Skip to main content

Tea Caddies

to
54
459
4
3
283
204
Height
to
Width
to
466
466
466
2
1
1
Tea Caddies For Sale
Set of Four, Coffee Tea, Sugar and Flour Dispensers
Set of Four, Coffee Tea, Sugar and Flour Dispensers

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

Antique Georgian Birdseye Maple English Double Tea Caddy Box Cut Crystal Bowl
Antique Georgian Birdseye Maple English Double Tea Caddy Box Cut Crystal Bowl

Antique Georgian Birdseye Maple English Double Tea Caddy Box Cut Crystal Bowl

Located in Dublin, Ireland

A Superb Example of an English Georgian Period Well figured Birds Eye Maple Double Interior Section Tea Caddy of flat rectangular outline, generous proportions and outstanding qualit...

Category

Early 19th Century English Georgian Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Brass

Early 19th Century English Regency Rosewood Mother-of-pearl Tea Caddy
Early 19th Century English Regency Rosewood Mother-of-pearl Tea Caddy

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

English Regency Period Satinwood Marquetry Inlaid Serpentine Form Tea Caddy
English Regency Period Satinwood Marquetry Inlaid Serpentine Form Tea Caddy

English Regency Period Satinwood Marquetry Inlaid Serpentine Form Tea Caddy

Located in San Francisco, CA

An English Regency serpentine satinwood marquetry inlaid tea caddy with rosewood cross-banding throughout. The top is centered with a leaf roundel,the central front panel with an ova...

Category

1820s English Regency Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Brass

Antique Dome Top Tea Caddy, English, Burr Walnut, Box, Gothic Taste, Victorian
Antique Dome Top Tea Caddy, English, Burr Walnut, Box, Gothic Taste, Victorian

Antique Dome Top Tea Caddy, English, Burr Walnut, Box, Gothic Taste, Victorian

Located in Hele, Devon, GB

This is an antique dome top tea caddy. An English, burr walnut and brass capped loose leaf box, dating to the late Victorian period, circa 1880. Wonderful Gothic revival finish to ...

Category

Late 19th Century British Late Victorian Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Walnut

Regency Rosewood Sarcophagus Tea Caddy
Regency Rosewood Sarcophagus Tea Caddy

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

Mid 19th century Chinese export hand painted tea caddy
Mid 19th century Chinese export hand painted tea caddy

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

Pair, Japanned Chinoiserie Tea Caddies W/ Sifter Drawers, English C. 1830
Pair, Japanned Chinoiserie Tea Caddies W/ Sifter Drawers, English C. 1830

Pair, Japanned Chinoiserie Tea Caddies W/ Sifter Drawers, English C. 1830

Located in Atlanta, GA

Pair Of Japanned Chinoiserie Tea Caddies With Sifter Drawers, Anglo-Indian Or English, Circa 1800–1830 Form and construction, these read as a scarce, matched pair of japanned tea ca...

Category

19th Century English Anglo-Indian Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Metal

Lovely Set of French Food Canisters Original French Enamel Canister
Lovely Set of French Food Canisters Original French Enamel Canister

Lovely Set of French Food Canisters Original French Enamel Canister

Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight

Lovely Set of French Food Canisters Original French Enamel Canister set is a complete set of five pieces, Sucre, Café, Farine, Thé and Cereals. The canisters are attractively shaped...

Category

1960s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tea Caddies

Materials

Tin

Regency Period Burled Yew Wood Tea Caddy on Brass Spread-Winged Eagle Feet
Regency Period Burled Yew Wood Tea Caddy on Brass Spread-Winged Eagle Feet

Regency Period Burled Yew Wood Tea Caddy on Brass Spread-Winged Eagle Feet

Located in Chapel Hill, NC

Regency burled yew wood tea caddy of tapered form with coffered lid and satinwood string inlay edges on brass spread-winged eagle feet and having ring handles with floral backs, the ...

Category

Early 19th Century English Regency Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Brass

English Birdseye Maple Sewing Box
English Birdseye Maple Sewing Box

English Birdseye Maple Sewing Box

$1,480Sale Price|20% Off

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

Antique mid 19th Century Rosewood tea caddy
Antique mid 19th Century Rosewood tea caddy

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

19th Century carved mahogany teapoy stamped Gillows
19th Century carved mahogany teapoy stamped Gillows

19th Century carved mahogany teapoy stamped Gillows

By Gillows of Lancaster & London

Located in Debenham, Suffolk

Superb quality Gillows regency mahogany teapoy circa 1820. The main body being of sarcophagus form, which opens to 4 mahogany slides on each corner, 1 large tole compartment flanked...

