Ying Mee & Co., Antique Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy or Box
Located in Atlanta, GA
Chinese, early 20th century. An antique red lacquer box with gilt decorated chickens, Chinese lettering and other symbols. Marked to box with maker.
Wood, Lacquer
Caribbean Mahogany Hinged Pedestal Tea Poy with Foliage Carvings, Circa 1820
Located in Charleston, SC
Caribbean mahogany hinged pedestal tea poy with fitted interior, foliate carvings, and resting on the original scrolled feet. Early 19th century.
Brass
Antique Dutch Silver Tea Caddy, Embossed Rural Scenes, Circa 1890
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...
Silver
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...
Metal, Brass
19th Century Burl Walnut Tea Box
Located in Brussels, Brussels
Lovely 19th century burl walnut tea box from England. Very beautiful box with a beautiful brass decoration on its front and top. Superb pati...
Walnut
Liberty & Co 'Tudric' Box With Enamel Panel
Located in Haywards Heath England, GB
Arts & Crafts ‘Tudric’ pewter box with cedar lining Stylised decorative enamel panel to the lid Liberty & Co Stamped Tudric 0367 CIrca 1900 Width 11cm. Length 13.5cm. Height 6cm
Enamel, Pewter
Two Chinese Export Lacquer Tea Caddy for the English Trade, Priced Per Tea Caddy
Located in Buchanan, MI
A Chinese Export lacquer tea caddy. Gilt lacquered tea caddy with two pewter canister inserts. Together with a larger Chinese export lacquer box with o...
Wood
Late 18th century satinwood oval tea caddy
Located in Mere, GB
A very fine quality late 18th century satinwood tea caddy beautifully decorated. English 1790
Satinwood
English Black Lacquered and Gilt Stenciled Figural Pagoda Tea Caddy, Circa 1810
Located in Charleston, SC
English octagonal hinged black lacquered tea caddy with gilt stenciled figural pagoda, decorative foliage motif, original hand chased lidded in...
Pewter
Victorian Sterling Silver Locking Tea Caddy by Thomas White, 1874
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...
Silver, Sterling Silver
Papier-Mâché Tea Caddie /1850 with Floral and Foliate Designs with Black Ground
Located in Houston, TX
Exquisite quality with exceptional workmanship and art. Floral designs are painted on all Sides of this tea caddie. It sits on bracketed feet. Provenance: the estate of Mrs. Henry F...
Paper
Stunning Engraved Neoclassical Antique Sterling Silver Tea Caddy - London 1806
Located in London, London
Hallmarked in London in 1806 by Thomas Paine Dexter, this charming, George III period, Antique Sterling Silver Tea Caddy, is oval in shape, and in the Neoclassical taste, with bright cut engraved decoration to the body and lid, a tea plant finial, and an engraved crest to the cartouche. The tea caddy measures 4.25"(11cm) tall, by 4.5"(11.5cm) wide, by 3.25"(8.5cm) deep, and weighs 11 troy ounces. The crest is likely that of John Trotter...
Sterling Silver
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...
Yew
Classical 19th Century Gilded Ormolu Embossed Tea Caddy
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A wonderful fine quality 19th century classical embossed tea caddy, having Bacchus like scenes of children playing, a goat and horse and much jollity. Elkington style.
Ormolu
$3,800Sale Price|20% Off
Rare Regency Brass Inlaid Rosewood Tea Caddy with Secret Drawer
Located in Kittery Point, ME
Of sarcophagus form with geometric brass stringing throughout, with embossed gilt-brass ring handles to the sides, the interior fitted with twin lidded lead-lined caddies separated by a glass mixing bowl, raised on brass paw feet. With a secret drawer.
Brass
Very Early Meissen Tea Caddy With Merchant Ship Scenes And Bud Knob, 1763-1774
Located in Vienna, AT
Rectangular porcelain box with rounded shoulders, small round, slightly domed lid with bud handle, colourful painted merchant scenes on the four sides and on the top of the lid, gold...
Porcelain
19th century Decanter Box with Braham lock
Located in MILL, NL
Late 19th century decanter box. With braham lock. In very good condition. Lock works well. Bottles in perfect condition. Dimensions: 22L x 22D ...
Wood
Chinese White Glazed Tea Leaf Jar
Located in Chicago, IL
Rendered in a striking cool white glaze, this contemporary porcelain jar offers a modern take on a Classic form. Lidded jars like these were used in tea shops in China, where tea dri...
Ceramic
$975
1910 Egg Crate
Located in New York, NY
Hand-picked by buyers at Ann-Morris Inc.
Aluminum
$710Sale Price|20% Off
19th Century Lacquer Tea Caddy with Brass Ornaments, Asian Design
Located in Brea, CA
19th century lacquer tea caddy with brass ornaments. Has got an mahogany flamed color. Brass ornaments. Thick layer of lacquer over wood. Very good quality wood and is very beautiful...
Lacquer
Neoclassical Antique Sterling Silver Tea Caddy Set from 1797 by Robert Sharp
By Robert Sharp
Located in London, London
Hallmarked in London in 1797 by Robert Sharp, this rare and exceptional quality, George III, antique sterling silver tea caddy set, comprises two oval tea caddies and a sugar caddy...
Sterling Silver
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...
$1,648Sale Price|20% Off
Biedermeier Tea Chest, Mahogany and Brass, Germany, Early 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Lidded chest with a curved lid and a concave belly, standing on brass ball feet. The escutcheon is inlayed in bone. Mahogany veneered.
