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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Edward VII sterling silver tea caddy in the form a Georgian III…

Edwardian Sterling Silver Tea Caddy Knife Box, Sheffield 1908

Edward VII sterling silver tea caddy in the form a Georgian III knife box with engraved initials, Sheffield 1908, aprox 279 grams

Georgian V sterling silver tea caddy plain bombe form, the…

Plain Georgian Sterling Silver Tea Caddy

Georgian V sterling silver tea caddy plain bombe form, the hinged lid with urn finial, Sheffield 1912, approx 139 grams

A late Victorian silver tea caddy, oval form, half embossed,…

Victorian Silver Tea Caddy with Embossed Design

A late Victorian silver tea caddy, oval form, half embossed, with cap form lid, height 9.5 cm. London 1896 by Josiah Williams & Co (George Maudsley Jackson). 152gm.

A stunning pair of George III sterling silver Chippendale…

George III Sterling Silver Chinoiserie Tea Caddies

A stunning pair of George III sterling silver Chippendale pagoda shaped tea caddies in the chinoiserie style. Made by John Marshall of London, circa 1764. Each with fine hand worked repousse decoration to the side panels, including a female tea picker…

George II sterling silver tea caddy, mark of Ebenezer Coker,…

George II Silver Tea Caddy, London 1763

George II sterling silver tea caddy, mark of Ebenezer Coker, London, 1763, of rectangular shape, engraved with scrolls, leaves and flowers, lidded, hallmarked, height 13 cm weight 314 grams. Provenance: The Estate of Diana Kemp, NSW

Georgian tortoiseshell tea caddy silver inlay and decorative…

Georgian Silver Inlaid Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy with Monogram

Georgian tortoiseshell tea caddy silver inlay and decorative finial, with engraved monogram to exterior, twin lids to interior, circa 1770s, height 14 cm.

George III mahogany tea caddy with oval inlays of yew and…

George III Oval Inlaid Mahogany Tea Caddy

George III mahogany tea caddy with oval inlays of yew and boxwood, twin lidded interior, 25 cm wide x 12.5 x 13 cm high, C.1790.

A quality George III casket form tortoiseshell tea caddy,…

George III Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy with Lion Mask Handles

A quality George III casket form tortoiseshell tea caddy, paneled with ivory and white metal trim, gilded captured ring lion mask handles and paw feet. The fitted interior with twin compartments and cut crystal mixing bowl, red velvet lined. 31 x 13.5 x…

A George III sterling silver tea canister, John Roberts & Co.,…

George III Silver Tea Canister with Repousse Swag Decoration

A George III sterling silver tea canister, John Roberts & Co., Sheffield, early 19th century (date mark indistinct), ovoid on a square platform based with ball feet, the body with repousse swag decoration, the cover and foot with stylised stiff leaves, 17…

A George III mahogany tea caddy, the domed rising top with…

George III Mahogany Tea Caddy with Zinc Canisters

A George III mahogany tea caddy, the domed rising top with brass handle opening to reveal two zinc canisters. Height 15 cm, width 26 cm, depth 14.5 cm. Provenance: Contents of Swanton, Sutton Forest

A George I Britannia standard silver tea canister, rectangular…

Georgian Silver Tea Canister with Monogram, London 1723

A George I Britannia standard silver tea canister, rectangular with canted corners, slide out top and lift of domed cover serving as a measure. Monogrammed MM within a finely engraved rocaille cartouche incorporating three escalops. London 1723 by John…

George III mahogany & inlaid tea caddy, with inlaid oval shell…

George III Inlaid Tea Caddy with Shell Paterae

George III mahogany & inlaid tea caddy, with inlaid oval shell paterae to the top and similar floral inlay to the front (hinge broken off)

Large Georgian tea caddy, of rectangular form, with stringing…

Georgian Tea Caddy with Fitted Interior and Decanters

Large Georgian tea caddy, of rectangular form, with stringing to the edges, opening to a fitted interior with later bowl and two decanters and stoppers, flanked by a pair of drop handles and raised on four bun feet, 20 cm x 26 cm x 15.5 cm

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

A George III silver plain tea caddy, oval form with seated…

George III Silver Tea Caddy with Griffin Crest

A George III silver plain tea caddy, oval form with seated griffin crest on oval cartouche, the flat lid with oval urn form finial, hidden hinge. London 1784 by Charles Aldridge & Henry Green, width 13 cm.

