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Tea Caddies For Sale
Beautiful quality antique Regency rosewood tea caddy
Located in Ipswich, GB
Beautiful quality antique Regency rosewood tea caddy, having a quality antique Regency rosewood and burrwood banded tea caddy with mother of pearl...
Category
18th Century Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Rosewood
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
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
19th Century Chinese Lacquer Tea Caddy
Located in Brea, CA
Middle 19th century Chinese Export double lacquer tea caddy on stand from the Qing dynasty. octagonal form with hinged lid ,divided interior with me...
Category
19th Century Chinese Qing Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Lacquer
19th Century English Victorian Cormandel Mother of Pearl Tea Caddy, circa 1850
Located in Banner Elk, NC
English Victorian cormandel tea caddy decorated with mother of pearl and brass studs, circa 1850s. Cormandel was considered one of the most luxurious woods and only used on the fines...
Category
Mid-19th Century English Victorian Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Brass
Antique English Regency Mahogany Tea Chest Robert Wright
Located in Northampton, GB
With Twin Caddies & Hand Cut Glass Sugar Bowl
From our Tea Caddy collection, we are delighted to offer this rare Regency Cuban Mahogany Tea Chest by Robert Wright. The Tea Chest of ...
Category
Early 19th Century British Regency Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Metal, Brass
Antique Dutch Silver Tea Caddy
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...
Category
1890s Dutch Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Silver
Silver tea box with engraved monogram card
knobbed lid
Located in Porto, PT
Description: Silver tea box with engravings surrounding the monogram card and a knob on the hinged lid. Metal: Silver. Origin: Portuguese. Mark: standing eagle. Weight: 358.92 grams....
Category
20th Century European Tea Caddies
Materials
Silver
$1,125 Sale Price
50% Off
Georgian Ribbed Bucket Tea Caddy
Located in Northampton, GB
Rare and unusual George III tea caddy in the form of a ribbed bucket.
The tea caddy of beautiful shape with a ribbed exterior carved from alternating panels of plain Sycamore and...
Category
Late 18th Century British George III Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Cut Steel
Rare Quatrefoil Chinese Export Tea Caddy, 19th Century
Located in Charlottesville, VA
Rare quatrefoil Chinese Export Tea Caddy, 19th Century, the lacquer tea caddy with interlocking circles design, in deep red, black, and gilt with internal pewter container...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Lacquer
Pair of English Regency Red Tôle
Gilt Chinoiserie Tea Caddies, Nos. 2
4
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Pair of English Regency Red Tôle
Gilt Chinoiserie Tea Caddies, Nos. 2
4, numbered ‘2’ and ‘4’ in the traditional English manner, indicating different tea varieties within...
Category
19th Century English Regency Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Metal
Enamel Tea Caddy Vienna 18th Century with Landscape
Located in Epfach, DE
A very nice enamel tea caddy, Vienna 18th century, paintings with landscape and couples on all sides and on the top and gold ornamentation.
Category
1760s Austrian Rococo Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Enamel
$1,198 Sale Price
20% Off
19th century French oak and brass mounted tea caddy by Tahan of Paris C1880
Located in Central England, GB
A most impressive and highly decorative French large size double tea caddy made in tightly grained rich oak.
The rectangular box stands on circular shaped brass feet with brass bea...
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis Philippe Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Brass
Fantastic quality antique regency coromandel wood tea caddy
Located in Ipswich, GB
Fantastic quality antique regency coromandel wood tea caddy having a quality coromandel wood tea caddy with ringlet carrying handles to both sides and a...
Category
Early 19th Century Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Wood
Georgian Sterling Silver Set of Two Tea Caddies
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive pair of antique Georgian English sterling silver tea caddies; an addition to our silver teaware collection.
These exceptional antique George II sterling silver tea caddies have a circular baluster shaped form.
The surface of each antique tea caddy is embellished with very sharp, finely chased floral and foliate decoration, incorporating a scroll bordered vacant cartouche to either side.
The ornamentation to the body of each piece incorporates a plain applied moulded girdle.
These caddies are fitted with a cylindrical push fit covers encircled with leaf decorated textures.
