Description

Here, we have an Antique Miniature Mahogany Tea Caddy standing on interestingly shaped bracket feet with brass carry handle and ornate shaped escutcheon, The interior has three vacant compartments with a felt backed lid; we believe this lovely Mahogany Tea Caddy may have been a salesman’s showroom piece. 

This miniature Antique Tea Caddy is a accompanied with a fully functioning lock and a tasselled key. The key must be turned clockwise to unlock the caddy.

This charming Miniature Mahogany Tea Chest with bracket feet is pictured and presented in the expertly researched book: The Story of British Tea Chests and Caddies by Anne Stevens, (Part 1.Chapter 4, at the top-right of Page 79),  an in-depth study of the relevance of tea, tea chests and caddies to British society – this is a must-buy book for historians, collectors and those interested in the decorative arts. 

With every purchase from Mark Goodger Antiques, you will receive our latest catalogue, a Certificate of Authenticity, detailed care instructions for your chosen piece and an independent invoice (for insurance purposes) will be enclosed. As well as being protected by a no-hassle, money-back policy, your piece will be entirely insured during the shipping process to ensure the safety of your item.

The History of Antique Tea Caddies
In England in the 1700s, tea was an expensive commodity. To keep it safe, people would store it in a Tea Chest or Tea Box, which eventually became known as a Tea Caddy (the word caddy is derived from the Malay’kati’, a unit of weight by which tea was sold). As tea was too expensive to risk leaving in the presence of servants, the caddy in which it was stored would generally be kept in the drawing room. Subsequently, the Tea Caddy became an important & fashionable accessory for the home.
Tea Caddies were made in a huge variety of styles and materials. Some contained glass bowls. The bowl is believed to be either for sugar, or for the purpose of mixing different varieties of tea to the drinker’s personal taste. As tea became cheaper in the early 1800s, its use was much more widespread, increasing the demand for tea caddies. However, by the late 1800s when tea could be bought pre-packed, the demand for tea caddies as functional items gradually disappeared.

Today Tea Caddies are sought after as decorative pieces, in all shapes & forms.

In purchasing a Tea Caddy or Tea Chest from us, you can be assured that they have been carefully examined and assessed, and only restored where absolutely necessary. Buying a luxury piece from us gives you peace of mind that you are buying a genuine antique; our name is also frequently cited as provenance by Major Auction houses, and from a dealer who belongs to three leading trade associations and abides by all their strict conducts of code.

Mark Goodger is a BADA, CADA & LAPADA member.

Additional information