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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Georgian rosewood tea caddy with box wood stringing of…

Georgian Rosewood Tea Caddy with Boxwood Stringing

Georgian rosewood tea caddy with box wood stringing of sarcophagus form

Large William IV dark rosewood tea caddy on flat bun feet with…

William IV Rosewood Tea Caddy, 1835

Large William IV dark rosewood tea caddy on flat bun feet with interior canisters, C:1835

A Regency rosewood inlaid tea caddy, of sarcophagus form, fine…

Regency Rosewood Tea Caddy with Satinwood Inlay

A Regency rosewood inlaid tea caddy, of sarcophagus form, fine satinwood inlaid panels with elaborate scrolling frame, captured ring handles, the interior with two lidded compartments.

George III rosewood sarcophagus tea caddy having two lidded…

George III Rosewood Tea Caddy with Porcelain Bowl

George III rosewood sarcophagus tea caddy having two lidded compartments & a porcelain mixing bowl, raised on four bun feet. Condition good, some cracking to the base. Dimensions 32 x 17.5 x 15.5 cm

An antique English tea caddy, rosewood veneer with inlaid brass…

Antique English Rosewood Tea Caddy with Brass Inlay

An antique English tea caddy, rosewood veneer with inlaid brass top and bun feet, interior fitted with two canisters and space for mixing bowl, circa 1830, 19 cm high33 cm wide, 16.5 cm deep

Victorian rosewood tea caddy sarcophagus shaped, on ebonised…

Rosewood Tea Caddy with Twin Compartments, 1840

Victorian rosewood tea caddy sarcophagus shaped, on ebonised ball feet, twin lidded compartments to interior, circa 1840, height 18 cm.

Three English tea caddies, 19th century comprising two box form…

English Tea Caddy Trio - 19th Century

Three English tea caddies, 19th century comprising two box form satinwood strung mahogany caddies and a rosewood sarcophagus form tea caddy the largest 12 cm high, 18 cm wide, 10.5 cm deep

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

William IV rosewood sarcophagus tea caddy, traditional form,…

William IV Rosewood Tea Caddy with Glass Bowl

William IV rosewood sarcophagus tea caddy, traditional form, two handled (one chipped), interior with 2 lidded compartments and glass mixing bowl on bun feet, 31 cm wide

A Victorian bird's eye maple box, 9th century, with key, the…

Victorian Bird's Eye Maple Tea Caddy Box with Key

A Victorian bird's eye maple box, 9th century, with key, the light honey toned box with an aged patina, formerly a tea caddy, with rosewood edges and a simple round mother-of-pearl escutcheon, well restored with black moire taffeta lining, height 10.5 cm,…

Antique English Rosewood tea caddy, missing bowl, approx 14 cm…

Rosewood Tea Caddy, Antique, Missing Bowl, 14x28x16cm

Antique English Rosewood tea caddy, missing bowl, approx 14 cm high, 28 cm wide, 16 cm deep

An antique English rosewood tea caddy with twin compartments,…

19th Century Rosewood Tea Caddy with Twin Compartments

An antique English rosewood tea caddy with twin compartments, early 19th century, 14 cm high, 22 cm wide, 14 cm deep

An antique English rosewood tea caddy with bone escutcheon,…

English Rosewood Tea Caddy with Bone Escutcheon (9 words)

An antique English rosewood tea caddy with bone escutcheon, early 19th century, 11.5 cm high, 19.5 cm wide, 11.5 cm deep

Regency rosewood tea caddy, inlaid with brass & mother of pearl…

Rosewood Tea Caddy with Brass & Mother of Pearl Inlay

Regency rosewood tea caddy, inlaid with brass & mother of pearl A/F

A Regency rosewood tea chest, circa 1815, of sarcophagus shape…

Regency Rosewood Tea Chest with Elaborate Cast Feet

A Regency rosewood tea chest, circa 1815, of sarcophagus shape with boxwood edging, a bone escutcheon, twin lion and ring brass handles and raised on elaborate cast shell feet, the fitted interior with hinged caddies and a glass mixing bowl, with a silver…

Regency rosewood and silver tea caddy rosewood with silver…

Regency Rosewood & Silver Tea Caddy with Interior Compartments

Regency rosewood and silver tea caddy rosewood with silver borders and corners, with 2 interior lidded compartments, circa 1820, length 21 cm, height 10 cm