The covers are surmounted with the original cast sterling silver leaf decorated finials.
These impressive antique tea caddies...
Category
Mid-18th Century English George II Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Silver, Sterling Silver
Antique English Mahogany Georgian Double Tea Caddy attrib Gillows 18th Century
Located in Dublin, Ireland
A Superb Example of an English Georgian Period Well figured Mahogany Double Interior Section Tea Caddy of flat rectangular outline, generous proportions and outstanding quality, all ...
Category
Late 18th Century English Georgian Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Mahogany
19th Century American Sterling Silver Tea Caddy by Shreve, Stanwood
Co, Boston
By Shreve
Co.
Located in Pittsburgh, PA
This hand chased heavy gauge sterling tea caddy was made in Boston by renowned makers Shreve and Stanwood, and weighs approximately 15 ounces.
Category
Mid-19th Century American Colonial Revival Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Sterling Silver
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 flow...
Category
1840s English Victorian Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Wood
Antique Dutch Silver Renaissance Cabinet Tea Caddy, 1907
Located in New York, NY
Dutch 833 silver tea caddy in form of Renaissance cabinet, 1907. Rectilinear and paneled with half columns and hinged top. Detachable stand with baluster supports and twisted stretch...
Category
Early 1900s Dutch Renaissance Revival Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Silver
19th Century English Rosewood Teapoy Tea Caddy
Located in San Francisco, CA
An unusual and large William IV rosewood teapoy or tea caddy in beautiful original condition. The glass mixing bowl is missing, England, circa 1830.
Category
Early 19th Century English Regency Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Rosewood
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
Circular silver tea box with pearly frieze and monogram
Located in Porto, PT
Description: Circular silver tea box with pearly reliefs on the frieze and monogram card in the center. Metal: Silver. Origin: Portuguese. Brand: javali II Title. Weight: 247.62 gram...
Category
19th Century European Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Silver
$875 Sale Price
50% Off
1860s English Tea Box on Stand
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Late 19th-century English-imported tea box from China. Decorated with beautiful red and black hand-painted flora and fauna, and equipped with rectangular iron handles, the box is mou...
Category
1860s English Victorian Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Wood
English Regency Tea Caddy with Original Key
Located in Tampa, FL
A distinguished English Regency tea caddy, likely dating to the 1830s, featuring a red leather lined interior and a velvet bottom. The caddy retains its original twin tea holders and...
Category
1830s English Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Wood
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...
Category
Early 1800s English George III Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Pewter
18th/19th Century English Regency Plum Pudding Mahogany Inlaid Tea Caddy
Located in Forney, TX
A fine quality Regency Era / Georgian Period tea caddy set in sumptuous plum-pudding mahogany.
Exquisitely hand-crafted in England at the turn of the late 18th / early 19th century,...
Category
Early 19th Century English Regency Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Velvet, Cut Glass, Boxwood, Mahogany, Satinwood
English Victorian Silver Plate Tea Caddy, circa 1860
Located in New York, NY
English Victorian silver plate tea caddy, circa 1860
In shape of a beehive. Also can be used as a box.
Category
1860s English Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Silver Plate
19th Century Chinese Tea Caddy
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Hand painted with chinoiserie motif. Original inserts with etching.
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Zinc
Black Basalt Tea Caddy, 1st half 19th century
Located in Greding, DE
Cylindrical tea caddy made of black basalt with silver mounting and figural nodus.
Category
Early 19th Century European Neoclassical Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Silver
19th Century Sea Captain
s Tea Caddy
Located in Nantucket, MA
Early 19th century sea captain's tea caddy, circa 1830, made of coramandel wood gathered in the Spice Islands China Trade, with sailor's grommet-spliced rope becket handles. The inte...
Category
Early 19th Century American Regency Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Wood
Antique German Silver Bear Sugar Box
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive, rare antique German silver bear sugar box; part of our continental ornamental silverware collection
This exceptional and rare antique German silver sugar box have been realistically modelled in form of a bear.
The box has been embellished with fine embossed decoration reproducing the details of the bear's fur and anatomical features.
This exceptional antique silver box is fitted with the original push fit head/cover.
Condition
This antique silver bear box is an exceptional gauge of silver, exceptional quality and in exceptional condition.
