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...

63 items found:

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

An early Victorian walnut tea caddy, circa 1850s with cavetto…

Victorian Walnut Tea Caddy with Inlaid Barber Pole Design

An early Victorian walnut tea caddy, circa 1850s with cavetto moulded hinged lid, brass bail handle with pierced foliate plates, with stringing and barber pole inlaid, the velvet lined interior in three divisions, raised on bracket feet. Height 17 cm,…

A Regency walnut tea caddy, square sarcophagus form, with four…

A Regency walnut tea caddy, square sarcophagus form, with four interior lidded compartments, raised on small bun feet. 21 x 21 x 22 cm.

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

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

19th century walnut veneer tea caddy, with squat bombe shape…

19th Century Walnut Veneer Tea Caddy with Swag Border

19th century walnut veneer tea caddy, with squat bombe shape body, the slightly domed cover decorated with studded swag border, with ivory handle and mother of pearl key escutcheon, opening to reveal one large internal compartment, 8 x 22 x 16 cm

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…

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…

George III satinwood & marquetry octagonal tea caddy the lid…

Octagonal Satinwood Tea Caddy with Marquetry & Burr Walnut Inlay

George III satinwood & marquetry octagonal tea caddy the lid and front decorated with 3 classical beauties, the back and sides inlaid with burr walnut oval panels, green velvet lined interior with lift out lid, 13 cm width, 12.5 height

Victorian walnut Gothic revival two section tea caddy all…

Victorian Gothic Walnut Tea Caddy with Brass Fittings

Victorian walnut Gothic revival two section tea caddy all studded brass & ivorine fittings

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 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

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

Georgian burr walnut tea caddy with feathered inlay decoration…

Burr Walnut Tea Caddy with Inlay Decoration (Damaged)

Georgian burr walnut tea caddy with feathered inlay decoration (chip to reverse corner)

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.

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.

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 Georgian walnut tea caddy, rectangular form with chamfered…

Georgian Walnut Tea Caddy with Mixing Bowl

A Georgian walnut tea caddy, rectangular form with chamfered sides, the interior with two compartments and original mixing bowl. 29 x 14 x 15 cm.

Georgian 18th century walnut & chequer inlaid tea caddy with…

18th Century Walnut & Inlaid Tea Caddy with Axe Handle

Georgian 18th century walnut & chequer inlaid tea caddy with original axe handle to lid with three section oak interior.

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

19th century walnut tea caddy with mother of pearl inlay and…

Walnut Tea Caddy with Mother of Pearl Inlay

19th century walnut tea caddy with mother of pearl inlay and reed moulding

A Georgian tea caddy, mahogany and walnut with whalebone…

Georgian Tea Caddy with Whalebone Accents

A Georgian tea caddy, mahogany and walnut with whalebone escutcheon and knobs, early 19th century, 15 cm high, 26 cm wide, 17 cm deep

A Victorian burl walnut tea caddy 19th century, of sarcophagus…

Victorian Burl Walnut Tea Caddy with Silver Spoon

A Victorian burl walnut tea caddy 19th century, of sarcophagus form with generous proportions, the lid opening to reveal two original tea canisters with a married glass bowl, accompanied by a silver-plate spoon 19.5 cm high, 38 cm wide, 22.3 cm deep.…

A Victorian burr walnut tea caddy, oblong, the interior with…

Victorian Burr Walnut Tea Caddy with Removable Caddies

A Victorian burr walnut tea caddy, oblong, the interior with two curved lidded removable caddies. 25 x 15 x 16.5 cm.

A Victorian walnut dome top tea caddy, with marquetry inlay,…

Victorian Walnut Tea Caddy with Marquetry Inlay

A Victorian walnut dome top tea caddy, with marquetry inlay, the interior with two compartments, width 25 cm

Victorian figured walnut domed tea caddy, two sectioned interior

Victorian Walnut Tea Caddy with Domed Lid

Victorian figured walnut domed tea caddy, two sectioned interior

A Regency burr walnut tea caddy, of sarcophagus shape, the…

Regency Burr Walnut Tea Caddy with Sarcophagus Shape

A Regency burr walnut tea caddy, of sarcophagus shape, the interior with two compartments flanking a cavity for bowl. 33 cm x 18 cm x 20 cm

A tea caddy, walnut with ebony inlay, English, circa 1840, 13…

Walnut and Ebony Tea Caddy, English, Circa 1840

A tea caddy, walnut with ebony inlay, English, circa 1840, 13 cm high, 21 cm wide, 12 cm deep