A Victorian rosewood tea caddy, with brass inlay & claw feet

Rosewood Tea Caddy with Brass Inlay & Claw Feet

A Victorian rosewood tea caddy, with brass inlay & claw feet

A Regency rosewood tea caddy, of sarcophagus shape with…

Regency Rosewood Tea Caddy with Mother-of-Pearl Inlay

A Regency rosewood tea caddy, of sarcophagus shape with mother-of-pearl inlay, the hinged lid opening to reveal two compartments flanking a cavity for a mixing bowl. Width 34 cm

Rosewood sarcophagus tea caddy, the interior complete with 2…

Rosewood sarcophagus tea caddy, the interior complete with 2 tea compartments and central bowl, mother of pearl escutcheon

Regency rosewood sarcophagus tea caddy, with twin lidded…

Rosewood Tea Caddy with Glass Mixing Bowl

Regency rosewood sarcophagus tea caddy, with twin lidded interior and central glass mixing bowl

Regency rosewood small proportion tea caddy fitted with two…

Regency Rosewood Tea Caddy with Dual Compartments

Regency rosewood small proportion tea caddy fitted with two interior compartments

Regency rosewood tea caddy of sarcophagus form on bun feet (one…

Rosewood Tea Caddy on Bun Feet

Regency rosewood tea caddy of sarcophagus form on bun feet (one missing)

William IV / early Victorian rosewood tea caddy, inlaid with…

Rosewood Tea Caddy with Mother of Pearl Inlay, c1840

William IV / early Victorian rosewood tea caddy, inlaid with mother of pearl, twin lidded interior with ebony knobs, c1840

A late 19th century birds-eye maple tea caddy with rosewood…

Birds-Eye Maple Tea Caddy with Rosewood and Mother-of-Pearl

A late 19th century birds-eye maple tea caddy with rosewood edging and mother of pearl escutcheon. Width 19.5 cm

Victorian brass-bound rosewood tea caddy box, height 12  cm,…

Victorian Brass-Bound Rosewood Tea Caddy Box

Victorian brass-bound rosewood tea caddy box, height 12 cm, width 15.5 cm

Antique rosewood tea-caddy with part interior, approx 17 cm high

Rosewood Tea Caddy with Partial Interior - Antique

Antique rosewood tea-caddy with part interior, approx 17 cm high

Rosewood tea caddy sarcophagus probably late Georgian and in a…

Georgian Rosewood Tea Caddy with Crystal Bowl

Rosewood tea caddy sarcophagus probably late Georgian and in a rosewood veneer with a curved top and a hinged lid revealing two compartmental mixing sections and a centralised cut crystal bowl, height 20 cm, width 32 cm, depth 17 cm

Antique Victorian rosewood tea caddy with inlaid mother of…

Victorian Rosewood Tea Caddy with Mother of Pearl Inlay

Antique Victorian rosewood tea caddy with inlaid mother of pearl decoration around edge of lid, inset with brass engraved Tea, two lidded boxes inside, circa 1860, 11 cm x 16.5 cm, 10 cm high approx.

19th century sarcophagus shaped rosewood tea caddy with string…

Rosewood Tea Caddy with Inlay and Three Compartments

19th century sarcophagus shaped rosewood tea caddy with string inlay and three lidded compartments to the interior measures 30 cm high, 15.5 cm wide, af

Victorian rosewood tea caddy fitted interior, two ring handles.…

Victorian Rosewood Tea Caddy with Fitted Interior

Victorian rosewood tea caddy fitted interior, two ring handles. Height 17 cm width 32 cm

Regency rosewood sarcophagus tea caddy the interior with 2…

Regency Rosewood Tea Caddy with Glass Mixing Bowl

Regency rosewood sarcophagus tea caddy the interior with 2 lidded compartments and central glass mixing bowl, 31 cm width

Early Victorian rosewood tea caddy 30 cm wide

Victorian Rosewood Tea Caddy - 30cm Wide

Early Victorian rosewood tea caddy 30 cm wide

Victorian rosewood tea caddy having a bone inlaid keyhole, two…

Victorian Rosewood Tea Caddy with Bone Inlay and Key

Victorian rosewood tea caddy having a bone inlaid keyhole, two internal lids, with a key & certificate.

A Regency rosewood tea caddy, sarcophagus form, the interior…

Regency Rosewood Tea Caddy with Glass Bowl

A Regency rosewood tea caddy, sarcophagus form, the interior with two lidded compartments and an old glass mixing bowl. A.F.