The German Hanau hallmarks to the underside of one foot are very clear.
Reflections in photographs may detract from the true representation of this German silverware...
Category
Early 1900s German Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Sterling Silver
Antique Indian Silver Tea Caddy by Grish Chunder Dutt
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive antique Indian silver tea caddy, an addition to our silver teaware collection.
This exceptional antiqu...
Category
1880s Indian Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Silver
Pair of Chinese Mahogany and Tin Hinged Painted Figural Tea Bins, Circa 1840
Located in Charleston, SC
Pair of Chinese mahogany and tin hinged painted tea bins with gilt figural stenciling and decorative landscape scenes with bird motif, Mid-19th century.
Category
1840s Chinese Chinese Export Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Metal
Turn of the Century French Steel and Brass Coffee Bean Dispenser, circa 1900
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French 1900s steel and brass coffee bean dispenser from the Turn of the Century. This French Turn of the Century coffee bean dispenser, crafted fro...
Category
Early 20th Century French Tea Caddies
Materials
Brass, Steel
American Mahogany Tea Caddy Signed Tiffany New York. Circa 1880
Located in Charleston, SC
American mahogany tea caddy with original fitted nickel plated divided interior. Signed Tiffany New York . Late 19th Century
Category
19th Century American Antique Tea Caddies
Small Walnut Tea Caddy
Located in Charlottesville, VA
Small walnut tea caddy of rectangular form with a hinged lid outlined by simple line inlay. The lid opens to a fitted interior with a divided compartment and lined underside.
Category
19th Century English Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Walnut
Pear form Tea Caddy
Located in Huntington, NY
Late 18th Century George III Pear form Fruitwood Tea Caddy
With wooden stem, and an iron keyhole, escutcheon plate, its interior with remnants of the original silver leaf. The pi...
Category
Late 18th Century English George III Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Iron
$6,250
Octagonal Yew Wood Georgian Tea Caddy
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
An Early 19th Century, George III Period, Burr Yew Wood Tea Caddy Of Octagonal Form, Having Superbly Figured Veneers And Attractive Strung Decoration Throughout, The Hinged Lid Enc...
Category
Early 19th Century English Georgian Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Yew
Superb Quality Antique Victorian Burr Walnut and Brass Mounted Tea Caddy
Located in Suffolk, GB
Superb quality antique Victorian burr walnut and brass mounted tea caddy having a superb quality antique Victorian burr walnut tea caddy with a d...
Category
19th Century English Victorian Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Brass
$1,095 Sale Price
20% Off
Georgian Satinwood Tea Chest with Secret Compartments
Located in Northampton, GB
Georgian Tea Chest with Boxwood & Ebony Checkered Stringing
From our Tea Caddy collection, we are delighted to offer this Rare Georgian Satinwood Tea Chest. The Tea Chest of rectang...
Category
Late 18th Century British Georgian Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Silver
Box Cannister Caddy Brass Tobacco Tea Dutch
Located in BUNGAY, SUFFOLK
A charming early tobacco box or tea cannister
Unusual, large size
Lovely soft contours which enhances the reflection of light in the interior
Original condition including hinges
length 21cm., 8 1/4" depth 7.5cm., 3" height 11cm., 4 1/2".
The Dutch were the main importers of tobacco in the 18th century and manufactured tobacco boxes to sell with...
Category
18th Century Dutch Baroque Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Brass
Large Regency Tea Caddy
Located in Tampa, FL
A rather large and wonderful mahogany regency tea caddy. It is trimmed out with an inlay and an ivory keyhole. The interior is four inches deep in the tea compartments, does not have...
Category
1890s English Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Mahogany
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
$1,635 Sale Price
20% Off
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
Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy With Sunburst Design
Located in Dallas, TX
Circa 1870, English tortoiseshell tea caddy with sunburst design. It is absolutely the finest one I’ve ever owned! No cracks no restoration absolutely mint.
Category
1870s English Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Tortoise Shell
19th Century Anglo-Indian Spice or Tea Caddy with Silver Mounts
Located in Dallas, TX
PRESENTING A GORGEOUS 19C Anglo Indian Rosewood Caddy with Silver Mounts.