Late Victorian burr walnut tea caddy decorated with brass strap…

Burr Walnut Tea Caddy with Brass Strap Work

Late Victorian burr walnut tea caddy decorated with brass strap work, 22.5 cm wide, 15 cm high

Victorian inlaid walnut tea caddy, of domed casket form,…

Inlaid Walnut Tea Caddy with Geometric Motifs

Victorian inlaid walnut tea caddy, of domed casket form, decorated with inlaid geometric motifs, with two interior compartments, height 15 cm

Large mid-Victorian burr walnut tea caddy on flat bun feet, the…

Burr Walnut Tea Caddy with Blue Glass Bowl, c1860

Large mid-Victorian burr walnut tea caddy on flat bun feet, the triple interior with matching compartments and blue glass bowl, c1860

A Georgian burr walnut tea caddy, and two silver spoons, early…

Georgian Burr Walnut Tea Caddy and Silver Spoons

A Georgian burr walnut tea caddy, and two silver spoons, early 19th century, the sarcophagus shaped box with ring handles and target mounts having two lidded and tin paper lined compartments, together with a silver-plated sifter spoon and a cased…

Victorian burr walnut caddy, with vaulted top and twin lidded…

Victorian Burr Walnut Twin Lid Caddy, c1860

Victorian burr walnut caddy, with vaulted top and twin lidded interior, c1860

Georgian burr walnut & rosewood tea caddy, with dome top,…

Georgian Burr Walnut Tea Caddy with Inlaid Canisters

Georgian burr walnut & rosewood tea caddy, with dome top, inlaid canisters and glass mixing bowl, key included, 35 cm wide, 19 cm high

George III walnut tea caddy, inlaid with ebony and boxwood,…

George III Tea Caddy, Walnut & Ebony Inlay, c1810

George III walnut tea caddy, inlaid with ebony and boxwood, twin interior, c1810

A Victorian dome top walnut tea caddy box, 19th century, the…

Victorian Walnut Tea Caddy with Tunbridge Ware Edges

A Victorian dome top walnut tea caddy box, 19th century, the plain high domed box with a burr walnut lid and well figured timbers to the body and interior, two lidded compartments with Tunbridge ware style coloured edges, and later lined with…

Victorian figured walnut tea caddy, with cut brass strap work,…

Victorian Walnut Tea Caddy with Brass Straps

Victorian figured walnut tea caddy, with cut brass strap work, circa 1870, 17.5 cm wide, 15 cm deep, 17 cm high approx

A 19th century walnut tea caddy

Walnut Tea Caddy from the 19th Century

A 19th century walnut tea caddy

Late Victorian tea caddy in burr walnut, of trunk form,…

Burr Walnut Victorian Tea Caddy with Strapwork Decoration

Late Victorian tea caddy in burr walnut, of trunk form, decorated with strapwork, length 23 cm

Georgian burr walnut tea caddy, with ebony stringing and…

Georgian Burr Walnut Tea Caddy with Ebony Stringing

Georgian burr walnut tea caddy, with ebony stringing and escutcheon and twin lidded interior, circa 1800, 11.5 cm x 23.5 cm, 13 cm high

Victorian burr walnut dome top tea caddy, with cut brass mounts,…

Victorian Burr Walnut Dome Top Tea Caddy

Victorian burr walnut dome top tea caddy, with cut brass mounts, interior empty, 24 cm wide, 16 cm high

Victorian burr walnut tea caddy, case with gilded bronze mounts,…

Victorian Burr Walnut Tea Caddy with Gilded Bronze Mounts

Victorian burr walnut tea caddy, case with gilded bronze mounts, interior with replaced glass bowl, height 17.5 cm width 24 cm. Provenance: The Estate of the late John Roarty, Point Piper

William IV walnut sarcophagus tea caddy, 35 cm wide, 20.5 cm…

William IV Walnut Tea Caddy

William IV walnut sarcophagus tea caddy, 35 cm wide, 20.5 cm high

Mid Georgian walnut tea caddy, with small bracket feet, brass…

Georgian Walnut Tea Caddy with Brass Accents

Mid Georgian walnut tea caddy, with small bracket feet, brass escutcheon & handle & 3 section interier, 26 cm x 12.5 cm, 14 cm high approx.