Rare Georgian ivory tea caddy, ten sided with silver framed…

Georgian Ivory Tea Caddy with Silver Inlay and Miniature

Rare Georgian ivory tea caddy, ten sided with silver framed hand painted central miniature surrounded by inlaid silver decoration

A George III silver tea caddy, makers' mark of Peter and Ann…

George III Silver Tea Caddy by Peter & Ann Bateman (1799)

A George III silver tea caddy, makers' mark of Peter and Ann Bateman, London 1799, shaped oval with domed hinged cover revealing a double compartment interior, having bands of bright cut engraved fruit and flowers and two cartouches with presentation…

A George III silver tea caddy, maker's mark of John Denzilow,…

George III Silver Tea Caddy, London 1791, Engraved Floral Design

A George III silver tea caddy, maker's mark of John Denzilow, London 1791, rectangular with canted corners and a slightly domed cover with finial, having bands of bright cut engraving of flowerheads and two vacant cartouches, height 14 cm, 462g

A Georgian tortoiseshell domed tea caddy, circa 1800, finely…

Georgian Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy with Silver and Ivory Decoration

A Georgian tortoiseshell domed tea caddy, circa 1800, finely decorated with silver stringing and ivory edging and ball feet, with a brass finial and silver escutcheon and vacant cartouche, complete with lids to the two section interior, with key, 16 cm…

Sterling silver tea caddy, lid decorated with a fairy playing a…

Antique Sterling Silver Tea Caddy with Fairy and Bacchanalian Scene

Sterling silver tea caddy, lid decorated with a fairy playing a violin. Base with bacchanalian type procession in a classical setting. Chester 1904 by George Nathan and Ridley Hayes. 7 x 7 cm 123g

Georgian tea caddy, flame mahogany twin reservoir internally…

Georgian Flame Mahogany Tea Caddy with Velvet Lining

Georgian tea caddy, flame mahogany twin reservoir internally lined with velvet to lid and boxwood circular detaching at centre insert replaced not matching

Rare late Georgian casuarina tea caddy, interior with 2 lidded…

Rare late Georgian casuarina tea caddy, interior with 2 lidded canisters with banded decoration, and central lidded glass mixing bowl, circa 1800, which is of significant age for use of casuarina use in tea caddies, width 30 cm; height 16 cm

A George V silver tea caddy, plain circular form with gadrooned…

A George V silver tea caddy, plain circular form with gadrooned rims and pull off lid, Mappin & Webb, London 1911, height 8.5 cm. Weight 94 cm.

Late George III sterling silver tea caddy, hallmarked London,…

Late George III sterling silver tea caddy, hallmarked London, 1808, Thomas Hayter, of oval form, with a cylindrical cover, with bands of foliate engraving to shoulders and base, total weight 136gm, height 8.8 cm and width 8.5 cm. Provenance: The Estate of…

A George III flame mahogany tea caddy, the fitted interior with…

A George III flame mahogany tea caddy, the fitted interior with twin compartments, mixing bowl absent. Length 30.5 cm.

A George III silver strung tortoiseshell tea caddy, circa 1800,…

A George III silver strung tortoiseshell tea caddy, circa 1800, of casket profile with a vacant silver cartouche to the lid, twin lids with ivory knops to the interior, with key, 12 cm high, 17 cm wide, 10 cm deep

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…

Regency burr yew tea caddy with twin interior, trimmed with…

Regency burr yew tea caddy with twin interior, trimmed with ebony. Circa 1830. Approximate dimensions: 11.5 cm long, 18.5 cm wide, 14 cm high.

A Regency brass inlaid mahogany tea caddy, circa 1810, of…

A Regency brass inlaid mahogany tea caddy, circa 1810, of sarcophagus form with gilt metal lion mask ring handles to the sides and lion's paw feet, all edges with inlaid brass mouldings, the top and front inlaid with brass stars and stringing, the…

Late Georgian Australian casuarina tea caddy c1810s, with…

Late Georgian Australian Casuarina Tea Caddy with Inlaid Details

Late Georgian Australian casuarina tea caddy c1810s, with inlaid details, on brass ball feet and vaulted top, 19 cm long x 10.5 cm wide x 14.5 cm high.

Georgian period Australian casuarina tea caddy c1810s, with…

Georgian Australian casuarina tea caddy, c.1810s, inlaid design, ring handles

Georgian period Australian casuarina tea caddy c1810s, with inlaid and side ring handles,

Superb George III sterling silver tea caddy, hallmarked, London,…

Superb George III sterling silver tea caddy, hallmarked, London,1781, Daniel Smith & Robert sharp, of shaped oval form, set with a floral finial, surrounded by fine beaded borders, the body beautifully engraved with central armorial, above a fine lower…