Tea Caddies
to
69
490
10
6
107
313
70
16
35
18
10
6
4
7
3
2
4
2
2
112
80
61
12
10
5
5
4
3
2
2
2
2
1
1
302
244
106
76
74
262
220
396
308
234
50
36
Height
to
Width
to
506
506
506
9
5
2
2
2
Tea Caddies For Sale
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
Sunset Bowl, Jean François Reboul
Located in Paris, FR
Satin bowl by Jean François Reboul made of clay and enamel using Raku technique in 2019.
“Certificate of Authenticity” provided by the gallery.
...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Tea Caddies
Materials
Enamel
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.
Category
1870s English Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Silver
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.
Category
1860s English Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Tortoise Shell, Mother-of-Pearl
19th Century English Regency Boulle Tea Caddie
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
19th Century English Regency Boulle Tea Caddie. Very handsome and in beautiful shape.
Category
Mid-19th Century English Regency Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Hardwood
$640 Sale Price
54% Off
A harewood marquetry tea caddy with Royal Provenance
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A harewood marquetry tea caddy with Royal Provenance, of oval form with a hinged lid opening to reveal two zinc lined compartments, decorated in fruitwood and boxwood marquetry with ...
Category
1790s English Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Hardwood
18th Century Padouk Wood Tea Caddy
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
A Very Rare 18th Century Padouk Wood Rectangular Tea Caddy Of Rectangular Form, Having Original Brass Handle To Hinged Top Enclosing Divisions, Raised On Elegant Original Brass Claw ...
Category
Mid-18th Century English Georgian Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Padouk
$1,375 Sale Price
30% Off
19th Century French Boulle Tea Caddy
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Very fine. Early 19th century Napoleon tea caddy. Brass inlay. Crystal vessel (not original).
Category
Early 19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Crystal, Brass
Large Regency Tea Caddy
Located in Tampa, FL
A large sarcophagus shaped rosewood tea caddy with a semi domed top. Original glass inside and two tea compartments. Mother of pearl inlaid escutcheon. On bun feet. The interior is f...
Category
1820s English Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Glass, Wood
Early 19th Century Tea Caddy of Sarcophagus Form c1830
Located in Tunbridge Wells, GB
Heading : Early 19th century tea caddy of sarcophagus form
Date : c1820
Period : Regency
Origin : England
Decoration : Of Sarcophagus form in magonay with pale strinign throughout. ...
Category
1830s British Regency Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Wood
George III silver tea caddy
Located in London, GB
Classic late 18th century silver tea caddy of oblong form, and featuring delicately hand engraved bands and swags around the sides, and ...
Category
18th Century British George III Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Sterling Silver
19th Century Mahogany Tea Caddy With Divided Interior
Located in Charlottesville, VA
Rectangular mahogany tea caddy featuring a beveled lid with raised handle, resting on small bun feet. The interior is lined in red and fitted with two lidded compartments for storing...
Category
19th Century British Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Mahogany
George III "Drum" Tea Caddy Made in London by John Deacon, 1776
By John Deacons
Located in London, GB
A rare George III "Drum" Tea Caddy made in London in 1776 by John Deacon.
The Tea Caddy is modelled in the rare Drum form which was only produced for a short time during the 1770's ...
Category
18th Century English George III Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Silver
Set of Four, Coffee Tea, Sugar and Flour Dispensers
Located in Delray Beach, FL
unique containers hand crafted from Cypress wood artistic craftsmanship the lid comes off and each has acrylic container in .
Originally came from...
Category
1950s American Vintage Tea Caddies
Materials
Acrylic, Wood
$295 Sale Price / set
37% Off
Regency Tea Caddy of Sarcophagus Form c1820
Located in Tunbridge Wells, GB
Heading : Sarcophagus shaped Regency tea caddy c1820
Date : c1820
Period : Regency
Origin : England
Decoration : Modified sarcophagus shape with curved cover. Four applied bun fe...