Category

Early 19th Century English Regency Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Tin

Rosewood Regency Tea Caddy Miniature Sideboard, English, Circa 1835
Rosewood Regency Tea Caddy Miniature Sideboard, English, Circa 1835

Rosewood Regency Tea Caddy Miniature Sideboard, English, Circa 1835

Located in Bedfordshire, GB

An Extremely Unusual And Rare 19th Century, Late Regency Period, Rosewood Tea Caddy, In The Form Of A Miniature Sideboard, Having Hinged Lid With Attractively Carved Back, Enclosing ...

Category

Early 19th Century English Regency Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Rosewood

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

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

Circa 1780 Continental Porcelain Tea Caddy
Circa 1780 Continental Porcelain Tea Caddy

Circa 1780 Continental Porcelain Tea Caddy

Located in Chapel Hill, NC

Continental tea caddy, c.1780, molded soft paste porcelain. Neoclassical swag decoration, gilt monogram. No cover. Harvey Gunter collection. 3 1/4"w., 1 1/4"d., 5"h. Whitehall Antiq...

Category

1780s European Neoclassical Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Porcelain

George III Mahogany Tea Caddy with Cut Corners and Two Conch Shell Inlays
George III Mahogany Tea Caddy with Cut Corners and Two Conch Shell Inlays

George III Mahogany Tea Caddy with Cut Corners and Two Conch Shell Inlays

Located in Chapel Hill, NC

George III mahogany double tea caddy of rectangular form with cut corners and boxwood string inlay. The front and top with large oval inlays of conch shells.

Category

Late 18th Century English George III Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Wood

Georgian Octagonal Inlaid Tea Caddy
Georgian Octagonal Inlaid Tea Caddy

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

Burl, Holly, Harewood, Kingwood, Ebony

Japanese Lacquer Padded Teapot Caddy
Japanese Lacquer Padded Teapot Caddy

Japanese Lacquer Padded Teapot Caddy

Located in Savannah, GA

Antique Japanese hand-painted lacquer teapot caddy. Interior is padded and fitted for blue and white porcelain teapot. The teapot stands 4¼ inches tall and features a fish on one si...

Category

Mid-20th Century Japanese Modern Tea Caddies

Materials

Porcelain, Lacquer

19th century English Rosewood Tea Caddy with Mother of Pearl Inlay
19th century English Rosewood Tea Caddy with Mother of Pearl Inlay

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

Georgian Yew Tea Caddy With Floral Inlaid Decoration
Georgian Yew Tea Caddy With Floral Inlaid Decoration

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

Antique English Georgian Style Inlaid Mahogany Bombe Shaped Tea Caddy
Antique English Georgian Style Inlaid Mahogany Bombe Shaped Tea Caddy

Antique English Georgian Style Inlaid Mahogany Bombe Shaped Tea Caddy

Located in Philadelphia, PA

A fine antique Georgian style mahogany tea caddy. Of bombé form with fruit wood inlay, gilt brass mounts & handle, and bracket feet. Simply a wonderful, rare form! Date: L...

Category

Early 20th Century English Georgian Tea Caddies

Materials

Brass

Antique Georgian Paper Scroll Tea Caddy
Antique Georgian Paper Scroll Tea Caddy

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

Pair of decorative 18th Century Hand-Painted Canton Enamel Tea Caddies
Pair of decorative 18th Century Hand-Painted Canton Enamel Tea Caddies

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

Regency Rosewood Sarcophagus Form Tea Caddy
Regency Rosewood Sarcophagus Form Tea Caddy

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

English Regency Period Amboyna Wood Tea Caddy
English Regency Period Amboyna Wood Tea Caddy

English Regency Period Amboyna Wood Tea Caddy

Located in Lambertville, NJ

An English Regency Inlaid Amboyna Tea Caddy with brass mounts. The sarcophagus form with lion handles and scrolled feet. The interior with two compartments for tea with a replaced ...

