The Old English Tea Caddy
August 1st 2022
In Britain, we love a good cuppa, and tea is a British staple, something recognised around the world. I wanted to talk about tea caddies in the latest article because, well, with the Jubilee and Wimbledon not long passed, I think everyone over the last couple of months has felt some patriotic characteristics & well, tea is probably near the top of every list when it comes to being British. Through the years, our fascination with tea has grown due to its parallel with fashion, history, and British culture.
Japanese Export Tea Caddy Available @ JacksonsAntique
Tea has an amazing history and such a close connection to British society, and over the years, some amazing caddies have been produced, showing just how much of a commodity tea was and still is. The very best cabinet makers in the country often produced caddies with their skills, which are unmatched today.
Tea was originally introduced into Britain from China in the 17th century when ceramics were used solely in jar forms to store tea. It was extremely expensive and, therefore could only be enjoyed by the wealthiest of society, it was kept under lock and key and the caddies designed to fit in with the rest of a drawing room or reception room. Tea was expensive due to taxes introduced in 1689 and charged at around 25p per pound which nearly stopped all tea sales, it was reduced to 5p in 1692 and continued to be 5p until 1964 when taxes were abolished. Incredibly, during the high taxation period, tea became the source of a criminal network which was thought to have smuggled in up to 7 million lbs annually compared to the legal import of around 5 lbs pounds. It’s safe to say Britain’s loved their tea!
Meissen Stoneware Tea Jar Circa 1710 on display at the Gardiner Museum Toronto
After imitating the Chinese jars, Britain quickly devised forms of their own, and soon, there was an abundance of different caddies on offer, from novelty fruit shapes to miniature furniture and traditional square boxes. As Britain moved away from separate receptacles for black and green tea, they moved towards containers with 2 or 3 separate caddies, including one for sugar. Each has a different decoration, material, and/or inlay. The 19th century saw a caddy spoon introduced and it was paired with a scalloped shaped bowl, these instruments were used to measure out the tea ready for brewing.
With the environment being critically important, tea caddies are now more sought after today than over the last 100 years, reused, recycled and environmentally friendly!
Jennens & Bettridge Egyptian Motif Tea Caddy Previously Sold By JacksonsAntique
Owner at Jacksons Antique
I am an antique dealer and owner of Jacksons Antique, specialising in fine antiques with a particular focus on Japanese art and European decorative objects. With over a decade of experience in the antiques trade, I source and curate pieces for collectors across the UK, the United States, and the international market.
Working primarily online alongside select exhibitions, I am part of a newer generation of dealers helping to modernise the way antiques are researched, presented, and acquired. My approach is built on careful attribution, transparent descriptions, and historically grounded research so clients can buy with confidence.
Through Jacksons Antique, I aim to make important historic objects accessible to both established collectors and those developing their collections.
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