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...

23 items found:

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

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,

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.

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

Rare Regency casuarina wood tea caddy, with lion mask handles…

Rare Regency casuarina wood tea caddy, with lion mask handles (some A/F), width 20.5 cm, height 15 cm

Regency casuarina tea caddy sarcophagus shape, with boxwood…

Regency Tea Caddy with Boxwood Stringing and Twin Lids

Regency casuarina tea caddy sarcophagus shape, with boxwood stringing and twin matching lidded inner sections, key available, circa 1830s, width 20 cm.

Late Georgian casuarina tea caddy boxwood strung, canted lid,…

Georgian Bone Inlaid Tea Caddy Box, c.1810

Late Georgian casuarina tea caddy boxwood strung, canted lid, bone diamond escutcheon c1810 early casuarina

George III casuarina tea caddy with satin wood and sunburst…

Sunburst Inlaid Satin Wood Tea Caddy with Sliding Lid

George III casuarina tea caddy with satin wood and sunburst inlay, sliding lid and canisters

A Regency tea caddy, casuarina and pine with brass lion handles…

Regency Tea Caddy with Brass Lion Handles

A Regency tea caddy, casuarina and pine with brass lion handles and bun feet, circa 1825, interior fitted with casuarina compartments and glass mixing bowl, 22 cm high, 31 cm wide, 15 cm deep

Large Regency casuarina tea caddy inlaid with various woods,…

Regency Casuarina Tea Caddy with Inlays and Canisters

Large Regency casuarina tea caddy inlaid with various woods, the triple interior with matching inlays and lidded canisters, sphinx ring handles to sides, with key, c1825

Regency casuarina sarcophagus shape tea caddy, boxwood strung…

Regency Tea Caddy with Sarcophagus Shape and Inlay

Regency casuarina sarcophagus shape tea caddy, boxwood strung and inlaid, matching interior with lined ivory knobs, c1810, 18 cm x 11 cm, 13.5 cm high

George III casuarina tea caddy, strung in boxwood, with diamond…

George III Tea Caddy with Boxwood Stringing and Escutcheon

George III casuarina tea caddy, strung in boxwood, with diamond shaped escutcheon, circa 1800, 18.5 cm x 10.5 cm, 12 cm high

George III casuarina caddy inlaid with Bramah lock, with triple…

George III Inlaid Casuarina Caddy with Bramah Lock

George III casuarina caddy inlaid with Bramah lock, with triple interior and heavy ring handle, circa 1800, 35 cm x 16.5 cm, 17.5 cm high

George III casuarina cube caddy strung in boxwood and with…

George III Cube Caddy with Boxwood Stringing and Key

George III casuarina cube caddy strung in boxwood and with diamond shaped escutcheon, with key. c1,800, 13 cm x 10 cm, 12 cm high

Regency casuarina caddy with complicated angled bombe shape,…

Regency Ivory Inlaid Caddy with Lion Mask Handles

Regency casuarina caddy with complicated angled bombe shape, and twin lidded interior, ivory knobs, lion mask handles and paw feet, inlaid and strung. c1810, 22 cm x 12.5 cm, 15.5 cm high

Large George III casuarina caddy inlaid with interior lidded…

George III Casuarina Caddy with Inlaid Canisters and Ivory Escutcheon

Large George III casuarina caddy inlaid with interior lidded canisters and ivory escutcheon, (bowl replaced), c1,800, 30 cm x 15 cm, 15 cm high

Late Georgian casuarina tea caddy, with twin lidded casuarina…

Late Georgian Casuarina Tea Caddy with Twin Canisters

Late Georgian casuarina tea caddy, with twin lidded casuarina and cedar canisters, circa 1810, 19.3 cm wide, 13.5 cm deep, 14 cm high

Georgian rectangular casuarina tea caddy, twin lidded inlaid…

Georgian Ivory Inlaid Tea Caddy with Twin Lids

Georgian rectangular casuarina tea caddy, twin lidded inlaid interior with ivory knobs

Regency Casuarina tea caddy, with sarcophagus shape, brass…

Regency Casuarina Tea Caddy with Brass Handles and Feet

Regency Casuarina tea caddy, with sarcophagus shape, brass 'Basket of Fruit' side handles, interior inlaid with casurina lids and turned ivory handles on brass bun feet. 21 cm wide, 13.5 cm deep, 15.5 high

Regency casuarina sarcophagus tea caddy, with inlaid top and…

Regency Tea Caddy with Inlaid Top and Lion Handles

Regency casuarina sarcophagus tea caddy, with inlaid top and interior lids and lion mask handles, 18.5 cm wide, 11.6 cm deep, 14.1 cm high

Regency casuarina sarcophagus tea caddy, with twin lidded…

Regency Sarcophagus Tea Caddy with Twin Compartments

Regency casuarina sarcophagus tea caddy, with twin lidded compartments, 18.3 cm wide, 13.5 cm high

Georgian casuarina tea caddy, with 2 lidded compartments and…

Georgian Tea Caddy with Glass Mixing Bowl

Georgian casuarina tea caddy, with 2 lidded compartments and glass mixing bowl, 30.5 cm wide, 15 cm high, 15 cm deep

A parquetry inlaid casuarina tea caddy, 19th century, 13 cm…

19th Century Casuarina Tea Caddy with Parquetry Inlay

A parquetry inlaid casuarina tea caddy, 19th century, 13 cm high, 18.5 cm wide, 11 cm deep

A Regency casuarina wood tea caddy. Early 19th century. The…

Regency Casuarina Tea Caddy with Lion Head Handles

A Regency casuarina wood tea caddy. Early 19th century. The caddy is made using imported casuarina (Australian she-oak) in the Georgian style with two interior hinged lidded canisters, lion head mask drop handles on turned bun feet. Height 16.5 cm. Length…