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...

30 items found:

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

A Victorian black lacquer and gilt chinoiserie tea caddy, the…

Victorian Chinoiserie Tea Caddy with Bun Feet

A Victorian black lacquer and gilt chinoiserie tea caddy, the interior with one tin lined tea container, with original two lids, raised on bun feet. (top faded and worn). 21 x 15 x 12.5 cm.

Chinese export ware lacquer tea caddy, of sarcophagus form,…

Chinese export ware lacquer tea caddy, of sarcophagus form, decorated continuously with court scenes and stylised flowers and foliage, raised on four dragon feet, height 15 cm x width 24.5 cm

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…

Chinese export ware tea caddy, of sarcophagus form, decorated…

Chinese Export Sarcophagus Tea Caddy with Pewter Containers

Chinese export ware tea caddy, of sarcophagus form, decorated with reserves of figures in a pagoda setting, with floral accents, the hinged cover opening to reveal two pewter tea containers, raised on four giltwood feet, 12.5 cm x 21 cm x 15 cm

A George III sterling silver tea caddy, of pagoda form, with…

Chinoiserie Sterling Silver Tea Caddy, London 1764

A George III sterling silver tea caddy, of pagoda form, with Chinoiserie decoration and blossom form finial, with four outset columns entwined with vine leaves, the enclosed panels depicting a lady reading in field, an amphora flower bouquet vase, a women…

Antique chinoiserie lacquer tea caddy decorated lacquer case,…

Chinoiserie Lacquer Tea Caddy with Fitted Interior

Antique chinoiserie lacquer tea caddy decorated lacquer case, damage to 1 hinge, with lid opening to fitted interior, with decorated inner pewter lid with carved ivory knob, opening to fitted pewter tea container, length 25 cm, height 15 cm.

A Chinese export gilt and lacquered tea caddy, of rectangular…

Gilt and lacquered Chinese tea caddy with figural scenes

A Chinese export gilt and lacquered tea caddy, of rectangular form decorated with figural scenes within shaped reserves on dragon and floral decorated ground, the interior with chased pewter lidded liner. With various cartouche depicting tea production…

Victorian Chinoiserie decorated tea caddy Chinoiserie…

Victorian Chinoiserie Tea Caddy with Twin Compartments

Victorian Chinoiserie decorated tea caddy Chinoiserie decoration to exterior, interior with twin compartments, circa 1870s, key available, length 22 cm.

Victorian lidded octagonal tea caddy painted Chinoiserie…

Chinoiserie Tea Caddy with Pewter Compartment, Victorian Era

Victorian lidded octagonal tea caddy painted Chinoiserie figures decoration to exterior, interior with lidded pewter compartment, gilded paw feet, circa 1870s, height 17 cm.

Antique Chinoiserie tea caddy on 4 dragon head feet & with a…

Chinoiserie Tea Caddy with Dragon Feet & Fitted Interior

Antique Chinoiserie tea caddy on 4 dragon head feet & with a fitted interior, 21 cm x 15 cm, 14 cm high approx., losses to feet,

A Victorian chinoiserie tea caddy, the interior with tin liner,…

Victorian Chinoiserie Tea Caddy with Tin Liner

A Victorian chinoiserie tea caddy, the interior with tin liner, the lid decorated with conforming chinoiserie designs, ivory button, width 16.5 cm, depth 11.5 cm, height 9.5 cm.

Regency Chinoiserie lacquered tea caddy, with gold painted…

Regency Gold Lacquered Tea Caddy with Chinoiserie Design

Regency Chinoiserie lacquered tea caddy, with gold painted figures & birds, twin interior of engraved double lidded pewter containers & claw feet, c1820, 23 cm x 17 cm, 13 cm high

Regency pumpkin shape chinoiserie tea caddy, lacquered & gold…

Regency Chinoiserie Tea Caddy with Gold Painted Pumpkin Shape

Regency pumpkin shape chinoiserie tea caddy, lacquered & gold painted, c1820, 22 cm x 17 cm, 13 cm high

An early 20th century black lacquer Chinoiserie decorated tea…

Chinoiserie Tea Caddy with Black Lacquer Finish

An early 20th century black lacquer Chinoiserie decorated tea caddy 15 cm high, 14 cm wide, 11 cm deep

A George IV sterling silver Chinoiserie tea caddy by John…

George IV Silver Chinoiserie Tea Caddy by John Wintle

A George IV sterling silver Chinoiserie tea caddy by John Wintle, London circa 1825, 17 cm high, 585 grams