Brass
Lovely Set of French Enamel Food Canisters Original French Enamel Canister Set
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Lovely Set of French Enamel Food Canisters Original French Enamel Canister set is a complete set of six pieces with lids, Sucre, Café, Farine, Pates...
Enamel
$1,000Sale Price|20% Off
19th Cenury Black Lacquer Gilt Decorated Tea Caddy and Decorative Liners
Located in North Salem, NY
An old black lacquered, hand-painted tea caddy, finely crafted and richly decorated, designed for the storage of loose tea. The exterior is finished in a black lacquer, providing a g...
Metal
Antique English Rosewood Teapoy Table with Complete Interior, Circa 1845-1865.
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique English Victorian Rosewood Teapoy Table with Complete Interior, Circa 1845-1865.
Rosewood
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...
Metal
Fine William and Mary 17th Century Olive Oyster Lace Box
Located in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
A fine late 17th-century olive oyster 'Lace Box' of small proportions, circa 1680-1690, England. The cross-grain moulded and holly banded top is finely veneered in hand-cut veneers ...
Olive
18th Century Tea Caddy
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Made in the late 18th century into the early 19th century in the style of Georgian, and made from strong mahogany wood. Clamped together by metal hardware. There was once a key to lo...
Mahogany
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...
Sterling Silver
Very Good Georgian Burr Elm Sarcophagus Shaped Tea Caddy, U.K, circa 1800
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
A very handsome early 19th century Georgian sarcophagus-shaped tea caddy in burr elm. The highly figured case fitted with a hinged canted top with a cross-banded edge, opening to an interior housing twin lidded tea canisters flanking a period cut-glass mixing bowl...
Elm, Cut Glass
Japanese Cloisonné Covered Jar by Ando Jubei
By Ando Jubei
Located in Atlanta, GA
Japanese cloisonné enamels are known as shippo-yaki and the mid-19th century saw the production of very high quality wares in the early centers Nagoya. One of the most renowned works...
Metal, Sterling Silver, Enamel
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 ...
Hardwood
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...
Mother-of-Pearl, Rosewood
Chinese Brass Box with Chinese Letter Inscriptions on the Top
Located in Marbella, ES
Chinese Brass Box with Chinese Letter Inscriptions on the Top.
Brass
A late George III mahogany tea caddy
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A late George III mahogany tea caddy, of rectangular form the hinged top opening to reveal three compartments with sliding lids, with silver mounts including a foliate scroll handle,...
Mahogany
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...
Tôle
William IV Mahogany Tea Caddy in the Form of a Pedestal Sideboard
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
An unusual William IV mahogany tea caddy in the form of a pedestal sideboard with a hinged lid opening to reveal a central well for a mixing bowl (now missing) flanked by two removab...
Mahogany
1970s Indian Bronze Box with Character on the Lid
Located in Marbella, ES
1970s Indian bronze box with character on the lid.
Bronze
Oriental Papier-Mâché Decorative Box Painted on the Outside and Lacquered Inside
Located in Marbella, ES
Oriental Papier-Mâché Decorative Box Painted on the Outside and Lacquered Inside
Paper
Antique Sterling Silver Tea Caddy and Spoon (1914)
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive antique George V English sterling silver tea caddy and spoon; an addition to our silver teaware collection. This exceptional antique George V ste...
Sterling Silver
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...
Silver
Hand Carved Teak Vessel with Lid, Late 19th Century
Located in New York, NY
A small teak container or vessel, hand-carved off a single piece of teak wood. Indonesia, late 19th Century. Intricately decorated lid with carved conc...
Teak
Wonderful 835 Silver Tea Caddy lidded Box Can Christoph Widmann Germany handmade
Located in Berlin, DE
Antique 835 Silver Tea Caddy - lidded Box Christoph Widmann Germany handmade Half moon & crown Weight: 229 grams The condition can be seen in the pictures.
Silver
A Very Fine Edwardian Period Sterling Silver Tea Caddy by Asprey of London, 1908
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
This very fine & relatively heavy sterling silver tea caddy is of timeless design, showing an oval shaped canister decorated with an elegant reeded border to both the shoulder & base...
Sterling Silver
19th Century English Regency Mahogany Tea Caddy
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th century English Regency Mahogany Tea Caddy with Flame Motif on four Bun Feet. Lock is signed by maker.
Mahogany
$1,120Sale Price|20% Off
Rococo Pewter Tea Caddy
Located in Copenhagen, K
Very beautiful Rococo pewter tea caddy with lion on the lid.
Pewter
$5,200Sale Price|20% Off
Art Deco Dogs Candy Box by Edouard-Marcel Sandoz, France, Circa 1920
By Edouard-Marcel Sandoz, Haviland & Co.
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.
Porcelain
19th Century William IV Fruitwood Teapoy
Located in Dublin 8, IE
19th century William IV Fruitwood Teapoy with rectangular caddy top above lotus carved body on slender pod over finely carved base
Fruitwood
Bugbear Coconut Tea Caddy on Silver Dolphin Base
Located in Dallas, TX
A Bugbear coconut tea caddy mounted on a silver dolphin base. Bugbear coconuts were carved by sailors on long voyages in the 18th and early 19th centur...
Silver
Two Chinese Export Lacquered Tea Caddy for the English Market, Priced Per Caddy
Located in Buchanan, MI
A two Chinese export lacquered tea caddys for The English Market. With two fitted pewter canisters on the interior. Together with a Chinese export lacq...
Wood
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.