Category

1810s English Regency Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Brass

Mid 19th Century Silver Plate Tea Caddy Container
Mid 19th Century Silver Plate Tea Caddy Container

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

21st century Italian Sterling Silver hexagonal Tea/Candy Box
21st century Italian Sterling Silver hexagonal Tea/Candy Box

21st century Italian Sterling Silver hexagonal Tea/Candy Box

By Del Conte

Located in VALENZA, IT

21st century Italian Sterling Silver hexagonal Tea/Caddy Box Hexagonal sterling silver tea box, shaped completely by hand. The body has rounded edges and has been left completely s...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Other Tea Caddies

Materials

Sterling Silver

Antique George III quality mahogany tea caddy
Antique George III quality mahogany tea caddy

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

Antique 19th Century English Victorian Walnut Veneer Parquetry Tea Caddy
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Walnut Veneer Parquetry Tea Caddy

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

A Very Rare Irish William IV Tea Poy Attributed To 'Strahan' of Dublin
A Very Rare Irish William IV Tea Poy Attributed To 'Strahan' of Dublin

A Very Rare Irish William IV Tea Poy Attributed To 'Strahan' of Dublin

Located in Dublin, IE

A very rare early 19th Century Irish William IV well figured rosewood teapoy of exceptional quality, finely hand carved with beautifully rich patination and fine grain. The moulded ...

Category

Early 19th Century Irish Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Brass

Outstanding quality antique Victorian rosewood and burr maple tea caddy
Outstanding quality antique Victorian rosewood and burr maple tea caddy

Outstanding quality antique Victorian rosewood and burr maple tea caddy

Located in Ipswich, GB

Outstanding quality antique Victorian rosewood and burr maple tea caddy, having a quality antique Victorian tea caddy of sarcophagus form with beautiful swirling floral motifs along ...

Category

19th Century Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Glass, Maple, Rosewood

Asian Embroidery Tea Caddy
Asian Embroidery Tea Caddy

Asian Embroidery Tea Caddy

$252Sale Price|79% Off

Asian Embroidery Tea Caddy

Located in Pomona, CA

A handmade embroidery in birds and flowers Chinese tea caddy.

Category

Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Fabric

Regency Mahogany Miniature Sideboard Tea Caddy
Regency Mahogany Miniature Sideboard Tea Caddy

Regency Mahogany Miniature Sideboard Tea Caddy

Located in Bedfordshire, GB

A charming and rare early 19th Century Regency Period mahogany tea caddy, in the form of a miniature pedestal sideboard, having extremely well figured, crossbanded hinged top, over d...

Category

Early 19th Century English Regency Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Mahogany

Victorian Decorative Brass Bound Burr Walnut Domed Tea Caddy Chest With Key
Victorian Decorative Brass Bound Burr Walnut Domed Tea Caddy Chest With Key

Victorian Decorative Brass Bound Burr Walnut Domed Tea Caddy Chest With Key

Located in Reading, Berkshire

An Exquisite 19th Century Victorian Decorative Brass Bound Burr Walnut Domed Tea Caddy Chest Features Two Caddy Compartments Which Feature Domed Wooden Lids & Each Has A Circula...

Category

19th Century British Victorian Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Brass

Victorian Tea Caddy in Hungarian Ash, Circa 1860, Unique Design
Victorian Tea Caddy in Hungarian Ash, Circa 1860, Unique Design

Victorian Tea Caddy in Hungarian Ash, Circa 1860, Unique Design

Located in Bedfordshire, GB

A charming Mid-19th Century hungarian ash tea caddy of unusual design, having applied tablet & chequered strung decoration to well figured exterior, with slightly domed hinged top en...

Category

Mid-19th Century English Victorian Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Ash

Blue and Yellow Chinoiserie Tea Caddy
Blue and Yellow Chinoiserie Tea Caddy

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

Fine quality antique George III tea caddy
Fine quality antique George III tea caddy

Fine quality antique George III tea caddy

Located in Ipswich, GB

Fine quality antique George III tea caddy, having a quality antique George III satinwood tea caddy with a lift up lid opening to reveal two removable compartments for tea and a glass...

Category

19th Century Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Brass

English Regency Decoupage Box, Early 19th Century
English Regency Decoupage Box, Early 19th Century

English Regency Decoupage Box, Early 19th Century

Located in valatie, NY

English Regency decoupage box, early 19th century. This box was made by using the decorative finish of decoupage. The box is covered in cut-out images of...