Category
1820s British Regency Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Wood
Japanese Lacquered Natsume 'Tea Box'
Located in PARIS, FR
Natsume in dark red lacquer, decorated with autumn leaves and cherry blossoms in hiramaki-e and nashiji. Interior in black lacquer.
Maple leaves (Momiji) are celebrated in literatur...
Category
Mid-20th Century Japanese Tea Caddies
Materials
Lacquer
Antique English Faux Tortoise Shell Regency Style Tea Caddy Box
Located in Atlanta, GA
The object depicted is a fine English faux tortoiseshell tea caddy, dating to the first quarter of the 19th century, likely c. 1810–1825, during the late Regency to early William IV ...
Category
19th Century British Regency Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Shell
Irish Regency Tea Caddy
Located in Tampa, FL
A beautiful Irish 19th century rosewood tea caddy has its original glass and all of its interior. A sarcophagus design sitting on butt...
Category
1890s Northern Irish Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Mother-of-Pearl, Rosewood
Mid-18th Century George II Period Tea Chest, Manner of Abraham Roentgen
Located in Richmond, London
This extremely rare tea-chest is a fine example of the mid-18th century fashion for brass-inlaid furniture and boxes, and undoubtedly originates from the circle of outstanding crafts...
Category
Mid-18th Century English George II Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Brass
Antique 18th-Century Georgian Burr Yew Tea Caddy—Elegant, natural wooden box
Located in Saint Helena, CA
Two hundred years of history, meticulously craftsmanship, rare wood, and natural beauty!
This beautiful tea caddy is dated circa 1780, is "of the period" Georgian s...
Category
Late 18th Century English George III Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Yew
Pair of George III Cased Tea Caddies, London, 1793, William Frisbee
Located in London, GB
The Faulkbourne hall cased tea caddies. An important and very unusual pair of George III tea caddies made in London in 1793 by William Frisbee, all contained within a contemporary velvet and silk lined satinwood case. The hinges and handle also hallmarked for 1793.
The pair of tea caddies are of an unusual oval form with upwardly curved rim. The sides are beautifully engraved with an upper and lower band of bright cut scrolls and foliate motifs on a scratch engraved and prick dot ground. Each side is engraved with an unusual bright cut cartouche with incuse corners. One cartouche is vacant and the other is engraved with a contemporary Scottish Crest with the motto "Nil Conscrire Sibi - Consious of no Wrong " above. The curved, slightly domed, cover is engraved with an outer band identical to those shown on the sides and terminates in a Neo Classical urn finial, also engraved with bright cut designs. The caddies are most unusual as they open from the side, not in the usual manner from the front. The caddies are each in excellent condition and are fully marked in the foot and with the maker's mark and sterling mark on the cover.
The pair of caddies are contained within a most breathtaking satinwood case with hallmarked hinges and escutcheon shaped handle and reeded oval mounts. It is most unusual to find fully hallmarked hinges, and handle, which accurately date the case, as the same date as the caddies. The interior is lined with the original silk, velvet and gold braid.
The Crest and Motto are those of Lieut-Col Jonathan Bullock of Faulkbourne Hall, County Essex. He was M.P. for Essex in many parliaments and, in 1763, married Miss Elizabeth Lante. He died without issue in 1809 and his estates devolved upon his nephew Jonathan Joshua Christopher Watson who, in 1810, assumed the surname and Arms of Bullock by Royal Licence. The Bullock family were descended from Robert Bullock of Herburghfield, County Berkshire. He was Sheriff of County Berks and Oxford under Richard II. He died in 1405.
Faulkbourne Hall is a Grade 1 listed Manor House in the village of Faulkbourne in Essex, the manor being first mentioned under Edward the Confessor. The earliest surviving parts of the Hall, a red brick building with turrets, date from the 15th century. Sir Edward Bullock, Knight, purchased the Hall and Manor of Faulkbourne in 1637. The hall is considered a fine specimen of early Tudor red...
