In the 17th century, tea was first introduced to Britain from the East Indies by the Dutch East India Company who had a monopoly on this trade, as well as some of the spices now in common use. As a result, the leaf tea from which the drink was made was an extremely expensive commodity, and so had to be appropriately stored and safeguarded. The tea caddy was devised for this purpose.

The first tea caddies, sometimes called tea canisters, as they were only single compartment vessels, were often of silver, and bottle shaped with a removable top that could be used to measure tea into the pot.

In the 18th century, taxes were imposed on tea making it even more expensive, and to safeguard the contents a lockable box was devised. The simple forms of these boxes had a removable receptacle to store the tea. The larger examples housed more...

49 items found:

These items have been sold, and the description, image and price are for reference purposes only.

A fine George II sterling silver rococo tea caddy, 1750 London,…

A fine George II sterling silver rococo tea caddy, 1750 London, w maker's mark Samuel Herbert & Co. Rectangular bombe form w detachable cover, surmounted by a gesticulating cherub & bird finial, raised on 4 shell & scroll feet, lavishly decorated w…

An antique English tea caddy with lacquered black Japanned…

An antique English tea caddy with lacquered black Japanned finish and ornate brass mounts, interior fitted with two compartments with hand-painted simulated walnut finish, 19th century, 12 cm high, 23.5 cm wide, 15.5 cm deep

Chinese export ware lacquer tea caddy, of sarcophagus form,…

Chinese export ware lacquer tea caddy, of sarcophagus form, decorated continuously with court scenes and stylised flowers and foliage, raised on four dragon feet, height 15 cm x width 24.5 cm

A Chinese 19th century export gilt and lacquered tea caddy…

Gilt and Lacquered Chinese Tea Caddy with Pewter Tins

A Chinese 19th century export gilt and lacquered tea caddy sarcophagus shape with cantered corners, decorated in shaped panels with figures in interior settings on a floral and daiper pattern ground. Raised on lions head feet. The interior with original…

Chinese export ware tea caddy, of sarcophagus form, decorated…

Chinese Export Sarcophagus Tea Caddy with Pewter Containers

Chinese export ware tea caddy, of sarcophagus form, decorated with reserves of figures in a pagoda setting, with floral accents, the hinged cover opening to reveal two pewter tea containers, raised on four giltwood feet, 12.5 cm x 21 cm x 15 cm

A Chinese export gilt and lacquered tea caddy, of rectangular…

Gilt and lacquered Chinese tea caddy with figural scenes

A Chinese export gilt and lacquered tea caddy, of rectangular form decorated with figural scenes within shaped reserves on dragon and floral decorated ground, the interior with chased pewter lidded liner. With various cartouche depicting tea production…

Tea caddy late 18th century Japanned black, papier mache petit…

18th Century Japanned Tea Caddy by Henry Clay

Tea caddy late 18th century Japanned black, papier mache petit caddy, attributed to Henry clay, 10 x 12 cm

An unusual timber tea caddy of bombe shape depicting Oriental…

Bombe Tea Caddy with Oriental Subjects, 1826

An unusual timber tea caddy of bombe shape depicting Oriental Subjects likely of English origin black paint/ink and with detailed pen work. Signed and dated, 'A.Louth, Feb 10th 1826' height: 16.5 cm;Width: 23 cm;Depth: 13 cm

A C18/19th century Chinese large blue and white tea caddy with…

Antique Chinese Blue and White Tea Caddy with Characters

A C18/19th century Chinese large blue and white tea caddy with character decoration. Height 15 cm.

Fine timber tea caddy with Oriental Flourishes made with…

Oriental Rosewood Tea Caddy with Fitted Compartments

Fine timber tea caddy with Oriental Flourishes made with rosewood veneer and the inside fitted nicely with two lidded compartmental sections and lidded box, size 22 cm x 30 cm x 15.5 cm

Two early 19th century European porcelain famille rose tea…

Pair of 19th Century Famille Rose Tea Caddies

Two early 19th century European porcelain famille rose tea caddies, each with an ovoid body hand painted with traditional famille rose figures, each missing its lid and with a flared base, height 10.5 cm ea., minor chip to interior rim of one

A Chinese Canton export lacquer tea caddy, 19th century,…

Gold Lacquer Tea Caddy with Figures and Foliage Design

A Chinese Canton export lacquer tea caddy, 19th century, decorated with figures in landscapes and scrolling foliage in gold lacquer on a black ground. Opening to two pewter tea canisters., 21 cm high, 37 cm wide, 27 cm deep

