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...

39 items found:

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

Early 19th century English mahogany tea caddy A/F, of exquisite…

Early 19th century English mahogany tea caddy A/F, of exquisite construction, containing two divisions for green and black tea, the two containers having a cedar body, set into cedar frame, and hand made 'Piano' hinges, bracketing a non-original cobalt…

An English regency mahogany tea caddy, with chequerboard…

Regency Mahogany Tea Caddy with Inlay and Canisters

An English regency mahogany tea caddy, with chequerboard stringing and ebony and satin wood diamond inlay to the lid, internally fitted with two original tea canisters and mixing bowl, circa 1830, 17 cm high, 31 cm wide, 17 cm deep

Regency satinwood tea caddy rectangular shape bound in mahogany…

Rectangular Satinwood Tea Caddy with Mahogany Binding

Regency satinwood tea caddy rectangular shape bound in mahogany with herringbone stringing, no division relined interior 23.5 cm length

A George IV mahogany and satinwood tea caddy, with a bone…

George IV Tea Caddy with Satinwood and Bone Accents

A George IV mahogany and satinwood tea caddy, with a bone escutcheon and interior handles, 14.5 cm high, 30 cm wide, 14.5 cm deep

Georgian oval satinwood and marquetry tea caddy, c. 1790,…

Georgian Satinwood & Marquetry Tea Caddy with Silver Spoon

Georgian oval satinwood and marquetry tea caddy, c. 1790, crossbanded with Brazilian rosewood, decorated with foliate design in harewood marquetry, with key and sterling silver tea spoon mark of George knight, London, 1821 (2), height 13 cm width 15 cm…

Georgian oval satinwood and marquetry tea caddy, c. 1790,…

Georgian Satinwood Tea Caddy with Marquetry and Brass Pulls

Georgian oval satinwood and marquetry tea caddy, c. 1790, decorated with wreath, bow and arrow, the lid with a brass pulls and floral marquetry, with key, height 12 cm width 15 cm depth 9 cm. Provenance: Martyn Cook Antiques Sydney, the collection of Dr.…

A Georgian tea caddy, flame mahogany and satinwood with…

Georgian Marquetry Tea Caddy

A Georgian tea caddy, flame mahogany and satinwood with marquetry top and front, late 18th century, interior relined in green felt, 12.5 cm high, 19 cm wide, 12 cm deep

A George III satinwood inlaid mahogany tea caddy, with a…

Satinwood Tea Caddy with Silver Spoons and Lion Handles

A George III satinwood inlaid mahogany tea caddy, with a matching set of silver tea spoons by John, Henry & Charles Lias of London, circa 1823, with gilt bronze lion form ring handles, standing on bun feet, original bowl and tongs, 20.5 cm high, 25.5 cm…

George III casuarina tea caddy with satin wood and sunburst…

Sunburst Inlaid Satin Wood Tea Caddy with Sliding Lid

George III casuarina tea caddy with satin wood and sunburst inlay, sliding lid and canisters

Victorian Tunbridge inlaid rosewood tea caddy castle scene…

Victorian Rosewood Tea Caddy with Castle Inlay

Victorian Tunbridge inlaid rosewood tea caddy castle scene decoration to floral band and satinwood lid, twin fitted interior, circa 1850, length 22 cm; height 12 cm

A William IV sarcophagus form mahogany tea caddy, circa 1830,…

William IV Mahogany Tea Caddy with Glass Mixing Bowl

A William IV sarcophagus form mahogany tea caddy, circa 1830, of typical form in mahogany with satinwood string inlay, the lid opening to reveal a central associated glass mixing bowl, flanked by two compartments, 14 cm high, 28.5 cm wide, 14.5 cm deep.

