Large tea caddy antique, made from mahogany in a sarcophagus shape, circa 1850 with a paper lined lid and gilded interior, a brass escutcheon, brass handles and ball feet. The patina is exceptional.

In England in the 18th and early 19th centuries tea was seen as an exotic commodity and was certainly expensive, it would have been kept in a locked caddy under the control of the lady of the house, protected from casual theft by the servants and dispensed sparingly and with great ritual, this caddy is an excellent example. As the caddy was a social status symbol under the close scrutiny of visitors to the house, caddies such as these were made to the very highest standards of the cabinet makers art. During the Victorian era new sources of tea became available from Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) and India and so the containers became larger as the product reduced in price.

This caddy has been fashioned from mahogany with brass fitments, ball feet in the sarcophagus style, of the time, reputedly respecting Admiral Lord Nelson. The caddy retains the original three internal divisions which have been more recently gilded.

The caddy measurements are 32.5 x 16.5 x 20cm (12.8" x 6.5" x 7.87").

Prop's shown for size and context.

If you love all things old English please visit us at 'www.beautifuloldengland.com'.