Really nice and unusual, 19th Century Anglo-Indian Spice or Tea Caddy, from cir...
Category
Late 19th Century Indian Anglo Raj Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Sterling Silver
Antique English George III Inlaid Tea Caddy
Located in Northampton, GB
From our Tea Caddy collection, we are pleased to offer this Georgian octagonal Inlaid Tea Caddy. The Tea Caddy of octagonal form veneered in Harewood with inlaid twin Tuscan Columns ...
Category
Late 18th Century English Georgian Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Boxwood
Large George III period sterling silver tea caddy made in London in 1800
By David Hennell II
Located in London, London
Hallmarked in London in 1800 by Robert & David Hennell, this handsome, George III period, Antique Sterling Silver Tea Caddy, is plain in design, with bead borders and an engraved cre...
Category
Early 1800s English George III Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Sterling Silver
Antique Continental Novelty Pear Fruit Tea Caddy Circa 1800
Located in Northampton, GB
Free Worldwide Shipping
Novelty Antique Fruit Tea Caddy
From our Tea Caddy collection, we are delighted to offer this Continental Novelty Pear Fruit Tea Caddy. The Tea Caddy turned...
Category
Early 1800s German Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Sycamore
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
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
Antique English Coromandel Wooden Double Tea Caddy by Thomas Lund 19th Century
Located in Dublin, Ireland
A Superb Example of an English Georgian Period Well figured Coromandle Double Interior Section Tea Caddy of flat rectangular outline, generous proportions and outstanding quality, al...
Category
19th Century English Victorian Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Crystal, Brass
Late 19th Century French Wood Veneer Marquetry Tea Caddy
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
An antique French tea caddy in Napoleon III style. The box is made of veneer beechwood, with beautiful grain. The lid is in slayed with lighter maple ...
Category
1880s French Napoleon III Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Beech, Birdseye Maple
Antique Regency Quality Mahogany Inlaid Tea Caddy
Located in Suffolk, GB
Antique Regency quality mahogany inlaid tea caddy having inlaid satinwood stringing, original ornate brass handles and escutcheon, lift up lid opening to reveal two tea caddies
Dim...
Category
19th Century English Regency Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Other
$710 Sale Price
20% Off
1970
s Mexican Don S. Shoemaker Set of 4 Mixed Woods Spice Boxes / Tea Caddies
Located in Mexico City, MX
A 1970's Mexican mixed hardwood set of 4 spice boxes by American designer Don S. Shoemaker. The geometric shaped boxes with round covers are designed with bands of different woods.
...
Category
1970s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tea Caddies
Materials
Wood
Funky Antique Bronze Jewlry Box
Located in Delray Beach, FL
Beautiful novelty bronze box with lovely theme of two love bird.
Exquisite addition to any room.
Category
20th Century European Tea Caddies
Materials
Bronze
Small Antique Octagonal Tented Top Amboyna Tea Caddy. English C.1820
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
A very special tea caddy
Burl amboyna with silver wire stringing. Mother of pearl finial and escutcheon.
Of special note is the exceptional quality of the inlay on the interior lid...
Category
1820s English Regency Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Amboyna
$2,360 Sale Price
20% Off
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
Antique Swedish Folk Art Tea Caddy in Hand-Carved Wood, 19th century
Located in Esbjerg, DK
A fine hand-tooled and ebonized wooden tea canister of Swedish origin - circa 1850-1890. Folk art piece made by an unknown artisan.
Measurements: H: 18 cm, Diameter: 15 cm.
Category
19th Century Swedish Folk Art Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Oak
Antique Sarcophagus Loose Leaf Tea Caddy, Drawing Room, English, Regency, C.1820
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a fine antique sarcophagus tea caddy. An English, rosewood and satinwood loose leaf tea case, dating to the Regency period, circa 1820. Of distinguished form and richly toned...
Category
1820s British Regency Antique Tea Caddies
Materials
Rosewood, Satinwood
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.
More Ways To Browse
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Tea Caddy With Key
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Monkey Teapot
Tortoiseshell Box 18th Century
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Wooden Canister
Antique Coffee Bean Dispenser