Antique Victorian late 19th century or early 20th century Japanese Tea caddy

Antique Victorian late 19th century or early 20th century Japanese laquared tea caddy. This is a tea caddy lined with lead to keep tea fresh laquered and hand painted decoration to top and inside. It has a lovely press button opener.

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Some age related wear.

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14 cm wide

12 cm depth

14 cm tall

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Japanese lacquerware has a history dating back to the Jōmon period (c. 10,000–300 BCE), with the oldest examples being 9,000-year-old burial ornaments from Hokkaido. Initially used for its protective and adhesive properties, this craft evolved into a high art form. It was embraced by various social classes, including the nobility, samurai, and merchants, leading to the development of rich local varieties and sophisticated techniques like maki-e (sprinkling gold and silver powder). Exports to Europe began in the 16th century, influencing Western furniture design.

Tea caddies originated in the 17th century from Chinese porcelain and later wooden containers used to store expensive tea leaves. Initially called "tea canisters," they became more common as tea drinking grew in popularity, and by the late 18th century, they were often lockable, decorative pieces called "tea caddies". The term "caddy" likely comes from the Malay word for a unit of weight, kati, equal to about one pound, reflecting tea's high value and the need for measured storage.

Early history

Origin: The first containers for tea leaves in Europe were porcelain canisters, often blue and white and similar in shape to ginger jars.

Function: As tea was an expensive import, the original containers were practical vessels for storing and keeping the leaves safe, as tea was too valuable to leave around servants.

Name change: From the late 17th to the early 19th century, these were commonly called "tea canisters," and later larger, locked boxes holding several canisters were called "tea chests".

18th and 19th centuries

Increasing popularity: By the mid-18th century, tea drinking became widespread in Britain, and the demand for caddies increased.

Decorative objects: Since caddies were often placed on the table, they became highly decorative objects reflecting the owner's wealth. They were made from materials like precious woods, silver, shagreen, and tortoiseshell.

Specialization: By the late 18th century, smaller wooden boxes with one or two fixed compartments became known as tea caddies. Matching sets often included two canisters for different teas and a central bowl for sugar, which was also expensive at the time.

"Caddy" term: The term "caddy" became the popular name for these smaller, fashionable containers, likely derived from the Malay word kati, a unit of weight for tea.

Modern day

Collectibility: Today, these antique tea caddies are highly collectible, especially those with elaborate inlay, quality veneers, and original features like ivory keyholes.

Evolution: The term "tea chest" is now also used for large shipping containers, but antique "tea caddies" refer to the ornate, decorative boxes from the past.