Vintage May be older Chinese laquered tea caddy with rare original key

Vintage May be older Chinese laquered tea caddy with rare original key !! This very highly decorated tea caddy is adorned with chrysanthemums, a Chinese imperial sign and the flower of China. It has two compartments with the original lead liner to keep the tea fresh.

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Some age related wear, but the hand painted decoration is stunning. It could be repurposed as a jewellery or keepsake box or just a very decorative item.

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21 cm wide

15 cm depth

13 cm tall

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Tea caddies originated in the 17th century from Chinese porcelain containers for expensive tea leaves and became elaborate, lockable storage for the wealthy in the 18th century. The name "caddy" is thought to come from the Chinese unit of weight, "catty". As tea became cheaper and more popular, caddies became fashionable decorative accessories for the home, with a wide variety of materials and styles evolving over time.

Early history (17th to 18th century)

Origin: The earliest examples were Chinese blue-and-white porcelain jars, often called "tea canisters," similar to ginger jars.

Purpose: They were created to hold and secure valuable tea, which was prohibitively expensive for most people.

Wealth display: In the 18th century, caddies became a way to display wealth and were placed in the drawing-room.

Materials: Early European examples were often made of porcelain, faience, or thin sheet metal.

Name origin: The word "caddy" is believed to come from the Chinese unit of weight, "catty" (about 1.3 pounds).

Evolution and diversification (18th to 19th century)

Increased popularity: Tea drinking became more widespread, and the price of tea dropped, leading to the production of more caddies.

Decorative designs: Caddies became highly decorative objects, with new designs emerging for the increasingly fashionable tea ceremony.

Materials: A wide range of materials were used, including expensive woods like mahogany and rosewood, and luxury items like silver, shagreen, and tortoiseshell.

Matching sets: As sugar became common in tea, caddies were often sold in sets with a sugar bowl or box and a glass or silver bowl for mixing, all housed in a fitted wooden or shagreen case.

Functional features: Early caddies often featured a cap that served as a measuring cup. Later designs shifted to a more ornate form that required a separate spoon for measuring.

Later 19th century

Elaborate decoration: Some of the most elaborate caddies were made in the middle of the 19th century, such as Tunbridge Ware caddies, which featured intricate mosaic marquetry.

Decline in demand: As tea drinking lost some of its social appeal, the demand for elaborate caddies declined.