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.

Tea Caddies & Sugar Boxes

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

Circa 1700

9593 Antique German Silver Box
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An antique continental silver box with detachable lid and standing on animal’s paw feet. The box has ribbed detail with gadroon and bead borders, the lid with shell and classical motifs. Weight 256 grams, 8.2 troy ounces. Height 9 cm. Top 13.2 x 9.5 cm. Stamped with German silver marks for Augsburg. Circa 1700.
1702
Simon Pantin
3557 Queen Anne Silver Tea Caddies
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A rare pair of antique Britannia standard* silver tea containers of heavy rectangular design and having engraved armorials and lift off lids. Weight 21 troy ounces. Height 12 cms. Width 8.5 cms. Depth 5 cms. London 1702. By Simon Pantin.
1710
Richard Watts
9039 Antique Queen Anne Silver Tea Caddy
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A good quality early English silver caddy of plain rectangular design with canted corners. *Britannia standard silver. The lift off cap doubles as a tea measure. Hand engraved to one side with a crest, to the other there is a decorative monogram. Weight 118 grams, 3.7 troy ounces. Height 16.5 cms. Base 6.2 x 4.2 cms. London 1710. Maker Richard Watts. This box matches #9034 George III tea caddy.
1711
John Farnell
8751 Antique Queen Anne Silver Tea Caddy
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A good early English silver caddy of plain hexagonal design. With sliding top and lift off cap which doubles as a tea measure. Britannia standard silver*. Excellent patina and clear marks. To the base there are some hand engraved initials and the scratch weight. Weight 211 grams, 6.7 troy ounces. Height 13.5 cms. Base 8 x 6 cms. London 1711. Maker John Farnell.
Circa 1711
John Farnell
7574 Queen Anne Silver Tea Caddy
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A good early English silver caddy of plain rectangular design with canted corners. With sliding base and lift off cap which doubles as a tea measure. Britannia standard silver. Excellent patina and clear marks. Weight 195 grams, 6.2 troy ounces. Height 13.5 cms. Base 7 x 4 cms. London 1711. Maker John Farnell.
1714
John Farnell
6402 George I Silver Tea Caddy
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A good early English silver caddy of plain rectangular design with canted corners. With sliding base and lift off cap which doubles as a tea measure. Britannia standard silver*. Excellent patina and clear marks. Weight 192 grams, 6.1 troy ounces. Height 13 cms. Base 8 x 5 cms. London 1714. Maker John Farnell.
1714
John Farnell
6795 George I Silver Tea Caddy
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A good early English silver caddy of plain rectangular design with canted corners. With sliding top and lift off cap which doubles as a tea measure. Britannia standard silver*. Excellent patina and clear marks. Weight 179 grams, 5.7 troy ounces. Height 11.5 cms. Base 8 x 5.75 cms. London 1714. Maker John Furnell.
1718
John Farnell
10303 George I Antique Silver Tea Caddy
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A good early English silver caddy of plain rectangular design with the plain hexagonal design typical of the early 1700’s. The sliding top has a lift off cap which doubles as a tea measure. Weight 226 grams, 7.2 troy ounces. Height 12.6cm. Base 8.9 x 5.8cm. London 1718. Maker John Farnell. Britannia standard silver – purity 95.8%*. 18th century.
1720
John B Gibbs
8609 Pair of George I Silver Tea Caddies with Sliding Tops
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A rare pair of antique silver tea caddy boxes with sliding lids. Britannia standard silver*. The removable cap doubles up as a tea measure. Lovely plain hexagonal design and good gauge silver. Each sliding top caddy has a hand engraved armorial, within a decorative cartouche, engraved to the front. Engraved underneath are the original owner’s initials. Total weight 328 grams, 10.5 troy ounces. Height 12 cms. Base 9.2 x 5 cms. London 1720. Maker John Gibbons.
1723
Edward Gibbons
9133 George I Silver Tea Caddies with Sliding Tops
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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.
1728
John Gorsuch
8618 Antique George II Silver Sugar Bowl
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A rare antique sterling silver covered sugar bowl of circular form on a small spreading foot. Excellent plain design, typical of the period. 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 295 grams, 9.4 troy ounces. Total height 9 cms. Bowl measures – height 6.3 cms, diameter 10.5 cms. London 1728. Maker John Gorsuch.
1731
Gundry Roode
9141 Antique George II Silver Tea Caddies with Sliding Tops
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A rare pair of antique sterling silver tea caddy boxes of oval form with sliding lids. The removable cap doubles up as a tea measure. Lovely plain design and good gauge silver. Excellent patina. Each has a very sweet crest of a dog hand engraved to the front. Engraved underneath are the original owner’s initials. Total weight 353 grams, 11.3 troy ounces. Height 12.5 cm. Base 8.5 x 5.5 cm. London 1731. Maker Gundry Roode.
1746
John Swift
10388 George II Pair of Antique Silver Tea Caddies
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An exceptional pair of rectangular silver tea cannisters with stepped hinged lids and canted corners. The plain form, almost cubic, is very attractive. To the front of each is an expansive hand engraved armorial for Martin within a decorative cartouche, the covers have a crest. Total weight 805g, 25.8 troy oz. Height 9.6cm. Width 9.2cm. Depth 8.4cm. London 1746. Maker John Swift. Sterling silver.
1748
Edward Wakelin
9454 Antique George II Silver Caddy
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A magnificent antique sterling silver tea box with a sliding top and cast silver flower finial. Very heavy cast silver design. The deep relief decoration includes flowers, shells, scrolls and a magnificent lions head and paw. After a Paul de Lamerie design. Weight 462 grams, 14.8 troy ounces. Height 13.5cm. Top 10.2 x6.7cm. London 1748. Maker Edward Wakelin for George Wickes.
1748
Samuel Taylor
9867 George II Covered Sugar Bowl
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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

