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...

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19th century English tea caddy

Victorian Tea Caddy

19th century English tea caddy

Antique Tunbridge ware domed tea caddy inlaid decoration, dual…

Domed Tunbridge Ware Tea Caddy with Dual Compartments

Antique Tunbridge ware domed tea caddy inlaid decoration, dual lidded compartment.

An antique dome top walnut tea caddy with metal and bone mounts

Walnut Tea Caddy with Metal and Bone Mounts

An antique dome top walnut tea caddy with metal and bone mounts

Rare antique cottage form wood tea caddy hand painted…

Hand-Painted Antique Cottage Tea Caddy with Two Sections

Rare antique cottage form wood tea caddy hand painted decoration to lid and sides, with 2 section lidded interior, height 18 cm, width 18 cm.

Antique wood tea caddy with divided interior, remnants of tin…

Antique Wood Tea Caddy with Tin Lining

Antique wood tea caddy with divided interior, remnants of tin lining to interior, height 13 cm.

Antique small Australian wood tea caddy walnut veneered…

Small Antique Australian Walnut Tea Caddy

Antique small Australian wood tea caddy walnut veneered measures 11.2 cm high, 11.5 cm wide

A rare tortoiseshell twin division tea caddy. 15 cm high, 21 cm…

Rare Tortoiseshell Twin Division Tea Caddy

A rare tortoiseshell twin division tea caddy. 15 cm high, 21 cm wide, 12 cm deep.

Victorian olive wood tea caddy 19.5 cm wide, 13 cm deep, 11 cm…

Victorian Olive Wood Tea Caddy

Victorian olive wood tea caddy 19.5 cm wide, 13 cm deep, 11 cm high

Tea caddy mid 19th century, Jennens and Bettridge, lacquer ware,…

Jennens and Bettridge Tea Caddy

Tea caddy mid 19th century, Jennens and Bettridge, lacquer ware, with gilt highlights, two compartments, height 16, width 26 cm

Australian cedar tea caddy height 17 cm.

Australian Cedar Tea Caddy - 17cm Height

Australian cedar tea caddy height 17 cm.

Victorian inlaid walnut tea caddy domed lid, inlaid decoration…

Victorian Walnut Inlaid Tea Caddy with Twin Compartments

Victorian inlaid walnut tea caddy domed lid, inlaid decoration to exterior, key available, twin lidded compartments to interior, circa 1880, length 17 cm.

Victorian sarcophagus tea caddy, height 17 cm, width 28 cm,…

Victorian Sarcophagus Tea Caddy - Antique Treasure

Victorian sarcophagus tea caddy, height 17 cm, width 28 cm, depth 14.5 cm

Small Victorian sarcophagus tea caddy, width 20 cm, and an…

Victorian Tea Caddies: Small Inlaid and Sarcophagus Styles

Small Victorian sarcophagus tea caddy, width 20 cm, and an inlaid example, width 19 cm

A tortoiseshell tea caddy with two compartments, height 5.5 cm…

Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy, Two Compartments, No Key

A tortoiseshell tea caddy with two compartments, height 5.5 cm x 17.5 cm x 11 cm, no key

An antique walnut tea caddy with banded inlay, width 24 cm

Antique Walnut Tea Caddy with Inlay - 24cm Width

An antique walnut tea caddy with banded inlay, width 24 cm

A Colonial tea caddy, musk and cedar with pine secondary…

Tasmanian Colonial Tea Caddy, Circa 1840

A Colonial tea caddy, musk and cedar with pine secondary timbers, Tasmanian origin, circa 1840, 13 cm high, 29.5 cm wide, 13.5 cm deep

A pair of English walnut tea caddy boxes, 19th century, 8.5 cm…

English Walnut Tea Caddy Boxes, 19th Century

A pair of English walnut tea caddy boxes, 19th century, 8.5 cm high, 9 cm wide, 9 cm deep

Victorian burr walnut & parquetry banded tea caddy, oblong dome…

Burr Walnut Parquetry Tea Caddy with Twin Compartments

Victorian burr walnut & parquetry banded tea caddy, oblong dome top shape, the interior with twin lidded compartments

A carved elm pear form tea caddy, a carved elm pear form tea…

Elm Pear Tea Caddy with Key, 18.5 cm High

A carved elm pear form tea caddy, a carved elm pear form tea caddy, with key, 18.5 cm high

Maling Ringtons blue & white porcelain tea caddy small chip to…

Blue & White Porcelain Tea Caddy with Small Chip

Maling Ringtons blue & white porcelain tea caddy small chip to inside of rim, 19 cm height

A William IV tortoiseshell tea caddy, sarcophagus shaped,…

William IV Tea Caddy with Monogram, 1799

A William IV tortoiseshell tea caddy, sarcophagus shaped, monogrammed Rba 1799, two section and lidded interior, raised on ball feet. Minor losses. Height 18 cm.

A tortoiseshell tea caddy, with ivory inlay, sarcophagus shaped,…

Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy with Ivory Inlay

A tortoiseshell tea caddy, with ivory inlay, sarcophagus shaped, two section and lidded interior, raised on ball feet. Height 17 cm, minor losses.

A Dutch Delft ware tea caddy with armorial crest, 18th century,…

18th Century Dutch Delft Tea Caddy with Crest

A Dutch Delft ware tea caddy with armorial crest, 18th century, 11 cm high

Rococo style Victorian tea caddy having floral and scrolled…

Rococo Tea Caddy by Robinson, Edkins & Aston

Rococo style Victorian tea caddy having floral and scrolled work with blank cartouche on each side. By Robinson, Edkins & Aston Birmingham. 1839, height10.1 cm. Weight250.5 grams.