Bamboo Oriental tea caddy with stone front

Stone-front Bamboo Tea Caddy

Bamboo Oriental tea caddy with stone front

Oriental metal tea caddy with glass cased decorative panels,…

Glass-paneled Oriental metal tea caddy

Oriental metal tea caddy with glass cased decorative panels, markings to base

A Cantonese famille rose tea caddy, the rectangular tea caddy…

Cantonese Famille Rose Tea Caddy with Figures and Flowers

A Cantonese famille rose tea caddy, the rectangular tea caddy with a cylindrical domed lid decorated with figures, flowers, birds, auspicious flowers and fruits to reserves; with a bordered modern 'Mandarin' figure stamp underside, height 17 cm

Cantonese export tea caddy vase painted with female court…

Famille Rose Cantonese Tea Caddy Vase with Court Scenes

Cantonese export tea caddy vase painted with female court scenes in famille rose palette (no cover), 11.5 cm highs

Oriental pewter tea caddy

Pewter Tea Caddy: Oriental Elegance

Oriental pewter tea caddy

A matching pair of Samson Angel tea caddies, early 20th century,…

Pair of Samson Angel Tea Caddies

A matching pair of Samson Angel tea caddies, early 20th century, in the Chinese manner, the baluster caddies with festoons and gilded decoration to the collar, sprigged to the body, with angels blowing trumpets with a Crown and shield to a gilt reserve;…

A pair of Georgian blue and white Pearlware tea caddies, late…

Georgian blue and white tea caddies

A pair of Georgian blue and white Pearlware tea caddies, late 18th to early 19th century, the cylindrical caddies of carinate form both decorated with Chinese pavilions and garden scenes with decorative diaper, scale and pattered borders to the collars;…

Two porcelain tea caddies and a covered vase by Samson. Late…

Samson Porcelain Tea Caddies and Covered Vase

Two porcelain tea caddies and a covered vase by Samson. Late 19th century, in the manner of Chinese export wares the finely lobed baluster caddies and the covered Meiping style vase sprigged with enamel flowers in magenta, puce and emerald each with…

A fine signed Japanese lacquer tea caddy. Showa period,…

Signed Japanese Lacquer Tea Caddy by Ittushinsai Okutsu

A fine signed Japanese lacquer tea caddy. Showa period, designed by Ittushinsai Okutsu, born 1935, the circular tapering pot with a flattened dome lid, well decorated with the image of a court carriage in a landscape setting in low relief gilt paste and…

Antique 19th century Chinese export Chinoiserie tea caddy,…

19th Century Chinese Export Tea Caddy with Chinoiserie Design

Antique 19th century Chinese export Chinoiserie tea caddy, standing on carved claw form gilt wood feet, approx 15 cm high, 25 cm long, 12 cm deep

Japanese export wooden tea caddy, width 27.5 cm

Japanese Wooden Tea Caddy - 27.5 cm Width

Japanese export wooden tea caddy, width 27.5 cm

A Chinese lacquered tea caddy, 19th century with original zinc…

19th Century Chinese Lacquered Tea Caddy with Zinc Containers

A Chinese lacquered tea caddy, 19th century with original zinc containers & ivory knobs. 11 cm high, 20 cm wide, 14 cm deep

A Chinese rattan tea caddy with a rose medallion teapot and two…

Qing Dynasty Tea Set in Rattan Caddy

A Chinese rattan tea caddy with a rose medallion teapot and two cups, Qing Dynasty, mid to late 19th century, in original condition, a flower, bird and insect sprigged straight sided pot with a recessed lid and wire handles and two associated tea cups in…

A Chinese export ware famille rose porcelain tea caddy, of…

Famille Rose Tea Caddy with Landscape Figures

A Chinese export ware famille rose porcelain tea caddy, of shouldered shape, the panels to either side painted with figures in landscape; provenance to an Otago goldfield's recovery. Hairline crack to mouth. Height 11.5 cm

A Japanese tortoiseshell veneered and lacquered tea caddy…

Japanese Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy with Maki Bird Motif

A Japanese tortoiseshell veneered and lacquered tea caddy rectangular with rounded edges and a raised maki bird motif to lid, internally with twin tortoiseshell veneer and lacquered lids, 21 cm wide

Oriental lacquer tea caddy, with silver plated inserts

Lacquer Tea Caddy with Silver Plated Inserts

Oriental lacquer tea caddy, with silver plated inserts

Antique Chinese export tea caddy, fitted with lidded containers

Chinese Export Tea Caddy with Lidded Containers

Antique Chinese export tea caddy, fitted with lidded containers

A 19th century Chinese black lacquer and gilt tea caddy, the…

Chinese Black Lacquer Tea Caddy with Gilt Decoration

A 19th century Chinese black lacquer and gilt tea caddy, the casket with in-curved foliage and figure decorated panels; pewter fitted interior; carved gilt feet. Width 23 cm

A Victorian Japanned, gilt and mother of pearl tea caddy,…

Victorian Tea Caddy with Mother of Pearl Inlay

A Victorian Japanned, gilt and mother of pearl tea caddy, paper-lined and with fitted interior. Width 19 cm

19th century Chinese blue & white tea caddy with turned timber…

Chinese Blue & White Tea Caddy with Turned Lid

19th century Chinese blue & white tea caddy with turned timber lid, 14 cm high approx.