A black lacquer and gilt chinoiserie tea caddy, 19th century,…

Chinoiserie Tea Caddy, 19th Century

A black lacquer and gilt chinoiserie tea caddy, 19th century, 15 cm high, 24 cm wide, 16 cm deep

Antique chinoiserie tea caddy, with black lacquered finish,…

Chinoiserie Tea Caddy with Mother of Pearl Inlay

Antique chinoiserie tea caddy, with black lacquered finish, mother of pearl inlay and gilt decoration, 25 cm wide, 12 cm high

Two porcelain tea caddies and a covered vase by Samson. Late…

Samson Porcelain Tea Caddies and Covered Vase

Two porcelain tea caddies and a covered vase by Samson. Late 19th century, in the manner of Chinese export wares the finely lobed baluster caddies and the covered Meiping style vase sprigged with enamel flowers in magenta, puce and emerald each with…

Antique 19th century Chinese export Chinoiserie tea caddy,…

19th Century Chinese Export Tea Caddy with Chinoiserie Design

Antique 19th century Chinese export Chinoiserie tea caddy, standing on carved claw form gilt wood feet, approx 15 cm high, 25 cm long, 12 cm deep

A Chinese export ware famille rose porcelain tea caddy, of…

Famille Rose Tea Caddy with Landscape Figures

A Chinese export ware famille rose porcelain tea caddy, of shouldered shape, the panels to either side painted with figures in landscape; provenance to an Otago goldfield's recovery. Hairline crack to mouth. Height 11.5 cm

Antique Chinese export tea caddy, fitted with lidded containers

Chinese Export Tea Caddy with Lidded Containers

Antique Chinese export tea caddy, fitted with lidded containers

A Victorian Chinoiserie ebonized and gilt tea caddy.…

Victorian Chinoiserie Tea Caddy

A Victorian Chinoiserie ebonized and gilt tea caddy. (previously with fitted interior - non-extant, cover chipped) width 21 cm

A Chinoiserie lacquered tea caddy of sarcophagus form, early…

Chinoiserie Tea Caddy with Dragon Feet

A Chinoiserie lacquered tea caddy of sarcophagus form, early 19th century, with original metal compartments, on four dragon's head feet, 14 cm high, 22 cm wide and 15 cm deep

A George III blue and white chinoiserie decorated tea caddy,…

Blue and White Chinoiserie Tea Caddy with Pagoda Decoration

A George III blue and white chinoiserie decorated tea caddy, canister form with rounded shoulder and short neck, no lid, coastal pagoda decoration with two figures upon a bridge, unmarked. Height 9.5 cm

Georgian Chinoiserie tea caddy with ruby glass bowl. Height 17.…

Georgian Chinoiserie Tea Caddy with Ruby Glass Bowl

Georgian Chinoiserie tea caddy with ruby glass bowl. Height 17.5 cm, width 31 cm, 15 cm

Antique Chinese export tea caddy, approx 32 cm wide, 18.5 cm…

Antique Chinese Tea Caddy, 32cm x 18.5cm

Antique Chinese export tea caddy, approx 32 cm wide, 18.5 cm high

A Chinese export lacquer tea caddy of rectangular form with…

Chinoiserie Lacquer Tea Caddy with Zinc Interior

A Chinese export lacquer tea caddy of rectangular form with Chinoiserie decoration and chased zinc interior. Height 14 cm. Width 26 cm. Depth 17.5 cm

A Chinese export lacquer tea caddy of shaped form with…

Chinoiserie Lacquer Tea Caddy with Faults

A Chinese export lacquer tea caddy of shaped form with Chinoiserie decoration, faults. Height 16 cm. Width 26 cm. Depth 18 cm

A good George III tortoiseshell bowfront tea caddy, the flared…

George III Tortoiseshell Bowfront Tea Caddy with Chinoiserie Inlay

A good George III tortoiseshell bowfront tea caddy, the flared pagoda form top with a small silver name plate engraved 'Sanderson', the front finely inlaid with mother-of-pearl chinoiserie decoration of florals and stylised building, plain three-quarter…

A mid Victorian octagonal black lacquered tea caddy with…

Victorian Chinoiserie Tea Caddy with Fitted Canisters

A mid Victorian octagonal black lacquered tea caddy with painted gilt Chinoiserie decoration. The interior with original fitted tin lidded engraved tea canisters, circa 1850. Length 23 cm