of merrymaking, after Teniers, the hinged cover with radiating design and pierced gallery. Very well-made, this is a cheerful Dutch box...

Category

1920s Dutch Vintage Tea Caddies

Materials

Silver

Ceramic Zebra And Monkey Teapot , hand made in South Africa
Ceramic Zebra And Monkey Teapot , hand made in South Africa

Ceramic Zebra And Monkey Teapot , hand made in South Africa

By Imvelo Natural Arts

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

Elegant English Sterling Silver Tea Caddy - London 1902
Elegant English Sterling Silver Tea Caddy - London 1902

Elegant English Sterling Silver Tea Caddy - London 1902

By Horace Woodward & Co. Ltd.

Located in Bath, GB

A stunning tea caddy, oval in shape with a simple elegant body and domed lid, both upper and lower rims beautifully decorated with a raised border. The hinged lid working perfectly ...

Category

Early 1900s British Edwardian Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Sterling Silver

Georgian Sterling Silver Set of Two Tea Caddies
Georgian Sterling Silver Set of Two Tea Caddies

Georgian Sterling Silver Set of Two Tea Caddies

By Samuel Taylor

Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne

An exceptional, fine and impressive pair of antique Georgian English sterling silver tea caddies; an addition to our silver teaware collection. These exceptional antique George II sterling silver tea caddies have a circular baluster shaped form. The surface of each antique tea caddy is embellished with very sharp, finely chased floral and foliate decoration, incorporating a scroll bordered vacant cartouche to either side. The ornamentation to the body of each piece incorporates a plain applied moulded girdle. These caddies are fitted with a cylindrical push fit covers encircled with leaf decorated textures. The covers are surmounted with the original cast sterling silver leaf decorated finials. These impressive antique tea caddies...

Category

Mid-18th Century English George II Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Silver, Sterling Silver

American Modern Classical Sterling Silver Tea Caddy
American Modern Classical Sterling Silver Tea Caddy

American Modern Classical Sterling Silver Tea Caddy

Located in New York, NY

American Modern Classical sterling silver tea caddy, ca 1950. Oval with straight sides and dentil mouth rim; engraved lion rampant. Cover flat and hinged with leaf-mounted bud finial...

Category

Mid-20th Century American Modern Tea Caddies

Materials

Sterling Silver

Small Walnut Tea Caddy
Small Walnut Tea Caddy

Small Walnut Tea Caddy

Located in Charlottesville, VA

Small walnut tea caddy of rectangular form with a hinged lid outlined by simple line inlay. The lid opens to a fitted interior with a divided compartment and lined underside.

Category

19th Century English Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Walnut

Box Cannister Caddy Brass Tobacco Tea Dutch
Box Cannister Caddy Brass Tobacco Tea Dutch

Box Cannister Caddy Brass Tobacco Tea Dutch

Located in BUNGAY, SUFFOLK

A charming early tobacco box or tea cannister Unusual, large size Lovely soft contours which enhances the reflection of light in the interior Original condition including hinges length 21cm., 8 1/4" depth 7.5cm., 3" height 11cm., 4 1/2". The Dutch were the main importers of tobacco in the 18th century and manufactured tobacco boxes to sell with...

Category

18th Century Dutch Baroque Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Brass

French Black Lacquer, Mother of Pearl and Brass Inlay Tea Caddy
French Black Lacquer, Mother of Pearl and Brass Inlay Tea Caddy

French Black Lacquer, Mother of Pearl and Brass Inlay Tea Caddy

Located in Tampa, FL

A beautiful tea caddy with original key and original interior it is black lacquer, mother of pearl and has a brass inlay design all over the box. 19th century, France.

Category

19th Century French Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Brass

Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy With Sunburst Design
Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy With Sunburst Design

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.