9153 Antique German Box
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A good quality antique silver box of shaped bombe form with a hinged lid and shell thumbpiece. Probably a sugar box or tea caddy. Weight 290 grams, 9.3 troy ounces. Height 10 cm. Top measures 13.3×9.4 cm. Marked underneath with an assay scrape, Augsburg mark for 1751 and makers initials “IPM”.
1753
Phillips Garden
6666 Set of George II Silver Caddies by Phillip Garden
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An excellent quality matching set of antique sterling silver tea jars with lift off lids and finely engraved armorials . Attractive vase shape with rope border and cute little flower finial. With spiral decoration and high relief embossed flower decoration. One large caddy (originally for sugar) and a matching pair of smaller caddies (for green and black tea). Remarkable weight. Weight 929 grams, 29.8 troy ounces. Large caddy height 15 cms, diameter (inside top) 6.35 cms (bottom) 6.75 cms. Pair of smaller caddies height 15 cms, diameter (inside top) 5.5 cms (bottom) 6 cms. London 1753. Maker Phillip Garden.
1755
George Methuen
9758 George II Silver Tea Caddy
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An attractive antique silver tea box of shaped bombay form on scroll feet and having a pull off lid with bird finial. Embossed decoration of flowers and scrolls. Engraved to the front is a monogram of intertwined initials in old fashioned script. Weight 366 grams, 11.7 troy ounces. Height 16 cm. Measurements (max) width 9.2 x depth 8 cm. London 1755. Maker George Methuen. Sterling silver.
1759
Frederick Vonham
8727 Antique George II Silver Caddies
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An excellent quality matching set of antique sterling silver tea jars with chinoiserie decoration and original deep gilt finish. After a Paul de Lamerie design. The matching pair of rectangular caddies (for green and black tea) have sliding tops, the larger square sugar box has a hinged lid. Cast silver flower finials. The deep embossed and engraved decoration is particularly attractive; each caddy has a front and back panel decorated with a Chinese man and garden setting, the side panels with flower and foliage, the corners with shell and fish scale ornament. Heavy weight. Total weight of 3 boxes 936 grams, 30 troy ounces. Large caddy height 14.5 cms, base 10 x 6.2 cms. Pair of caddies height 14.5 cms, base 10 x 8 cms. London 1759. Maker Frederick Vonham.
1761
Emick Romer
9755 George III Silver Chinoiserie Tea Caddy
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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.
1762
Samuel Taylor
9297 George III Silver Caddy
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An excellent quality antique sterling silver tea caddy or sugar jar with lift off lid. Attractive vase shape with cast and pierced foot, and cute little flower finial. High relief embossed flower and scroll decoration. Excellent weight. Weight 332 grams, 10.6 troy ounces. Height 14 cm, diameter 10.5 cm. London 1762. Maker Samuel Taylor.
This would have been originally one of a set of 3 matching caddies in a fitted box. One large caddy (originally for sugar) and a matching pair of smaller caddies (for green and black tea).
1770

