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Tea Caddies For Sale
Antique English Burl Burr Walnut Wooden Victorian Double Tea Caddy 19th Century
Located in Dublin, Ireland
A Superb Example of an English Georgian style Well figured Burr Walnut Double Interior Section Tea Caddy of quite rare dome top and spreading base outline, generous proportions and o...
Category

Mid-19th Century English Early Victorian Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Mahogany, Walnut, Burl

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

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

Antique Georgian Mother of Pearl Bow Fronted Tea Caddy
Located in Northampton, GB
Regency Circa 1820 From our Tea Caddy collection, we are delighted to introduce to the market this Mother of Pearl Bow Fronted Tea Caddy. The Tea Caddy of beautiful bow fronted form...
Category

Early 19th Century English Regency Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Shell

19th Century Chinese Export Tea Caddy
Located in Charlottesville, VA
A black lacquered tea caddy. Great decoration and has interior compartment.
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Wood, Paint

Antique English Georgian Blonde Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy
Located in Northampton, GB
Faced In Boxwood From our Tea Caddy collection, we are thrilled to offer this Antique Blonde Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy. The Tea Chest of tapered rectangular shape with silver stringin...
Category

Early 1800s English George III Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Silver Plate

English Sterling Silver "Paint Tin" Tea Caddy / Canister by Asprey & Co - 1929
Located in Bath, GB
These novelty solid sterling silver boxes or Canisters are always highly sought-after in the form of a paint tin with a lift off lid. This one is made by the creme de la creme of si...
Category

1920s British Vintage Tea Caddies

Materials

Sterling Silver

20Thc Tin Coffee Canister
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Early 20Thc Coffee tin canister in original painted labels & original condition.
Category

Early 20th Century American Adirondack Tea Caddies

Materials

Tin

20Thc Tin Coffee Canister
20Thc Tin Coffee Canister
$460 Sale Price
20% Off
Antique Brass Inlaid English Regency Mahogany Double Tea Caddy Box 19th Century
Located in Dublin, Ireland
Superb Example of an English Regency well grained Mahogany Double Tea Caddy of traditional rectangular outline, with lavish brass scrolling inlay decoration and complete fitted inter...
Category

19th Century English Regency Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Brass

Regency Anglo Indian Quill Work Vizagapatam Sandalwood Sewing Box
Located in Huntington, NY
This fine Regency period quill work, bone, ivory & sandalwood sewing box with intact interior w sewing implements.
Category

Early 19th Century Indian Regency Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Bone, Ivory, Sandalwood

Large Georgian Mahogany Tea Caddy
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
A good quality Georgian 18th century mahogany rectangular tea caddy having replacement brass axe drop handle to hinged lid enclosing cavity with attractive inlaid decoration throughout. Tea was of course a very precious commodity throughout the 18th and 19th centuries and the purpose of a tea caddy was not just to preserve the and extend the life of the precious tea leaves...
Category

Late 18th Century English Georgian Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Mahogany

Large Georgian Mahogany Tea Caddy
Large Georgian Mahogany Tea Caddy
$1,016 Sale Price
26% Off
English Regency Pagoda Form Tea Caddy
Located in Lyndhurst, NJ
Unusual pagoda form caddy finely figured veneers. Interior lids are original and match the exterior of the caddy, resting on brass ball feet
Category

Early 19th Century English Regency Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Tortoise Shell

Chinese Export Tea Caddy, Lacquered Wood with Gilded Decorations
Located in Kastrup, DK
A beautifully crafted Chinese export tea caddy made of wood with black lacquer, richly adorned with gilded motifs featuring classical Chinese scenes of people, houses, and more. The ...
Category

Late 19th Century Qing Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Wood

Antique Georgian Locking Sterling Silver Tea Caddy Henry Chawner London 1787
Located in Portland, OR
A fine antique Georgian engraved sterling silver tea caddy, by Henry Chawner, London, 1787. Of fluted oval form with bright-cut floral borders with ...
Category

1780s English George III Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Silver

