Search 0
6,413  PAGES BROWSED TODAY PAGES TODAY • 0 ANTIQUES UPLOADED TODAYNEW ARRIVALS
Sorted by
Per page
JOIN AS A SELLER DEALER LOGIN
Selling Antiques Logo
0
Saved
GIFTS
LATEST STOCK
Home
Return
Dealer Login
500+ Shops
Dealers
Newly Added
0
Saved
Antiques dealer?
Join as a Seller
Sort Order
Items Per Page
sellingantiques.co.uk
Browse Categories
Sort order
Relevant Links
Items per page
ID #SA1085153
FOR SALE
£895
Email Phone Buy
Save
Antique English Victorian Papier-mâché Tea Caddy
For sale by Applecross Antiques
for sale €1,047     $1,137
£895
Applecross Antiques

Applecross Antiques

Sellingantiques Verified Since Sep 2010
Browse dealers 210 items
  • About Us
    Dealers in the old, the rare and the beautiful ~
↓ Relevant Links
Id #SA1085153
PDF SHARE
SAVE

Antique English Victorian Papier-mâché Tea Caddy

19th century
Description

A fine Mid 19th Century Antique English Victorian Papier-mâché two compartment Tea Caddy of octagonal rectangular form. Offered here in excellent condition, this lovely old caddy stands upon four simple scroll feet and retains it's two original inner lids, silver lining paper and overall inlaid floral decoration of abalone shell pearl heightened with gilding.

Height ~ 15.50 cm. / 6.10 inches ~ Width ~ 27.00 cm. / 10.62 inches ~ Depth ~ 19.00 cm. / 7.48 inches ~ Year ~ Circa 1840

Love This Item ? ~ Why Not Make Us An Offer ?

Our Warranty:- Buy it, enjoy it and take good care of it, subject only to these conditions, we undertake to accept this item back at any time and to credit the original purchase price against further purchases.

Just one of the thousands of warranted antiques ~ vintage collectables ~ catalogues and antiques reference works for sale at our main website ~ https://www.applecrossantiques.com

Date of Manufacture

Applecross Antiques has dated this Victorian Papier-mache Tea Caddy to the 19th Century.

Independent Date Guide ID 08596071
Dealer's Item Date19th Century
Sellingantiques Date19th Century
Sellingantiques agingItem 160-190 years old
ResultsDates match
Why Sellingantiques dated this piece to THE 19TH CENTURY:
Fine craquelure across the japanned lacquer: natural ageing of the baked finish.
Inlaid abalone shell and hand-painted gilding: mid-Victorian decorative papier-mâché technique.
Oxidised foil lining inside the compartments: nineteenth-century tea storage insulation.
Cast brass hinges and drop handles: period hardware fitted to the inner lids.

This Independent Date Guide was compiled by Sellingantiques using its own proprietary system. It works only from the photographs shown on this page and is never told the date the dealer has declared. It is a guide, not a guarantee of age, and occasional errors can occur.

Physical Dimensions
Height
15.5cm (6.10")
Width
27cm (10.63")
Depth
19cm (7.48")
Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1085153
Dealers Internal Reference
AEVPMTC-DRC
Dealers Notes

OUR SHIPPING POLICY Reviewed and Updated 01 October 2026

We offer worldwide shipping for all items via Royal Mail / ParcelForce Tracked Express Services at the rates shown in the following table. The shipping cost of each item, which in all cases includes ‘Loss in Transit’ insurance cover, is calculated using a combination of factors. These include the shipping destination selected during checkout, together with the weight, size and value of the item.

Very Small ~ United Kingdom ~ Free ~ European Union ~ £20 ~ Rest of the World ~ £30

Small ~ United Kingdom ~ Free ~ European Union ~ £35 ~ Rest of the World ~ £45

Medium ~ United Kingdom Free ~ European Union ~ £55 ~ Rest of the World ~ £75

Large ~ United Kingdom ~ Free ~ European Union ~ £95 ~ Rest of the World ~ £125

We are pleased to offer a Shipping Fee Discount of 20% to clients purchasing more than one item in the same order. This works in the following manner ~ The highest value item in any order will be charged the appropriate Shipping Fee at the normal rate whilst all other items will benefit from a Shipping Fee Discount of 20%

N.B. :- Please be aware that we do NOT offer insurance against damage in transit ~ Clients requiring more comprehensive insurance cover are therefore advised to seek professional advice and a written quotation from a registered Insurance Broker.

