About this product

Victorian Painted Tea Caddy.

Made from English pine, hand painted in the style of a Victorian house

Tea caddies of the 18th and early 19th centuries not only reflect an important and fascinating social custom, but they demonstrate the best craftsmanship in practically every decorative material and technique of the age. It is probably this, together with their endless variety that makes them so attractive to collectors.

The high cost of tea made it at first available only to the rich, and at the same time conferred a social cache which was further enhanced by the example of Charles II’s queen, Catherine of Braganza, an enthusiastic tea drinker.

Most of the early Tea caddies had locks fitted to deter someone pinching the expensive contents.