A George III Sheraton tea caddy, flame mahogany with satinwood…

George III Sheraton Tea Caddy from Blair Castle

A George III Sheraton tea caddy, flame mahogany with satinwood string inlay with marquetry cartouches, all resting on brass bun feet, late 18th century, 17 cm high, 20 cm wide, 13 cm deep. Provenance: Blair Castle, Scotland

An English tea caddy, zebrawood with satinwood stringing and…

Zebrawood English Tea Caddy, Early 19th Century

An English tea caddy, zebrawood with satinwood stringing and fine gilt metal fittings, early 19th century, 17 cm high, 24 cm wide, 15 cm deep

An English Georgian tea caddy in the form of a chest of drawers,…

Georgian Tea Caddy Chest with Whalebone Handles

An English Georgian tea caddy in the form of a chest of drawers, mahogany and satinwood with whalebone handles, early 19th century, 13 cm high, 12 cm wide, 8 cm deep

A late Georgian satinwood tea caddy early 19th century, the…

Georgian Satinwood Tea Caddy with Marquetry Inlay

A late Georgian satinwood tea caddy early 19th century, the caddy inlaid with ebony stringing and marquetry banding around the edges, the hinged lid enclosing a fitted interior with two rectangular tea canisters with hinged lids, flanking a glass bowl 15…

Victorian mahogany tea caddy with satinwood inlay

Mahogany Tea Caddy with Satinwood Inlay

Victorian mahogany tea caddy with satinwood inlay

An Australian cedar string satinwood inlaid tea caddy, early…

19th Century Australian Cedar Tea Caddy with Inlay

An Australian cedar string satinwood inlaid tea caddy, early 19th century 19 cm high, 31 cm wide, 15 cm deep

A Regency mahogany tea caddy with satinwood stringing, oblong,…

Regency Mahogany Tea Caddy with Satinwood Stringing

A Regency mahogany tea caddy with satinwood stringing, oblong, the interior with two compartments flanking a well for bowl. 29 cm x 14.5 cm x 14.5 cm

A Georgian Sheraton period inlaid tea caddy, oblong with canted…

Georgian Sheraton Tea Caddy with Moth and Satinwood Shell

A Georgian Sheraton period inlaid tea caddy, oblong with canted corners, the hinged lid inlaid with a moth, the front with a shell in tinted and shaded satinwood. 18.5 cm x 10.5 cm x 12 cm

A George III satinwood and inlaid tea caddy, latter half 18th…

George III Satinwood Inlaid Tea Caddy

A George III satinwood and inlaid tea caddy, latter half 18th century, rectangular with canted corners, the hinged top enclosing two compartments with original covers, inlaid throughout with shell, patera, and classical details in various woods on the…

A fine George III inlay mahogany tea caddy, circa 1800, the top…

George III Inlay Mahogany Tea Caddy

A fine George III inlay mahogany tea caddy, circa 1800, the top with burr elm panel with ebony and satinwood geometric marquetry, the hinged top enclosing covers, 14 cm high, 23 cm wide, 12.5 cm deep

A George III Sheraton satinwood tea caddy, circa 1800, the lid…

Sheraton Satinwood Tea Caddy with Shell Cartouches

A George III Sheraton satinwood tea caddy, circa 1800, the lid and front with cartouches of shells and ebony and satinwood banding enclosing two compartments with covers, 13 cm high, 18 cm long, 10 cm wide

A George III satinwood tea caddy, circa 1810, with cantered…

George III Satinwood Tea Caddy with Shell Inlay

A George III satinwood tea caddy, circa 1810, with cantered corners and inset shell decoration, the top enclosing a pair of compartments, 12 cm high, 19.5 cm wide, 11 cm deep

Regency mahogany tea caddy rectangular form, with satinwood…

Regency Mahogany Tea Caddy with Satinwood Cross Banding

Regency mahogany tea caddy rectangular form, with satinwood cross banding

A Georgian satinwood tea caddy, decorative stringing and…

Georgian Satinwood Tea Caddy with Inlay and Compartments

A Georgian satinwood tea caddy, decorative stringing and restrained inlay to exterior, captured ring side handles, the interior with two lidded compartments and aperture for mixing bowl. 30 cm x 15 cm x 15.5 cm.