Category
1790s English George III Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Sterling Silver
Georgian Tea Caddy
Located in Bradenton, FL
A very nice early English Mahogany Tea Caddy. The etched crystal glass mixing bowl is of very good quality but a later replacement although it fits perfectly in the center cut out. D...
Category
Late 18th Century British Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Mahogany
Two Compartment Tunbridge Ware Tea Caddy c1860
Located in Tunbridge Wells, GB
Heading : Tunbridge ware tea caddy c1860
Date : c1860
Period : Victoria
Origin : Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Decoration : Sarcophagus shape. Central floral mosaic within keylines borde...
Category
1860s British Victorian Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Wood
A brass bound Anglo-Indian teak Decanter Box for 4 bottles
Located in London, GB
A brass bound Anglo-Indian teak Decanter Box for 4 bottles. The Box is well made with both brass edging and straps screwed on. To the sides are skeletal campaign handles and the escu...
Category
Mid-19th Century Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Brass
2 Vintage Italian Toleware Painted Metal Tea Caddy Footed Trinket Box Cannisters
Located in Dayton, OH
Set of two vintage toleware painted tin tea caddy boxes with paw feet. Yellow one marked “Made in Italy 71.”. Circa 1970s after styles from Italy and...
Category
1970s Italian Victorian Vintage Tea Caddies
Materials
Metal
$280 Sale Price / set
20% Off
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
$2,000 / set
19th Century English William IV Rosewood Tea Poy
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
For sale is a good quality William IV rosewood tea poy, opening to a fitted interior retain its original glass bowls, above a turned stem over a platform base,...
Category
Early 19th Century English William IV Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Rosewood
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
English Regency Sarcophagus Shaped Tea Caddy
Located in Bradenton, FL
Early 19th Century Sarcophagus Shaped Mahogany Tea Caddy. Caddy is shaped box-like with a rectangular form and sloped sides, resembling ancient coffins. Richly grained mahogany with ...
Category
Early 19th Century English Regency Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Mahogany
George III Fourteen Sided Tea Caddy Made in London by James Young, 1789
By James Young
Located in London, GB
An exceptionally fine & rare George III Fourteen sided Tea Caddy made in London in 1789 by James Young
This wonderful Tea Caddy is modelled in a very rare fourteen sided form. Both ...
Category
18th Century English George III Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Silver
Sarcophagus Shaped Regency Tea Caddy c1820
Located in Tunbridge Wells, GB
Heading : Sarcophagus shaped Regency tea caddy c1820
Date : c1820
Period : Regency
Origin : England
Decoration : Sarcophagus shaped with grape basket mounted ring handles. Four a...
Category
1820s British Regency Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Wood
Regency Tea Caddy
Located in Tampa, FL
A regency tea caddy made of rosewood inlaid with brass. Bronze dore feet are a winged lion with flowers and fruit. A wonderful and desirable shape. E...
Category
1820s English Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Brass, Bronze
Georgian Mahogany Tea Caddy With Floral Inlaid Decoration
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
A Fine Quality George III Period, Late 18th Century, Mahogany Tea Caddy Of Octagonal Form, Having Lift Up Lid Enclosing Two Lidded Divisions And Exceptional Floral Inlaid Deocration ...
Category
Late 18th Century English Sheraton Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Mahogany
$1,185 Sale Price
30% Off
Georgian Sheraton Period Tea Caddy finely Inlaid, English circa 1780
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
A very beautiful, fine quality, inlaid Tea Caddy from the English Georgian, Sheraton Period, Circa 1780.
The Tea Caddy is all handmade with very fine quality features;
* Beautifully...
Category
Late 18th Century English George III Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Boxwood, Satinwood, Sycamore, Walnut, Hardwood
English Hand-Painted Regency Mahogany Tea Caddy c.1820
Located in Bath, GB
A really magnificent and pretty Regency tea caddy, the splendid shape having been beautifully painted on all sides with floral and foliate garlands, each panel framed.
