Tea Caddies
Early 1900s English Edwardian Antique Tea Caddies
Sterling Silver
1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tea Caddies
Murano Glass, Art Glass
Late 20th Century Rococo Tea Caddies
Walnut
1950s Japanese Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tea Caddies
Wood, Paper
1820s George IV Antique Tea Caddies
Amboyna
Late 20th Century Italian Georgian Tea Caddies
Sterling Silver
Early 19th Century European Antique Tea Caddies
Sycamore
1820s English Regency Antique Tea Caddies
Brass
1930s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Tea Caddies
Pewter
Early 19th Century English Georgian Antique Tea Caddies
Birdseye Maple
Early 19th Century Early Victorian Antique Tea Caddies
Rosewood
1920s English Art Deco Vintage Tea Caddies
Sterling Silver
Early 1800s English Neoclassical Antique Tea Caddies
Sterling Silver
Early 1800s English George III Antique Tea Caddies
Silver
1920s English Art Deco Vintage Tea Caddies
Sterling Silver
Early 19th Century European Neoclassical Antique Tea Caddies
Silver
1820s British Regency Antique Tea Caddies
Wood
Early 19th Century English Georgian Antique Tea Caddies
Brass
1810s Dutch George III Antique Tea Caddies
Brass
1820s British Regency Antique Tea Caddies
Wood
Early 1800s English Chinoiserie Antique Tea Caddies
Metal, Foil
Early 19th Century English William IV Antique Tea Caddies
Glass, Cut Glass
Early 1800s European George III Antique Tea Caddies
Wood, Sycamore
Early 19th Century English William IV Antique Tea Caddies
Wood
Early 19th Century European Regency Antique Tea Caddies
Ivory, Tortoise Shell
Early 19th Century English George III Antique Tea Caddies
Rosewood
1820s British Regency Antique Tea Caddies
Wood
Early 1800s English Neoclassical Antique Tea Caddies
Brass
Early 1800s English George III Antique Tea Caddies
Metal
Early 20th Century English Sheraton Tea Caddies
Mahogany
1810s British Regency Antique Tea Caddies
Shell
Early 19th Century English Regency Antique Tea Caddies
Mahogany
Early 19th Century English Antique Tea Caddies
Tortoise Shell
Early 1800s English George III Antique Tea Caddies
Satinwood, Tulipwood, Yew
Mid-20th Century English Neoclassical Revival Tea Caddies
Ceramic
Early 1800s English George III Antique Tea Caddies
Sycamore
1820s English Antique Tea Caddies
Glass, Wood
1920s German Vintage Tea Caddies
Ceramic
Early 19th Century Georgian Antique Tea Caddies
Brass
Early 1800s Antique Tea Caddies
Silver
20th Century Art Nouveau Tea Caddies
Sterling Silver
Early 19th Century English Regency Antique Tea Caddies
Tortoise Shell, Mother-of-Pearl
1910s English Vintage Tea Caddies
Ivory, Abalone, Mother-of-Pearl
Early 1800s English Georgian Antique Tea Caddies
Foil
Late 20th Century Japanese Victorian Tea Caddies
Ceramic
Early 19th Century William IV Antique Tea Caddies
Rosewood
Early 19th Century Victorian Antique Tea Caddies
Silver Plate
Early 19th Century English Regency Antique Tea Caddies
Sycamore
Early 20th Century French Tea Caddies
Brass, Steel
Early 19th Century Victorian Antique Tea Caddies
Wood
Early 19th Century George III Antique Tea Caddies
Mahogany
Early 20th Century French Tea Caddies
Brass, Steel
Early 19th Century Antique Tea Caddies
Wood
Early 20th Century Chinese Tea Caddies
Wood, Lacquer
Early 20th Century American Tea Caddies
Wood
1940s Spanish Vintage Tea Caddies
Silver
1920s Chinese Vintage Tea Caddies
Steel
Early 19th Century German Antique Tea Caddies
Silver
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.