A Regency burr walnut tea caddy, English, 19th century, 16 cm…

Regency Burr Walnut Tea Caddy, 19th Century English

A Regency burr walnut tea caddy, English, 19th century, 16 cm high, 30 cm wide, 14.5 cm deep

A Georgian burr walnut and rosewood dome top tea caddy., the…

Georgian Burr Walnut Tea Caddy with Crystal Bowl

A Georgian burr walnut and rosewood dome top tea caddy., the caddy is of unusual concave shape. The interior is in original condition with two canisters and crystal mixing bowl.

Georgian walnut sarcophagus shaped tea caddy. Width 29 cm

Georgian Walnut Tea Caddy

Georgian walnut sarcophagus shaped tea caddy. Width 29 cm

A Georgian walnut tea caddy, 13 cm high, 21 cm wide, 12 cm deep

Georgian Walnut Tea Caddy - Antique Collectible

A Georgian walnut tea caddy, 13 cm high, 21 cm wide, 12 cm deep

A Victorian burr walnut, domed top, tea caddy, mid to late 19th…

Victorian Burr Walnut Tea Caddy with Key Design

A Victorian burr walnut, domed top, tea caddy, mid to late 19th century, decorated with cross banded veneer, interlocking, key designs, the interior having two lidded, compartments with brass turned knob handles

A Victorian walnut tea caddy in the Gothic manner, second half…

Gothic Walnut Tea Caddy with Brass Embellishments

A Victorian walnut tea caddy in the Gothic manner, second half 19th century, the casket shaped box with good figuration embellished with pierced brass, ivory and studs, with two lidded partitioned sections to the interior, the lid lined with the original…

A William IV walnut tea caddy

Walnut Tea Caddy from William IV Era

A William IV walnut tea caddy

19th century burr walnut two division tea caddy of sarcophagus…

Burr Walnut Tea Caddy with Key, 19th Century

19th century burr walnut two division tea caddy of sarcophagus form with a key 21 x 13 x 16 cm

A Victorian figured walnut and fruitwood strung tea caddy with…

Victorian Tea Caddy with Fitted Interior

A Victorian figured walnut and fruitwood strung tea caddy with fitted interior. Width 28 cm

A Regency mahogany, walnut and fruitwood tea caddy, sarcophagus…

Regency Tea Caddy with Diamond Escutcheon

A Regency mahogany, walnut and fruitwood tea caddy, sarcophagus form with diamond-lozenge escutcheon; fitted interior. Width 27 cm

Antique Victorian Walnut tea caddy

Victorian Walnut Tea Caddy

Antique Victorian Walnut tea caddy

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 inlaid walnut tea caddy with a key. Dimensions 12 x…

Victorian Inlaid Walnut Tea Caddy with Key

Victorian inlaid walnut tea caddy with a key. Dimensions 12 x 23 x 13 cm

An early Victorian burr walnut tea caddy with boxwood stringing…

Victorian Burr Walnut Tea Caddy with Boxwood Stringing

An early Victorian burr walnut tea caddy with boxwood stringing between all panels. Two lidded compartments with bone knobs. Side handles removed. Length 19 cm

Victorian marquetry burr walnut tea caddy with a dome top.…

Victorian Burr Walnut Tea Caddy with Marquetry Dome Top

Victorian marquetry burr walnut tea caddy with a dome top. Dimensions 22.5 x 13.5 x 15.5 cm

Inlaid walnut tea caddy-c.1880

Walnut Tea Caddy with Inlaid Design (8 words)

Inlaid walnut tea caddy-c.1880

A Victorian period walnut tea caddy, the dome top and front…

Agate Inlaid Victorian Walnut Tea Caddy

A Victorian period walnut tea caddy, the dome top and front with decoratively cut-out brass panels inlaid with agate cabochon stones, the interior with two domed lidded compartments, original lining to lid. 23.5 cm x 12.5 cm x 15.5 cm

An early Victorian burr walnut tea caddy, the interior with two…

Victorian Burr Walnut Tea Caddy with Paper Lining

An early Victorian burr walnut tea caddy, the interior with two lidded compartments and paper lining to lid, brass keyhole escutcheon. 21.5 cm x 13 cm x 12.5 cm

Victorian tea caddy, with burr walnut veneer, 21 cm wide, 12.5…

Victorian Burr Walnut Tea Caddy, 21 x 12.5 cm

Victorian tea caddy, with burr walnut veneer, 21 cm wide, 12.5 cm high approx

A large cross banded mahogany tea caddy 19th century, with a…

Mahogany Tea Caddy with Burr Walnut Interior - 19th Century

A large cross banded mahogany tea caddy 19th century, with a fully fitted interior inlaid with burr walnut, lacking the mixing bowl 17.5 x 39.5 x 19 cm