Category

1870s English Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Tortoise Shell

Large Regency Tea Caddy
Large Regency Tea Caddy

Large Regency Tea Caddy

Located in Tampa, FL

A rather large and wonderful mahogany regency tea caddy. It is trimmed out with an inlay and an ivory keyhole. The interior is four inches deep in the tea compartments, does not have...

Category

1890s English Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Mahogany

Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy
Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy

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

Art Deco Box, 1930, France
Art Deco Box, 1930, France

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

Edwardian 'Drum Shape' Antique Sterling Silver Tea Caddy - London 1905
Edwardian 'Drum Shape' Antique Sterling Silver Tea Caddy - London 1905

Edwardian 'Drum Shape' Antique Sterling Silver Tea Caddy - London 1905

By Blackburn & Tysall

Located in London, London

Hallmarked in London in 1905 by Blackburn & Tysall, this very attractive, Edwardian, Antique Sterling Silver Tea Caddy, features bright cut engraved decorative bands and cartouche, a...

Category

Early 1900s English Edwardian Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Sterling Silver

English Regency Tea Caddy with Original Key
English Regency Tea Caddy with Original Key

English Regency Tea Caddy with Original Key

Located in Tampa, FL

A distinguished English Regency tea caddy, likely dating to the 1830s, featuring a red leather lined interior and a velvet bottom. The caddy retains its original twin tea holders and...

Category

1830s English Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Wood

1860s English Tea Box on Stand
1860s English Tea Box on Stand

1860s English Tea Box on Stand

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Late 19th-century English-imported tea box from China. Decorated with beautiful red and black hand-painted flora and fauna, and equipped with rectangular iron handles, the box is mou...

Category

1860s English Victorian Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Wood

19th Century English Wedgewood Retailed Burl Walnut Tea Caddy
19th Century English Wedgewood Retailed Burl Walnut Tea Caddy

19th Century English Wedgewood Retailed Burl Walnut Tea Caddy

By Wedgwood & Co

Located in Forney, TX

A stunning, fine quality English Victorian brass-mounted walnut tea caddy, retailed by Wedgwood & Sons, 9 Cornhill, London. Exquisitely hand-crafted in the mid-19th century, rectangular chest form finished in rich burled walnut, having a shaped hinged lid featuring an inset Wedgwood Jasperware plaque of Cupid riding a lion. Locking, retaining the original key, the top opening to reveal an interior fitted with two lidded compartments, one lid marked B (black tea...

Category

19th Century English Victorian Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Brass

Large George III period sterling silver tea caddy made in London in 1800
Large George III period sterling silver tea caddy made in London in 1800

Large George III period sterling silver tea caddy made in London in 1800

By David Hennell II

Located in London, London

Hallmarked in London in 1800 by Robert & David Hennell, this handsome, George III period, Antique Sterling Silver Tea Caddy, is plain in design, with bead borders and an engraved cre...

Category

Early 1800s English George III Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Sterling Silver

Victorian Tunbridge Ware Tea Caddy, Parquetry Design, Circa 1870
Victorian Tunbridge Ware Tea Caddy, Parquetry Design, Circa 1870

Victorian Tunbridge Ware Tea Caddy, Parquetry Design, Circa 1870

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

Rosewood Tea Caddy with Ebony, Ivory and Porcupine Quill Detailing
Rosewood Tea Caddy with Ebony, Ivory and Porcupine Quill Detailing

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

Rare Quatrefoil Chinese Export Tea Caddy, 19th Century
Rare Quatrefoil Chinese Export Tea Caddy, 19th Century

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

Large Art Deco Grocers Tolewear Double Coffee and Tea Canister
Large Art Deco Grocers Tolewear Double Coffee and Tea Canister

Large Art Deco Grocers Tolewear Double Coffee and Tea Canister

Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight

Large Art Deco grocers tolewear double coffee and tea canister This is a classic of Art Deco design, the decoration is very much in the Odeon style typical of toleware of this period The Dowe Egbert double display...

Category

1920s Dutch Art Deco Vintage Tea Caddies

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.