Early Victorian rosewood tea caddy with 2 internal canisters,…

Victorian Rosewood Tea Caddy with Canisters

Early Victorian rosewood tea caddy with 2 internal canisters, 32 cm wide, 16.5 cm deep, 17 cm high

Georgian rosewood tea caddy, width 17.5 cm, diameter 10 cm…

Georgian Rosewood Tea Caddy - 17.5 cm Width

Georgian rosewood tea caddy, width 17.5 cm, diameter 10 cm approx

Regency rosewood sarcophagus tea caddy with double lidded…

Rosewood Sarcophagus Tea Caddy with Double Lid & Handles

Regency rosewood sarcophagus tea caddy with double lidded interior and turned carrying handles

Victorian rosewood sarcophagus tea caddy with three lidded…

Victorian Rosewood Tea Caddy with Felt-Lined Compartments

Victorian rosewood sarcophagus tea caddy with three lidded internal felt lined compartments & lid & standing on four bun feet, dimensions 27.8 x 15.5 x 14.8 cm

Victorian rosewood sarcophagus tea caddy with two lidded…

Victorian Rosewood Tea Caddy with Glass Bowl

Victorian rosewood sarcophagus tea caddy with two lidded internal compartments & a cut glass bowl, a silk lined lid & standing on four ball & claw feet. Condition fair, some losses to the timber, missing lead lining, one foor restored. Dimensions 34 x 18…

Victorian rosewood tea caddy, of rectangular form with tapering…

Victorian Rosewood Tea Caddy with Three Compartments

Victorian rosewood tea caddy, of rectangular form with tapering sides, opening to three compartments, length 17.5 cm

A Regency rosewood tea caddy, plain sarcophagus form,…

Regency Rosewood Tea Caddy with Mother-of-Pearl Inlay

A Regency rosewood tea caddy, plain sarcophagus form, mother-of-pearl- inlaid escutcheon, vacant interior. 28.5 cm x 13.5 cm x 15.5 cm

Antique boxes: walnut sewing box and rosewood tea caddy…

Antique Walnut Sewing Box & Rosewood Tea Caddy

Antique boxes: walnut sewing box and rosewood tea caddy (guttered). (2 items)

Victorian rosewood tea caddy with dome top with two lidded…

Victorian Rosewood Tea Caddy with Mother of Pearl Escutcheon

Victorian rosewood tea caddy with dome top with two lidded interior compartments and mother of pearl key escutcheon, sitting on bun feet. Size height 15 cm, width 20 cm, depth 13 cm

Victorian rosewood tea caddy of sarcophagus form with mother of…

Rosewood Tea Caddy with Mother of Pearl Keyhole

Victorian rosewood tea caddy of sarcophagus form with mother of pearl keyhole. Two fitted lids to interior. Dimensions 29 x 16 x 17 cm

Victorian rosewood? tea caddy. Dome top; mother of pearl key…

Victorian Rosewood Tea Caddy with Silvered Sections

Victorian rosewood? tea caddy. Dome top; mother of pearl key escutcheon. Two internal lidded silvered sections. Bun feet. Length 21 cm

Victorian rosewood tea caddy single lidded tea box, 14 cm wide,…

Victorian Rosewood Tea Caddy with Missing Stringing

Victorian rosewood tea caddy single lidded tea box, 14 cm wide, 10.5 cm high, some stringing missing

Antique Georgian rosewood tea caddy

Georgian Rosewood Tea Caddy

Antique Georgian rosewood tea caddy

Victorian rosewood sarcophagus tea caddy twin lidded…

Victorian Rosewood Tea Caddy with Twin Compartments

Victorian rosewood sarcophagus tea caddy twin lidded compartments to interior, 16 cm height, 28 cm width

Antique small rosewood veneered tea caddy, width 20 cm

Antique small rosewood veneered tea caddy, width 20 cm

Victorian tea caddy, with rosewood veneer, 32.5 cm wide, 18 cm…

Victorian Rosewood Tea Caddy - 32.5 x 18 cm

Victorian tea caddy, with rosewood veneer, 32.5 cm wide, 18 cm high

Regency rosewood tea caddy sarcophagus shape, (lacks interior…

Rosewood Tea Caddy and Walnut Stationery Stand

Regency rosewood tea caddy sarcophagus shape, (lacks interior fittings and escutcheon), together with a burr walnut stationery stand with gilt metal embellishments.