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Tea Caddies & Sugar Boxes

Browse our collection of antique silver boxes and caddies specially made to contain Tea, Lemon, Etrog and Sugar

Tea in the early 18th Century was expensive, and also there was a tax on tea. so early tea caddies were small and made in precious materials such as silver, shagreen or tortoiseshell which reflected the valuable contents within.

A Tea Caddy is a box, jar, canister, or other receptacle used to store tea. The word is believed to be derived from “catty”, the Chinese pound, equal to about a pound and a third avoirdupois. The earliest examples that came to Europe were Chinese tea canisters in blue and white porcelain with china lids or stoppers. Some of the earliest silver examples have sliding bases (or tops) and the cap was used for measuring the tea. By the mid eighteenth century matching sets were available, with two caddies (for green and black tea) and a sugar bowl, all fitted into a wooden or shagreen case, often with silver mounts. During the late 1700’s the locking silver tea caddy was introduced with its own key which the lady of the house kept on the chatelaine around her waist. Double locking tea caddies in silver are rare.

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Tea Caddies & Sugar Boxes

Browse our collection of antique silver boxes and caddies specially made to contain Tea, Lemon, Etrog and Sugar

Tea in the early 18th Century was expensive, and also there was a tax on tea. so early tea caddies were small and made in precious materials such as silver, shagreen or tortoiseshell which reflected the valuable contents within.

A Tea Caddy is a box, jar, canister, or other receptacle used to store tea. The word is believed to be derived from “catty”, the Chinese pound, equal to about a pound and a third avoirdupois. The earliest examples that came to Europe were Chinese tea canisters in blue and white porcelain with china lids or stoppers. Some of the earliest silver examples have sliding bases (or tops) and the cap was used for measuring the tea. By the mid eighteenth century matching sets were available, with two caddies (for green and black tea) and a sugar bowl, all fitted into a wooden or shagreen case, often with silver mounts. During the late 1700’s the locking silver tea caddy was introduced with its own key which the lady of the house kept on the chatelaine around her waist. Double locking tea caddies in silver are rare.

  • 1675 - 1679

    Marx Schaller

    9789 Antique German Silver Tea Cannister

    £6,500

    A 17th century German parcel-gilt silver caddy of barrel shape. With a screw top lid and drop ring handle. Beautifully made and very tactile to hold. Suitable for tea and sugar. Raised on four ball feet, the box is decorated throughout with silver lobes against a matted gilt background. Weight 321 grams, 10.3 troy ounces. Height 11.5cm (to the top), 15cm (to top of handle). Stamped on the top and underside of body with German silver marks and assay scrape for Augsburg, Germany. Maker Marx Schaller II. Circa 1675-79. See Rosenburg German silver marks for Augsburg page 127.

  • 1723

    Edward Gibbons

    9133 George I Silver Tea Caddies with Sliding Tops

    Sold

    A rare pair of antique sterling silver tea caddy boxes with sliding lids. The removable cap doubles up as a tea measure. Lovely plain hexagonal design and good gauge silver. Each sliding top caddy has a decorative cartouche hand engraved to the front. Total weight 390 grams, 12.5 troy ounces. Height 12 cms. Base 9 x 6 cms. London 1723. Maker Edward Gibbons.

  • 1748

    Samuel Taylor

    9867 George II Covered Sugar Bowl

    £1,750

    A rare antique sterling silver covered sugar bowl of circular form on a small spreading foot. Excellent plain design, typical of the period. Good colour. In the early 18th century sugar bowls or sugar boxes nearly always had covers which, when reversed, could be used as a saucer or spoon tray. Weight 219 grams, 7.0 troy ounces. Total height 9cm. Bowl diameter 9.7cm. London 1748. Maker probably Samuel Taylor a specialist tea caddy and sugar bowl maker.

  • 1751

    John Jacob

    9784 George II Silver Caddies in a Box

    £11,750

    A stunning quality set of antique silver tea caddies and covered sugar bowl in a later fitted lockable tortoiseshell box with silver mounts. Very heavy gauge, cast silver. The deeply embossed and chased silver decoration is particularly attractive and each piece has a cartouche with a lion crest to the front. The two baluster shaped caddies, for green and black tea, have lift off tops. The bowl has a hinged lid with a bouquet of flowers finial. Total weight of 3 boxes 1,373 grams, 44 troy ounces. Tea caddy height 16.5cm. Sugar bowl height 15.5cm. London 1751. Maker John Jacobs, of Hugeunot origin. The box handle is hallmarked for London 1805, maker “JS”. Sterling silver.

  • 1752

    Samuel Herbert And Company

    9504 George II Silver Caddies in a Box

    £6,750

    An excellent quality pair of antique sterling silver tea caddies and matching covered sugar bowl with gilt interior. All with cast silver bird finials and contained in a fitted Sheraton period wooden box with coloured flower and foliage inlays. The deeply embossed and chased silver decoration is particularly attractive and each caddy has a fine hand engraved coat of arms to the front. Heavy weight. The two caddies, for green and black tea, have the original lift off tops now drilled with holes to convert them into sugar shakers (muffinieres). Total weight of 3 boxes 882 grams, 28.3 troy ounces. Sugar casters height 15.5cm. Sugar bowl height 14cm, diameter 10.3cm. London 1752. Maker S Herbert & Co..