The top retai...
Category
1820s British Regency Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Wood
$2,276 Sale Price
20% Off
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
$3,793 Sale Price
20% Off
Decorative Box, Mahogany, England, circa 1880
Located in Regensburg, DE
Mahogany solid wood, Shellac and-polished.
Brass hinges and lock.
Dimensions: H 60 cm x W 28.3 cm x 16.5 cm.
Category
Late 19th Century English Late Victorian Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Mahogany
Tea Caddy George II Brass Padouk English circa 1760
Located in Cheltenham, GB
Fine example of a George II brass metal mounted padouk tea caddy with finely etched and wrought hardware and vivid grain, color and patina.
...
Category
18th Century English Georgian Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Brass
English Classical Repousse Tea Chest by Grinsell and Bourne
Located in Newark, England
Beautifully Patinated Repousse Design
From our Decorative collection, we are delighted to introduce this superb example Repousse Tea Caddy by Grinsell and Bourne. The Tea Caddy of ...
Category
Mid-19th Century English High Victorian Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Metal, Bronze
Antique mid 19th Century Rosewood tea caddy
Located in Allentown, PA
This is a 19th century handmade Rosewood tea caddy. This tea caddy has his original glass disposable in the center with two compartments on either side. The tea caddy stands on four ...
Category
Mid-19th Century American American Empire 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
Chinese Hexagonal Cast Brass Tea Caddy
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
A Chinese hexagonal cast brass tea caddy, early 20th century. Each rectangular side with a shou symbol surrounded by five stylized bats on blue enamel ...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Tea Caddies
Materials
Brass
Georgian Silver Mounted Satinwood Tea Chest
Located in Northampton, GB
Georgian Tea Chest with Rosewood Cross Banding
From our Tea Caddy collection, we are delighted to offer this Georgian Satinwood Tea Chest. The Tea Chest of rectangular form veneered...
Category
Late 18th Century English George III Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Silver
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 original tin te...
Category
1760s English George III Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Tin
Dogs Candy Box by Edouard-Marcel Sandoz
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
Dogs candy box by Edouard Marcel Sandoz (1881-1971) and manufactured by Haviland.
Wapler, Jacques-Ph. (1999) "De la sculpture a la porcelaine" p. 66.
France, CIRCA 1920.
Category
1920s French Art Deco Vintage Tea Caddies
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of 19th Century American Henry Troemner Philadephia Pa Chinoiserie Tea Bins
Located in Dallas, TX
Presenting a gorgeous and extremely rare pair mid-19th century, metal tea bins, by Henry Troemner of Philadelphia, PA in the chinoiserie style.
From circa 1845.
Made of black enamel...
Category
Mid-19th Century American Chinoiserie Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Tin
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
Antique English Regency Rosewood Fitted Tea Poy Caddy or Lamp Side Table 19th C.
Located in Dublin, Ireland
A superb example of an early English tea poy of compact proportions. First quarter of the 19th century, Regency period.
The rectangular hinged lockable lid with corner canted angles, enclosing four lidded compartments, above an exquisitely hand carved foliate and leaf capped column with shaped platform base ending on finely carved claw feet.
Condition: Superb condition with no losses to inlays, interior foil linings are quite worn, very nice untouched surface patination. Lock and key are present and working, original metal castors are also present.
Measures: Height: (overall as shown) 30” (76cm), width: 19” (48cm), depth: 13.75” (35cm).
Location: Dublin City, Ireland.
Affordable fixed charge Worldwide Store to door shipping offered...
Category
Early 19th Century French Regency Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Georgian Tea Caddy Henry Clay 'Attributed'
By Henry Clay
Located in Northampton, GB
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...
