Antique early 1900s tin lockable tea caddy

Antique early 1900s lockable tin tea caddy depicting a family dancing and playing highly decorated rare to have original working key amazing condition very collectible unfortunately there are no makers name etc

Although it is believed that tea was first served in coffee houses in London as early as 1658, it was popularised after 1962 when Charles II married Catherine of Braganza who brought the tea drinking habit with her from the continent. London coffee houses in the 17th century were solely frequented by gentlemen and often places where business was conducted. Catherine's love of tea drinking made it fashionable at court for ladies and the habit soon spread to aristocratic circles and then to the wealthier classes. With the popularity of tea drinking together with its high cost (import duties and the East India Company’s monopoly on importing tea keeping the price artificially high for most of the 18th century), came the need for tea canisters and lockable tea chests.

22 cm wide 14 cm width 7 cm height