7890 Pair of Antique George III Silver Tea Caddies
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An elegant pair of antique sterling silver tea boxes of plain serpentine form having gadroon borders and cast leaf scroll feet and ornaments. With domed pull off lids. Weight 661 grams, 21.2 troy ounces. Height 16 cms. Base 9.75 x 8.25 cms. London 1770. Maker “SW”.
Circa 1770
John Parker & Edward Wakelin
10386 George III Antique Silver Tea Caddy
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A delightful antique silver tea box of plain cubic design with a flat hinged lid. The cannister form has very pleasing geometric lines. The top is charmingly decorated with a hand engraved border with shell corners, the finial is modelled as a pineapple. To the front is a locking mechanism (key available) and a hand engraved crest. An attractive feature is the fitted mahogany wooden box with colourful inlaid bands to the edges. Weight 303g, 9.7 troy oz. Height 12cm. Length 8.9cm. Width 8.9cm. London 1768. Maker Parker & Wakelin. Sterling silver.
1772
Thomas Justis
7191 Pair of George III Silver Tea Caddies
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A fine pair of antique sterling silver drum caddy boxes of plain circular form having hinged lids with flower finials. Bright internal gilding. These delightful tea boxes each have an engraved crest to the top together with the name of a tea, one has “GREEN” and the other has “BOHEA” (a Chinese black tea). The lids and body are hand engraved with intertwined foliage and swags of harebells. Weight 587 grams, 18.8 troy ounces. Height 9.5 cms. Diameter 10 cms. London 1772. Maker Thomas Justis.
1775
Richard Morton
9513 George III Antique Silver Tea Caddy
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A very elegant antique sterling silver tea caddy of oval form with a hinged lid, lock and key. Beautifully hand engraved with flower and swag decoration. Bead borders. The lid has a flush inset hinge and ring top. Weight 332 grams, 10.6 troy ounces. Top 12.2 x 8 cm. Height 8.7 cm. Sheffield 1775. Maker Richard Morton & Co.
1784
Hester Bateman
8854 George III Silver Caddy Box by Hester Bateman
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A very elegant antique sterling silver tea caddy of oval form with a hinged lid. With the charming features this highly sought after Georgian lady silversmith is famous for. Beautifully hand engraved with a lovely decoration of flower swags, bands of bright engraving top and bottom, and a shield cartouche front and back. The lid has a flush inset hinge and a carved pineapple finial. Weight 370 grams, 11.8 troy ounces. Base 13 x 9 cms. Height 13 cms to top of finial. London 1784. Maker Hester Bateman.
1786
John Scofield
9802 George III Silver Sugar Vases
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An elegant pair of antique silver vases with matching detachable lids. Good plain style with applied ribbed mounts. To the front and lid each has a hand engraved crest of a crown over a monogram of intertwined initials in old script. Weight 951 grams, 30.5 troy ounces. Height 17cm (vase), 23.5cm (to top of lid). London 1786. Maker John Scofield. Sterling silver.
1787
Charles Chesterman
9314 George III Silver Caddy Box
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A very elegant antique sterling silver tea caddy of oval form with a hinged lid. Beautifully hand engraved with a lovely decoration of flower swags, bands of bright engraving top and bottom, and a circular cartouche front and back. Uninscribed. The lid has a flush inset hinge and a carved wooden finial. Weight 370 grams, 11.8 troy ounces. Base 13 x 9 cm. Height 13 cm to top of finial. London 1787. Maker Charles Chesterman.
1789
William Abdy
9034 George III Silver Tea Caddy
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A good quality George III sterling silver caddy of plain rectangular design with canted corners. The lift off cap doubles as a tea measure. Hand engraved to one side with a crest, to the other there is a decorative monogram. Weight 152 grams, 4.9 troy ounces. Height 10 cms. Base 6.1 x 4.5 cms. London 1789. Maker John Farnell.
1791
Peter & Ann Bateman
10244 George III Antique Silver Caddy Box
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A very elegant antique silver tea caddy of oval form with hinged lid and interior divider for green and black tea. Fully locking with a key supplied. Nice dainty size. The box has beautiful hand engraved decoration of flower swags, bands of bright cut engraving top and bottom, and an oval cartouche front and back containing an armorial for the Lunden family with crest and motto. The lid has a flush inset hinge and urn shaped finial. Weight 279 grams, 8.9 troy ounces. Base 10.8cm. Height 12.5cm to top of finial. London 1791. Maker Peter and Anne Bateman. Sterling silver. 18^th century.
Circa 1795

8731 Antique French Silver Tea Caddy Box
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A very smart antique silver caddy box of plain rectagonal form having a hinged lid and original gilt interior. This delightful tea box has a band of hand engraved decoration around the sides and on the lid. Weight 346 grams, 11.1 troy ounces. Height 10.5 cms. Top 6 x 9.5 cms. Marked on top, around the top edge of the body and underneath with French silver marks. Circa 1795. High grade 935 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.