Antique Squash Pumpkin Tea Caddy

Description

Large pumpkin or squash tea caddy with fantastic green & yellow mottled decoration. Features six equal grooved segments with an unusually shaped squared stalk. The front has an oval-shaped cut-steel escutcheon. The interior has a cut steel hinge, and lock and still has traces of its original foil lining.

This wonderfully rare squash pumpkin tea caddy has superb colour, and patination and comes with a fully working lock and tasselled key.

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 lockable 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 would 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 for sugar and not for the purpose of mixing different varieties of tea.

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 declined.

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

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.

Additional information