Large Regency parquetry tea caddy of many woods, including…

Regency Parquetry Tea Caddy, Sarcophagus Shape, c1830

Large Regency parquetry tea caddy of many woods, including ebony, satinwood, maple, fruitwood, mahogany, and burr yew. Sarcophagus shape with a 3 division interior, c1830, 32 cm x 17.5 cm, 19.5 cm high

A 19th century satinwood sarcophagus-shaped tea caddy, with…

Satinwood Tea Caddy with Bun Feet

A 19th century satinwood sarcophagus-shaped tea caddy, with three compartments to the interior, raised on bun feet.

George III tea caddy, of various woods with satinwood sunburst…

Satinwood Tea Caddy with Secret Compartment

George III tea caddy, of various woods with satinwood sunburst and parquetry sides and back, oak interior with secret compartment and spoon tray

Victorian rosewood tea caddy, in vaulted form with rosewood and…

Victorian Rosewood Tea Caddy with Satinwood Stripes

Victorian rosewood tea caddy, in vaulted form with rosewood and satinwood stripes to front and top. Length 25 cm Height 14.5 cm.

Regency beefwood tea caddy, with brass ring handles and…

Regency Beefwood Tea Caddy with Satinwood Interior

Regency beefwood tea caddy, with brass ring handles and interior of satinwood with central mixing bowl. Length 30 cm Height 18 cm

George III satinwood tea caddy, with lion mask handles, ebony…

George III Satinwood Tea Caddy with Lion Mask Handles

George III satinwood tea caddy, with lion mask handles, ebony trim and ball feet, 21.3 cm wide, 11 cm deep, 12.5 cm high

Early Victorian dome top rosewood tea caddy, with satinwood…

Rosewood Tea Caddy with Satinwood Stripes

Early Victorian dome top rosewood tea caddy, with satinwood stripes to top and front, 20 cm wide, 11 cm high

An Anglo-Indian satinwood tea caddy, circa 1840, 21.5 cm high,…

Anglo-Indian Satinwood Tea Caddy, Circa 1840

An Anglo-Indian satinwood tea caddy, circa 1840, 21.5 cm high, 23 cm wide, 16 cm deep

Antique English mahogany tea caddy, fitted with original tin…

English Mahogany Tea Caddy with Original Tin Canisters

Antique English mahogany tea caddy, fitted with original tin canisters, central bronze carry handle and satinwood banding, approx 18 cm high, 26 cm wide, 18 cm deep

A George III oval inlaid satinwood tea caddy, circa 1790 the…

Inlaid Satinwood Tea Caddy, George III, 1790

A George III oval inlaid satinwood tea caddy, circa 1790 the top inlaid with flower head paterae, brass handle, the sides decorated with amphora, swags and foliate motifs, the interior with original tin lining and key 12 cm high, 19.5 cm wide, 14.5 cm deep

Regency satinwood tea caddy measures 21 x 14 cm high

Regency Satinwood Tea Caddy - 21 x 14 cm

Regency satinwood tea caddy measures 21 x 14 cm high

Victorian inlaid Satin wood tea caddy with lion paw brass feet,…

Victorian Satinwood Tea Caddy with Brass Lion Feet

Victorian inlaid Satin wood tea caddy with lion paw brass feet, insides missing

A 19th century satinwood tea caddy, plain rectangular, with…

19th Century Satinwood Tea Caddy with Lock

A 19th century satinwood tea caddy, plain rectangular, with bone diamond-lozenge escutcheon; lock by Jackson, Launceston. Width 32 cm

An early 19th century sarcophagus tea caddy in mahogany with…

Mahogany Sarcophagus Tea Caddy with Gilt Claw Feet

An early 19th century sarcophagus tea caddy in mahogany with satinwood stringing and inlaid escutcheon, raised on gilt metal claw feet; the interior divided into three compartments, lids absent, some faults. 28 x 14 x 16 cm