Category

Early 19th Century Great Britain (UK) Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Brass

Regency Mahogany Tea Caddy Miniature Serpentine Sideboard
Regency Mahogany Tea Caddy Miniature Serpentine Sideboard

Regency Mahogany Tea Caddy Miniature Serpentine Sideboard

Located in Bedfordshire, GB

An Extremely Rare And Exceptionally Good Quality English Regency Period Mahogany Tea Caddy, In The Form Of A Serpentine Miniature Sideboard, Having Lift Up Hinged Lid With Attractive...

Category

Early 19th Century English Regency Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Mahogany

Quality antique George III mahogany tea caddy
Quality antique George III mahogany tea caddy

Quality antique George III mahogany tea caddy

Located in Ipswich, GB

Quality antique George III mahogany tea caddy having a quality antique George III mahogany tea caddy with satinwood stringing inlay, with a lift up lid opening to reveal two lidded r...

Category

Early 19th Century George III Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Mahogany

19th century Scandinavian burr elm teapoy
19th century Scandinavian burr elm teapoy

19th century Scandinavian burr elm teapoy

Located in Debenham, Suffolk

19th century burr elm teapoy circa 1840. Very good quality example of a Scandinavian teapoy with a strong influence from the english regency period. Sarcophagus shaped main body wh...

Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Regency Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Elm

1890s European Sterling Silver Bumble Bee Box
1890s European Sterling Silver Bumble Bee Box

1890s European Sterling Silver Bumble Bee Box

Located in Tarrytown, NY

European box, 2.8 ounces of solid silver. Bumble bee pulling a chariot.

Category

1890s Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Sterling Silver

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

Quality antique Regency rosewood tea caddy
Quality antique Regency rosewood tea caddy

Quality antique Regency rosewood tea caddy

Located in Ipswich, GB

Quality antique Regency rosewood tea caddy, having a quality antique Regency tea caddy of rectangular shape with ring handles to the sides, a lift up lid opening to reveal a fitted i...

Category

Early 19th Century Regency Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Rosewood

Antique English Marquetry Inlaid Wood Large Tea Caddy Lined in Metal Desk Box
Antique English Marquetry Inlaid Wood Large Tea Caddy Lined in Metal Desk Box

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

Pair of Mixed Wood Tea and Coffee Vessels
Pair of Mixed Wood Tea and Coffee Vessels

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

Fine Rolled Paper Tea Caddy
Fine Rolled Paper Tea Caddy

Fine Rolled Paper Tea Caddy

$1,150Sale Price|20% Off

Fine Rolled Paper Tea Caddy

Located in Folkestone, GB

A fine quality rolled/scrolled paperwork single compartmemt tea caddy in good originl condition with minor losses. Decorated all-over with applied scrolls of gilt edged and coloured ...

Category

Late 18th Century English Georgian Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Paper

Set of 3 William IV Period Painted Toleware Shop Tea Canisters
Set of 3 William IV Period Painted Toleware Shop Tea Canisters

Set of 3 William IV Period Painted Toleware Shop Tea Canisters

Located in Petworth,West Sussex, GB

A Set of Three Exceptional 19th-Century Toleware Shop Tea Canisters A superb and very decorative set of three 19th-century William IV period English toleware tea canisters, origin...

Category

Early 19th Century British William IV Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Tôle

Regency Tea Caddy of Sarcophagus Form Burr Yew c1820
Regency Tea Caddy of Sarcophagus Form Burr Yew c1820

Regency Tea Caddy of Sarcophagus Form Burr Yew c1820

By Tunbridge Ware

Located in Tunbridge Wells, GB

Heading :Regency tea caddy of Sarcophagus form in burr yew c1820 Date : c1820 Period : Regency Origin : England Decoration : Sarcophagus form in rosewood. Four brass ball feet. T...

Category

1820s British Regency Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Wood

Blue glazed stoneware pot, Art Deco period by Roger Guérin, 1930s.
Blue glazed stoneware pot, Art Deco period by Roger Guérin, 1930s.

Blue glazed stoneware pot, Art Deco period by Roger Guérin, 1930s.

By Roger Guerin

Located in JOINVILLE-LE-PONT, FR

Magnificent Art Deco pot with its highly decorative lid, ideal as a candy dish, sugar bowl, trinket tray, or decorative object. Roger Guérin (1896-1954) was a Belgian ceramist of the...

Category

1930s Belgian Art Deco Vintage Tea Caddies

Materials

Ceramic

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.