Norwegian Solid Birch Expandable Sewing Stand Organizer Made in Norway MINT
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Norwegian Solid Birch Expandable Sewing Stand Organizer Made in Norway MINT
Category

20th Century Norwegian Mid-Century Modern Tea Caddies

Materials

Birch

Set of 6 Mindanao Brass Silver Betel Boxes, Philippines
Located in Dallas, TX
Presenting an amazing set of 6 Mindanao brass silver betel boxes, Philippines. Betel chewing was prevalent in the southern Philippines as in much o...
Category

Late 19th Century Philippine Islamic Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Silver, Brass, Copper

19th Century English Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy
Located in Atlanta, GA
19th Century English Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy
Category

19th Century English Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Tortoise Shell

Georgian Novelty Apple Tea Caddy
Located in Northampton, GB
Shaped as an Apple From our Tea Caddy collection, we are delighted to offer this superb Georgian Apple Treen Tea Caddy. The Tea Caddy carved from Treen as a novelty Apple with a button stalk, shaped body and shaped cut steel escutcheon. When opened the Caddy reveals traces of the original tin foil lining for housing Tea leaves. The Apple Fruit Tea Caddy...
Category

Early 1800s European Georgian Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Wood

Antique Russian Imperial Silver Chinoiserie Tea Caddy Gustav Klingert Moscow
Located in Portland, OR
A fine quality antique Russian Imperial silver tea caddy, engraved in the Chinoiserie style, by Gustav Klingert, Moscow, dated 1894. Gu...
Category

1890s Russian Chinoiserie Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Silver

Georgian Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy
Located in Northampton, GB
Oval Tea Caddy with Silver Mounts From our Tea Caddy collection, we are delighted to offer this Georgian Silver and Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy. The Tea Caddy is of oval shape with a Tortoiseshell exterior mounted with engraved silver stringing, a silver shield plaque below the silver escutcheon and a silver looped handle. The interior features a floating tea shelf...
Category

Early 1800s English George III Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Silver

Georgian Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy
Georgian Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy
$7,075 Sale Price
20% Off
French Napoleon III Boulle Tea Caddy
Located in Northampton, GB
Single Tea Caddy Compartment From our Tea Caddy collection, we are delighted to bring to market this Antique French Boulle Tea Caddy. The Tea Caddy o...
Category

Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

Circa 1870 Napoleon III French Tea Caddy
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Circa 1870 Napoleon III French Tea Caddy. Fine quality with Old Paris Porcelain fittings - 2 tea caddies & a sugar caddy. The box is inlaid with engraved brass. Each porcelain caddy ...
Category

1870s French Napoleon III Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Brass

18th Century Mahogany Tea Caddy
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
A late 18th century, Georgian, Mahogany tea caddy having extremely attractive inlaid conch shells, banded and strung decoration, with hinged lid enclosing lidded interior retaining partial paper foil lining. This particular caddy is relatively plain and simple in design, but the attractive inlaid decoration lifts it significantly. The condition remains relatively good and clearly it has been well loved throughout its life. Tea was a precious commodity throughout the 18th and 19th centuries and the purpose of a tea caddy was not just to preserve the and extend the life of the precious tea leaves, but also to enable the owner to lock away those aforementioned valuable tea leaves, keeping them safe from the house staffs potential wandering hands. This 18th century tea caddy...
Category

Late 18th Century English Georgian Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Mahogany

18th Century Mahogany Tea Caddy
18th Century Mahogany Tea Caddy
$905 Sale Price
30% Off
Antique Irish Georgian Hand Cut Crystal Sterling Silver Tea Caddy George III
Located in Dublin, Ireland
An exceptionally rare Irish George III hand cut full lead crystal single tea caddy of rectangular outline with canted corners and outstanding quality, first quarter of the nineteenth century. The finely chased silver mounted rim and hinged cover, hand cut with three bands of lozenges on a plain ground, decorative star cut base underneath. Condition: Exceptional condition for such an early piece, with no losses or clouding inside, silver mounts are unmarked but test positive for silver. Wonderful age wear underneath on base. Lock is present but key does not turn. Back and front views are similar. Measures: Height: 5.25” (13.5cm). Width: 3.75” (9.5cm). Depth: 3” (7.5cm). Location: Dublin City, Ireland. Stunning and rare Tea Caddy...
Category