An antique porcelain flask and a Staffordshire china tea…

Antique Porcelain Flask and Staffordshire Tea Canister

An antique porcelain flask and a Staffordshire china tea canister, both of square outline, the European porcelain flask unmarked, the tea canister by Crown Staffordshire, length 16.5 cm, and smaller

A tea caddy, pair of compotes, and a barrel shaped box,…

Tasmanian Blackwood Tea Caddy and Tableware Set

A tea caddy, pair of compotes, and a barrel shaped box, blackwood, Tasmanian origin, 19th century, (4 items), the tea caddy 13 cm high, 14 cm wide, 10 cm deep

Good early Victorian figured tea caddy

Early Victorian Figured Tea Caddy

Good early Victorian figured tea caddy

Early sarcophagus form wood tea caddy with 2 internal lidded…

Wooden Sarcophagus Tea Caddy with Dual Compartments

Early sarcophagus form wood tea caddy with 2 internal lidded compartments, height 17 cm, width 21 cm

Two Victorian cedar tea caddies, 19th century, one of…

Victorian Cedar Tea Caddies (2) from Hutchinson Collection

Two Victorian cedar tea caddies, 19th century, one of sarcophagus shape, the other rectangular with inlaid interior (A/F) (2), height 15 cm width 25 cm, height 17 cm width 27.5 cm. Provenance: The collection of Robert Hutchinson, Sydney

Five pieces of 18th century Alt Wien porcelain, comprising…

18th Century Alt Wien Porcelain Set

Five pieces of 18th century Alt Wien porcelain, comprising coffee pot, chocolate pot, milk jug, tea caddy and tazza, each decorated with floral sprays, height 8 cm-19.5 cm (5)

18th century Imari tea caddy, of facetted rectangular form,…

Imari Tea Caddy, 18th Century

18th century Imari tea caddy, of facetted rectangular form, decorated with flowers and foliage, a/f, height 12 cm

Antique tortoiseshell tea caddy antique lidded hexagonal tea…

Antique Tortoiseshell Hexagonal Tea Caddy with Lid and Feet

Antique tortoiseshell tea caddy antique lidded hexagonal tea caddy, with lid opening to lidded lead lined tea compartment, on 4 bun feet, height 11 cm. Damage near the hinge

A superb and rare Victorian walnut and parquetry sideboard tea…

Victorian Walnut Parquetry Sideboard Tea Caddy

A superb and rare Victorian walnut and parquetry sideboard tea caddy of large sarcophagus form with geometric inlays, lid interior inlaid with central oval shell paterae with conical designs above and below, two inlaid hinged tea compartments centred by…

Good 19th century inlaid walnut tea caddy, of deep rectangular…

Inlaid Walnut Tea Caddy with Ivory Handles and Secret Drawer

Good 19th century inlaid walnut tea caddy, of deep rectangular form, decorated with herringbone veneer borders, opening to three lidded compartments with ivory handles, with secret drawer to side, the whole raised upon gilt metal feet, 17 cm x 23.5 cm x…

Tortoise shell tea caddy, 19th century two sectional caddy with…

19th Century Tortoise Shell Tea Caddy with Ivory Inlay

Tortoise shell tea caddy, 19th century two sectional caddy with carved ivory inlay edges, lid finials and four bun shape feet, height 9.5 cm, length 15 cm, depth 9 cm, some A/F

Victorian tortoise shell tea caddy, lovely tortoise shell box…

Victorian Tortoise Shell Tea Caddy with Key

Victorian tortoise shell tea caddy, lovely tortoise shell box with original internal lead lining and lid with key

Late 19th century European blue & white tea caddy decorated…

Blue & White Tea Caddy with Birds & Foliage

Late 19th century European blue & white tea caddy decorated with birds and foliage with matching cover (faults) 14 cm height

19th century. Tortoise shell tea caddy, two sectional…

Antique Tortoise Shell Tea Caddy with Bone Feet & Key

19th century. Tortoise shell tea caddy, two sectional compartment with lids raised on four carved bone bun feet, and original key (some A/F)

Two apple-shaped tea caddies, each with a hinged top, one…

Apple Tea Caddies by Herbert Sixsmith

Two apple-shaped tea caddies, each with a hinged top, one lacquered cream and decorated with decoupage and signed 'Herbert Sixsmith'. Height of the larger 17 cm. Provenance: Contents of Swanton, Sutton Forest

Mid 19th century string inlaid tea caddy, of rectangular form…

String Inlaid Tea Caddy with Twin Compartments and Glass Bottle

Mid 19th century string inlaid tea caddy, of rectangular form with a hinged cover, opening to reveal twin compartments, with a removable hinged storage container and a circular recess for glass bottle, with red felt lining to interior and green to base,…

An antique tin glazed earthenware tea caddy, 17th/18th century,…

17th/18th Century Tin Glazed Earthenware Tea Caddy

An antique tin glazed earthenware tea caddy, 17th/18th century, 10.5 cm high

Victorian leather covered wooden 'book stack' form tea caddy,…

Victorian Leather Tea Caddy with Fitted Interior

Victorian leather covered wooden 'book stack' form tea caddy, distressed, lid opening to fitted interior, with 2 lidded compartments, and central mixing bowl, height 19 cm, width 32 cm.

Fine quality Victorian burr walnut & parquetry octagonal tea…

Victorian Burr Walnut Octagonal Tea Caddy - High Quality

Fine quality Victorian burr walnut & parquetry octagonal tea caddy, 24 cm high

Victorian tortoise shell tea caddy, sarcophagus shaped 19th…

Victorian tortoise shell tea caddy, sarcophagus shaped 19th century tea caddy with tortoise shell and ivory detailing and acorn finial