  • 1761

    Emick Romer

    9755 George III Silver Chinoiserie Tea Caddy

    Sold

    A fine example of an antique silver caddy box of bombe form with a side hinged lid and standing on scrolling feet. The sides are embossed with charming scenes of Chinese daily life. The lid finial is in the form of a mother and baby. Weight 366 grams, 11.7 troy ounces. Height 16cm. Body measurements at maximum – width 9.2cm, depth 8cm. London 1761. Maker Emick Romer. Sterling silver.

  • 1761

    Emick Romer

    10194` Antique Silver Caddy Box

    £2,250

    A fine antique silver tea caddy of rectangular form having a side hinged lid and integral feet. The sides and top have embossed scenes of chinoiserie decoration with finely engraved detail. Weight 366 grams, 11.7 troy ounces. Height 16cm. Body measurements at maximum – width 9.2cm, depth 8cm. London 1761. Maker Emick Romer. Sterling silver. 18th century.

  • 1766

    Edward Aldridge

    9826 George III Silver Caddies in a Box

    £7,850

    An exceptional set of antique silver tea caddies and covered sugar bowl in a black shagreen box with silver mounts. Excellent quality and classic styling. The bombe form tea boxes have lift off lids with gadroon borders; the decorative cast bases have applied acanthus mounts above to all sides. The two square shaped caddies are for green and black tea; the rectangular caddy is for sugar. The shagreen box has a red velvet interior; the exterior has beautifully ornamented silver mounts, the handle is hand engraved with a crest. Total weight of 3 boxes 858 grams, 27.5 troy ounces. Square caddy height 15cm base 8.5 x 7.5cm. Rectangular caddy height 16.5cm, base 9.5 x 8.5cm. London 1766. Maker Edward Aldridge. The box silver maker is “IW”. Sterling silver.

  • 1796

    Henry Nutting

    9917 George III Silver Tea Caddy

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    A very elegant antique sterling silver tea caddy of oval form with a hinged lid. Beautifully hand engraved with bands of bright cut engraving and classical flower and swag decoration. The lid has a flush inset hinge. To the front is a decorative cartouche containing a monogram in old fashioned script. Weight 399 grams, 12.8 troy ounces. Top 13.5 x 8.8cm. Height 16cm. London 1796. Maker Henry Nutting.

  • 1796

    Henry Chawner And John Emes

    9949 George III Antique Silver Caddy Box

    £3,350

    A fine antique sterling silver tea caddy box of plain oval form, the fixed carrying handle with reed and acanthus decoration. Elegant classical features with bands of shell motifs hand engraved within concentric prick dot lines. The bucket handbag shape is very unusual. The double opening lid has an inset hinge and there is a lock to either side. Weight 546 grams, 17.5 troy ounces. Height 18.5cm (to top of handle), 11.5cm (to top of caddy). Length 15cm. Width 10.2cm. London 1796. Maker Henry Chawner & John Emes. Sterling silver.

  • 1804

    Peter‚ Ann & William Bateman

    9730 George III Silver Tea Cannister

    Sold

    An antique silver caddy of plain rectangular form with pull off lid. Made by the sought after Bateman family. This cannister shape has very pleasing geometric lines. Weight 228 grams, 7.3 troy ounces. Height 8cm (9.2cm to top of cap). London 1781. Maker Peter, William & Anne Bateman. Sterling silver.

  • 1806

    John Emes

    9872 George III Silver Tea Caddy

    £2,350

    An unusual antique silver tea caddy box of curved rectangular form. Lovely classic style. This is a double caddy designed for both black and green tea. Beautifully engraved to the lid and body with leaf borders and a thick band of foliate scrolls with interspersed flowerheads. To the front is a monogram in old fashioned script. The fixed carrying handle has a reed and acanthus decoration. The unusual double opening lid has an inset hinge and there is a lock to either side. Key provided. Weight 661 grams, 21.2 troy ounces. Height 12.2 cm, 19.6 cm to top of handle. Top measures 15.5 x 12.2 cm. London 1806. Maker John Emes. Sterling silver.

  • 1807

    Peter & William Bateman

    8216 George III Silver Tea Caddy

    £1,950

    A fine antique sterling silver tea caddy box of plain circular form having a central divider and lock (no key). An attractive feature is the decorative finial in the form of a Chinese gentleman holding a fish. The decoration is particularly fine, with gadroon edge borders and concentric bands of hand engraved leaf motifs, greek key design and basket weave. Weight 698 grams, 22.4 troy ounces. Height 16.5 cm. Diameter 16 cm. London 1807. Maker Peter & William Bateman.

  • 1880

    Charles Boynton

    7847 Antique Silver and Overlay Glass Casket

    £550

    An excellent quality antique sterling silver mounted box with faceted ruby glass panels and star cut base. In the style of Baccarat. The top is engraved with a stag in a forest scene. To the front there is an aperture, presumably for a spoon, indicating that it is probably for sugar. Height 11 cm. Width 13 cm. Depth 10 cm. The silver mount is stamped with English silver hallmarks for London 1880. Maker Charles Boyton.

  • 1880

    John Septimus Beresford

    9994 Antique Silver Tea Caddies

    £4,950

    A magnificent pair of antique silver tea caddy boxes of cannister form with lift off lids. Large size and good gauge silver. Gilt finish. Britannia standard silver. The body is beautifully ornamented with cherubs, swags, acanthus leaf and other classical motifs on a hand chased matted background. Each box has an armorial engraved to the front and a monogram of old fashioned initials to the reverse. Total weight 841 grams, 27 troy ounces. Height 16.7m. Base 8 x 8cm. London 1880. Maker John Septimus Beresford.

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