18th Century Irish Georgian Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Crystal, Sterling Silver

21st century Italian Sterling Silver hexagonal Tea/Candy Box
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

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

English Birdseye Maple Sewing Box
English Birdseye Maple Sewing Box
$1,480 Sale Price
20% Off
English 19th Century Domed Top Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy
Located in Atlanta, GA
English 19th Century Domed Top Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy with Silver Inlay and Ball feet
Category

19th Century English Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Tortoise Shell

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

Vintage Balsa Wood and Tin Lined Tea Box Workshop Prop Decor Storage
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Vintage balsa wood, and tin lined lidded tea box, retaining partial labels.
Category

1950s Japanese Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tea Caddies

Materials

Wood, Paper

Antique Teapoy English William iv Rosewood Work Box, 19th Century, circa 1835
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique teapoy, an English, William IV, rosewood work box dating to the early 19th century, circa 1835. Superb color in the polished rosew...
Category

Early 19th Century English William IV Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Rosewood

Early 19th Century Penwork Tea Caddy
Located in Charlottesville, VA
A fine example of English pen work tea caddy. It has brass feet and handles. Retains the interior lids.
Category

Early 19th Century British Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Wood

English Inlaid Mahogany Tea Caddy with Elaborate Crossbanding and Swag Inlay
Located in San Francisco, CA
An extremely fine quality inlaid mahogany tea caddy of elegant small size, the top and front with elaborate crossbanding and circular fan inay, the front with further swag inlay, the...
Category

Late 18th Century English George III Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Boxwood, Mahogany, Rosewood

Victorian sterling silver tea caddy made in London in 1891
Located in London, London
Hallmarked in London in 1891 by John Henry Rawlings, this very handsome, Victorian, Antique Sterling Silver Tea Caddy, is plain in design, octagonal in shape and with reed borders. T...
Category

1890s English Victorian Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Sterling Silver

Regency Tortoiseshell and Mother of Pearl Serpentine Tea Caddy
Located in Northampton, GB
Featuring Alternating Panels From our Tea Caddy collection, we are delighted to offer this fine Regency Tortoiseshell and Mother of Pearl Serpentine Tea Caddy. The Tea Caddy of rect...
Category

Early 19th Century English Regency Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Tortoise Shell, Mother-of-Pearl

Rare Regency Architectural Pressed Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy
Located in Northampton, GB
Pressed Tortoiseshell Design From our Tea Caddy collection, we are delighted to offer this Regency Architectural Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy. The Tea Caddy of bombe form with flared bas...
Category

1810s British Regency Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Shell

Serpentine Form Regency Tortoise Shell Tea Caddy
Located in Lyndhurst, NJ
Rare serpentine form English Regency tea caddy. The base with sloping sides, the interior with two fitted compartments.
Category

Early 19th Century English Regency Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Tortoise Shell

Blonde Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy, England 19th Century
Located in Atlanta, GA
Blonde Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy, England 19th Century
Category

19th Century English Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Tortoise Shell

English Tortoiseshell Pagoda Form Tea Caddy, Early 19th Century
Located in Atlanta, GA
English Tortoiseshell Pagoda Form Tea Caddy, Early 19th Century
Category

Early 19th Century English Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Tortoise Shell

19th Century French Louis XIV Style Boulle Tea Caddy
Located in Bradenton, FL
19th Century French rectangular boulle tea caddy. Tea caddy has original double tea compartments with covers. Outer portion of tea caddy features beau...
Category

19th Century French Louis XIV Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Wood