A Japanese mixed metal tea caddy, ovoid shape with tall domed…

Japanese Mixed Metal Tea Caddy with Crane and Dragon Motifs

A Japanese mixed metal tea caddy, ovoid shape with tall domed cover, the darkened body decorated with cranes in flight above bamboo, the cover decorated with a scrolling dragon motif and lappet frieze. Early Meiji period. Height 15 cm

A Chinese earthenware tea caddy, 20th century, the double…

Chinese Earthenware Tea Caddy with Lotus and Village Scenes

A Chinese earthenware tea caddy, 20th century, the double layered caddy of tapering ovoid form with an inverted rim, fitted lid and knop finial, the outer layer with four compartments, two with relief scenes of villages, the others pierced and depicting…

Vintage English blue Willow Ringtons tea Merchants Oriental…

Blue Willow Tea Caddy by Ringtons Merchants - Vintage Oriental Scene

Vintage English blue Willow Ringtons tea Merchants Oriental scenes tea caddy jar, approx 19 cm high

Late 19th century Oriental tea caddy

Oriental Tea Caddy from Late 19th Century

Late 19th century Oriental tea caddy

An 18th century style Chinese blue and white tea caddy

18th Century Chinese Blue and White Tea Caddy

An 18th century style Chinese blue and white tea caddy

An 18th century style Chinese famille rose tea caddy possibly…

18th Century Chinese Famille Rose Tea Caddy (Samson)

An 18th century style Chinese famille rose tea caddy possibly Samson

Antique Japanese brown lacquer tea caddy, with bronze carry…

Japanese Lacquer Tea Caddy with Bronze Handles and Pewter Cover

Antique Japanese brown lacquer tea caddy, with bronze carry handles to the sides, the interior fitted with a engraved pewter cover with two containers, the outer decorated with old coins, dragonflies and bamboo, 30 x 20 x 17.5 cm

Antique Chinese export tea caddy, approx 32 cm wide, 18.5 cm…

Antique Chinese Tea Caddy, 32cm x 18.5cm

Antique Chinese export tea caddy, approx 32 cm wide, 18.5 cm high

Chinese green ground Canton enamel tea caddy, 20th century.…

20th Century Chinese Green Enamel Tea Caddy

Chinese green ground Canton enamel tea caddy, 20th century. Height 15.5 cm

Chinese blue & white tea caddy with metal lid, plus one other

Blue & White Tea Caddy with Metal Lid and Another

Chinese blue & white tea caddy with metal lid, plus one other

A Chinese export lacquer tea caddy of rectangular form with…

Chinoiserie Lacquer Tea Caddy with Zinc Interior

A Chinese export lacquer tea caddy of rectangular form with Chinoiserie decoration and chased zinc interior. Height 14 cm. Width 26 cm. Depth 17.5 cm

A Chinese export lacquer tea caddy of shaped form with…

Chinoiserie Lacquer Tea Caddy with Faults

A Chinese export lacquer tea caddy of shaped form with Chinoiserie decoration, faults. Height 16 cm. Width 26 cm. Depth 18 cm

A Chinese tea caddy, of hexagonal form, each panel decorated…

Hexagonal Chinese Tea Caddy with Decorative Panels

A Chinese tea caddy, of hexagonal form, each panel decorated differently. Height 14 cm

Pair large Chinese famille vert tea caddies. Mythical flying…

Pair of Chinese Dragon Tea Caddies

Pair large Chinese famille vert tea caddies. Mythical flying dragon decoration Kiangsi mark to base, but later. Height 32 each

A Chinese porcelain tea caddy, European silver shape, square…

Blue and White Chinese Porcelain Tea Caddy

A Chinese porcelain tea caddy, European silver shape, square pillow form with arched shoulders, decorated in underglaze blue with lakeside pavilions and temples. Lid absent. Height 11.5 cm

Antique Chinese porcelain tea caddy complete with original lid,…

19th Century Blue and White Chinese Porcelain Tea Caddy

Antique Chinese porcelain tea caddy complete with original lid, decorated in underglaze blue with scrolling vines. Early 19th century, Jiaqing or Daoguang reign periods. Slight expected signs of wear and use. Height 16.5 cm

A black and gilt lacquer export ware tea caddy, Chinese, Qing…

Qing Dynasty Black & Gilt Lacquer Tea Caddy

A black and gilt lacquer export ware tea caddy, Chinese, Qing Dynasty, 19th century. 17 cm high, 24 cm wide