Category
Early 1800s English Georgian Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Paper
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
Pair of Mixed Wood Tea and Coffee Vessels
Located in Greenwich, CT
Good pair of late 19th Century English or Scottish mixed wood treen coffee and tea containers, having compass star inlaid turned lids over turned bodies of ...
Category
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Birch, Mahogany
$1,400 / set
Fine Antique Regency Inlaid Brass Rosewood Tea Caddy
Located in Suffolk, GB
Fine antique Regency inlaid brass rosewood tea caddy having a spectacular inlaid brass top and carved moulded rosewood edge, lift up lid opening to reveal a fitted interior with the ...
Category
19th Century English Regency Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Brass, Other
Antique Silver Plated Octagonal Tea Caddy with Lapis Lazuli Colored Detail
Located in Tilburg, NL
Antique silver plated tea caddy with Lapis Lazuli colored detail. First half of the 20th century.
Beautiful and wonderfully patinat...
Category
Early 20th Century Tea Caddies
Materials
Silver, Silver Plate
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
Antique Russian Solid Silver Chinoiserie Tea Caddy
By Victor Savinsky
Located in Northampton, GB
Rare Form with Chinoiserie Figures
From our Tea Caddy collection, we are delighted to introduce to the market this rare example Russian Silver Chinoiserie Tea Caddy. The Tea Caddy ...
Category
Late 18th Century Russian Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Silver
Antique Victorian Brass Inlaid Mahogany French Double Tea Caddy Box Casket 19ct
Located in Dublin, Ireland
A superb example of a French well figured brass inlaid Rosewood, late Victorian period double interior section tea caddy of flat rectangular outline, generous proportions and outstanding quality, all areas are edged with self-quadrant mouldings, complete with original lock and key. Last quarter of the 19th century.
The hinged cover opens to reveal an original fitted interior of twin smooth lift out finial covers.
Condition: superb condition with no losses to inlays, interior foil linings are quite worn. Baise underneath has wonderful age-wear, very nice untouched surface patination. Lock is present and working, key supplied does not turn mechanism.
Measures: height: (overall as shown) 4.75” (12cm). Width: 9.25” (23.5cm). Depth: 4.75” (12cm).
Location: Dublin City, Ireland.
Affordable fixed charge Worldwide Store to door shipping offered...
Category
19th Century French Victorian Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Brass
19th Century English Wedgewood Retailed Burl Walnut Tea Caddy
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
English George III Mahogany Tea Caddy with Patera Inlay, ca. 1790
Located in Atlanta, GA
English George III Mahogany Tea Caddy with Patera Inlay, ca. 1790
Category
1790s English George III Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Mahogany
Mahogany Tea Chest, probably England, circa 1830
Located in New York, NY
Elegant mahogany tea chest featuring a decorative edge in light wood grain and a handle on the lid. The interior is meticulously lined with a light fabric, incorporating two hinged b...
Category
Early 19th Century Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Wood
Pair of decorative 18th Century Hand-Painted Canton Enamel Tea Caddies
Located in Kastrup, DK
A pair of decorative and exquisite Canton tea caddies crafted from copper, featuring richly detailed, hand-painted landscape motifs on enamel surfaces.
Period:
Qianlong (1736–1795),...
Category
18th Century Chinese Other Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Copper, Enamel
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.
Recently Viewed
View AllMore Ways To Browse
Tea Caddy Stand
Antique Wooden Tea Caddies Tea Caddies
Antique Pewter Tea Caddy
Antique Porcelain Tea Caddy
Black Lacquer Tea Caddy
Blue Canisters
Georgian Mahogany Tea Caddy
Tortoiseshell Brush
19th Century Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy
Chinese Export Tea Caddy
Tea Caddy Japan
Tea Caddy With Mother Of Pearl
Gold Lacquer Tea Box
Pewter Tea Caddy
Wooden Canister
Antique Apple Boxes
Antique French Tea Caddy
Dutch Tea Caddy