Georgian Rosewood Oblong Tea Caddy
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
A very attractive, good quality, late 18th century rosewood oblong shaped tea caddy having satinwood strung mouldings and original brass hinges, with working lock and key. Constructed using attractive rosewood timber which retains a good colour and patina, the satinwood strung mouldings used on this tea caddy create a really nice contrast. Tea was a precious commodity throughout the 18th and 19th centuries and the purpose of a tea caddy was not just to preserve the and extend the life of the precious tea leaves...
Category

Late 18th Century English Georgian Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Rosewood

George II Period Mahogany Tea Caddy
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
An 18th Century, George II Period, Mahogany Rectangular Tea Caddy Having Original Brass Swan Neck Handle To Hinged Top, Enclosing Three Interior Divisions And Elegant Canted Corners,...
Category

Early 18th Century English George II Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Mahogany

George II Period Mahogany Tea Caddy
George II Period Mahogany Tea Caddy
$1,156 Sale Price
30% Off
Period Georgian Tea Caddy, Circa 1790-1810
Located in High Point, NC
Circa 1790-1810 period Georgian tea caddy made from Mahogany. The tea caddy has been used well and loved over many centuries. The top has a brass ring with which to lift the lid. ...
Category

Late 18th Century English Georgian Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Mahogany, Satinwood

Antique Continental Novelty Pear Fruit Tea Caddy
Located in Northampton, GB
Novelty Fruit Caddy From our Tea Caddy collection, we are delighted to offer this Continental Novelty Pear Fruit Tea Caddy. The Tea Caddy turned in Sycamore shaped as a natural Pear ...
Category

Early 1800s European George III Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Cut Steel

Emerald Green Goat Skin Covered Wooden Cylinder Box in the Style of Aldo Tura
Located in Winnetka, IL
This is a beautiful emerald green goat skin cylinder box with a brass pineapple finial on lid and wooden interior in the style of Aldo Tura.
Category

1950s European Vintage Tea Caddies

Materials

Brass

Early Victorian Penwork Tea Caddy
Located in Montreal, QC
This tea caddy is of sarcophagus form , oblong with a raised panelled lid, painted with autumnal fruit and flowers. The exterior is brilliantly decorated in penwork with stylised flo...
Category

1840s English Victorian Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Wood

Antique Moroccan Silver Plated Tea Caddy Footed Candy Box
Located in North Hollywood, CA
1920s Antique Moroccan Silver Plated Footed Tea Caddy with hinged lid. This authentic Moroccan brass silver plated box has a beautiful etched geometri...
Category

Early 20th Century Moroccan Moorish Tea Caddies

Materials

Silver Plate, Brass

Antique Drawing Room Tea Blender's Box, English, Loose Leaf Caddy, Regency, 1820
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique drawing room tea blender's box. An English, mahogany loose leaf caddy, dating to the Regency period, circa 1820. Highly decorative craftsmanship accentuates this ...
Category

1820s British Regency Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Boxwood, Mahogany

Chinese Large Mother of Pearl Mounted Armorial Tea Caddy for MacPherson
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A rare, incredible and large antique Chinese carved mother of pearl mounted tea caddy with armorial for MacPherson and dating from circa...
Category

1770s Chinese Qing Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Mother-of-Pearl

19th Century Black Tea Caddy
Located in Charlottesville, VA
A very unusual Ebonized wood tea caddy
Category

19th Century Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Wood, Paint

Antique Georgian Sterling Silver Locking Tea Caddy
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

Mother of Pearl Tea Caddy
Located in Dallas, TX
This beautifully crafted mother of pearl tea caddy from circa 1860 is a true testament to English craftsmanship and elegance. The exterior glows wi...
Category

1860s French Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Mother-of-Pearl, Wood

Antique George III Green Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy
Located in Northampton, GB
Georgian Period Circa 1790 From our Tea Caddy collection, we are delighted to offer this Georgian Green Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy. The Tea...
Category

Late 18th Century English George III Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Silver

18th Century Walnut Tea Caddy
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
An Attractive Early 18th Century George II Period Walnut Tea Caddy Of Rectangular Form, Having Crossbanded And Inlaid Decoration To Top Enclosing Three Divisions, With Original Brass...
Category

Early 18th Century English George II Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Walnut

18th Century Walnut Tea Caddy
18th Century Walnut Tea Caddy
$1,428 Sale Price
30% Off
Vintage Jasperware Christmas Mugs by Wedgwood Set of 4 circa 1970's
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage Jasperware Christmas Mugs by WEDGWOOD Set of 4 circa 1970's, Made in England. Lovely raised applied white jasper design detailing mugs featuring British monuments, Christmas mug from 1972 to 1975. Vintage collectable 1970's Wedgwood of England pale blue Jasperware mugs...
Category

Late 20th Century English Late Victorian Tea Caddies

Materials

Porcelain

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

Antique George III Harewood Inlaid Tea Chest
Located in Northampton, GB
With Two Tea Caddies From our Tea Caddy collection, we are pleased to offer this Georgian Harewood Tea Chest. The Tea Chest of rectangular form veneered in Harewood with inlaid Boxw...
Category

Late 18th Century English George III Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Boxwood, Harewood

Late 19th Century Napoleon III Bombay Wood Marquetry Tea Caddy
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
An antique French tea caddy in Napoleon III style, wit a bended “forme arbalète” lid. The box is veneered with various types of wood, burl wal...
Category

1860s French Napoleon III Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Brass

Antique Georgian Masonic Freemasons Tea Caddy
Located in Northampton, GB
Featuring Masonic Scenes From our Tea Caddy collection, we are delighted to offer this extremely rare Georgian Masonic Tea caddy. The Tea Caddy of box form with chequered edging and borders of Tulipwood surrounding Burr Yew wood squares each featuring Satinwood oval panels depicting Masonic Symbols. The symbols include the past master, senior warden, junior warden and the past worshipful master. The top of the box features inlaid moon, stars and sun surmounted by a brass carry handle. The interior of the Tea Caddy features a floating lid with a turned metal handle. The Tea Caddy dates to the Georgian period during the reign of George III circa 1800.  The Tea Caddy comes complete with working lock and tasselled key.  Tulipwood is also known as Brazilian Tulipwood, Brazilian Pinkwood and Bahia Rosewood. It is found in South America, mainly Brazil. The colour is a warm yellow with streaks or brown-red grain. Burr Yew originates from Asia, Europe and North Africa. It is yellow-brown to orange-brown and usually conforms to a fine uniform pattern. Yew wood usually has black pips scattered throughout so clean veneers fetch a high price and are reserved for finer items. A few trees will produce a burr which offers a distinct decorative finish. Satinwood is found in India and Sri Lanka. It has a rich golden colour and an almost reflective sheen. Satinwood is traditionally used for high quality furniture. Georgian, a period in British history dating from 1714-1837, the Georgian era after the Hanoverian kings George I, George II, George III and George IV. Masonic (Freemasons, Freemasonry or Masonry) refers to fraternal organisations that trace their origins to the local guilds of stonemasons that from the end of the 14th century regulated the qualifications of stonemasons and their interaction with authorities and clients. While Freemasonry is not itself a religion, all its members believe in a supreme being...
Category

Early 1800s English George III Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Satinwood, Tulipwood, Yew

Antique Victorian Royal Horse Racing Prize Tea Chest with Silver Tea Caddies
Located in Northampton, GB
Awarded at Fernhill 18th August 1843 From our Tea Caddy collection, we are thrilled to offer this Ebonised Tea Chest given as a Royal Prize is 1843. The Tea Chest of rectangular for...
Category

Mid-19th Century English Early Victorian Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Silver

19th Century Chinese Canton Export Lacquered Giltwood Tea Caddy on Shishi Feet
Located in Haarlem, NL
Clover or quartreform shaped mid-19th century Chinese canton export tea caddy in gold lacquered wood on a black background. Decorated with palace scenes...
Category

Mid-19th Century Chinese Chinese Export Antique Tea Caddies

Materials

Pewter

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.

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