The Packing, Insurance and Shipping Fee, where appropriate, shall form an integral part of the agreed transaction cost. In the event that payment is received for goods but the Packing, Insurance and Shipping Fee remains outstanding, dispatch may, at our absolute discretion, be delayed until such time as full settlement has been completed. Clients will immediately be advised by email upon receipt of such orders in order that such situation may promptly be rectified.

Applecross agree to accept your order subject to your your unfettered agreement to and your complete acceptance of their Terms and Conditions as displayed on the Customer Services page of their primary website, https://www.applecrossantiques.com and which shall be deemed exclusively to form the basis of any Contract of Sale which may be agreed or which may be deemed to arise from the same between Applecross as the SELLER and yourself or your agents as BUYER.

Description
A fine Mid 19th Century Antique English Victorian Papier-mâché two compartment Tea Caddy of octagonal rectangular form. Offered here in excellent condition, this lovely old caddy stands upon four simple scroll feet and retains it's two original inner lids, silver lining paper and overall inlaid floral decoration of abalone shell pearl heightened with gilding.
fig 1. A black Victorian papier-mache tea caddy featuring mother-of-pearl floral inlays and gold painted embellishments on a shaped pedestal base.
fig 1. Antique English Victorian Papier-mâché Tea Caddy

Height ~ 15.50 cm. / 6.10 inches ~ Width ~ 27.00 cm. / 10.62 inches ~ Depth ~ 19.00 cm. / 7.48 inches ~ Year ~ Circa 1840

Love This Item ? ~ Why Not Make Us An Offer ?

Our Warranty:- Buy it, enjoy it and take good care of it, subject only to these conditions, we undertake to accept this item back at any time and to credit the original purchase price against further purchases.

“
Just one of the thousands of warranted antiques ~ vintage collectables ~ catalogues and antiques reference works for sale at our main website ~ https://www.
Applecross Antiques

applecrossantiques.com

Date of Manufacture

Applecross Antiques has dated this Victorian Papier-mache Tea Caddy to the 19th Century.

Independent Date Report ID 08596071
Dealer's Item Date19th Century
Sellingantiques dating19th Century
Sellingantiques agingItem 160-190 years old
ResultsDates match
Why Sellingantiques dated this piece to the 19th Century:
Fine craquelure across the japanned lacquer: natural ageing of the baked finish.
Inlaid abalone shell and hand-painted gilding: mid-Victorian decorative papier-mâché technique.
Oxidised foil lining inside the compartments: nineteenth-century tea storage insulation.
Cast brass hinges and drop handles: period hardware fitted to the inner lids.

This is an independent date report produced by Sellingantiques using its own proprietary system. The process uses the photographs shown on this page. The system is never told the date the dealer has declared. This report shows that the two dates corroborate.

Height
15.5cm (6.10")
Width
27cm (10.63")
Depth
19cm (7.48")
Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1085153
Dealers Internal Ref
AEVPMTC-DRC
Applecross Antiques
Applecross Antiques
Sellingantiques verified Since Sep 2010

Dealers in the old, the rare and the beautiful ~

Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Applecross Antiques Profile Page

PDF SHARE
SAVE
A black Victorian papier-mache tea caddy featuring mother-of-pearl floral inlays and gold painted embellishments on a shaped pedestal base.
1 / 8
Archive I A black Victorian papier-mache tea caddy featuring mother-of-pearl floral inlays and gold painted embellishments on a shaped pedestal base.

Antique English Victorian Papier-mâché Tea Caddy

Archive II A black Victorian papier-mache tea caddy featuring mother-of-pearl floral inlays and gold painted embellishments on a shaped pedestal base. View II
Archive III A black Victorian papier-mache tea caddy featuring mother-of-pearl floral inlays and gold painted embellishments on a shaped pedestal base. View III
Archive IV A black Victorian papier-mache tea caddy featuring mother-of-pearl floral inlays and gold painted embellishments on a shaped pedestal base. View IV
Archive V A black Victorian papier-mache tea caddy featuring mother-of-pearl floral inlays and gold painted embellishments on a shaped pedestal base. View V
Archive VI A black Victorian papier-mache tea caddy featuring mother-of-pearl floral inlays and gold painted embellishments on a shaped pedestal base. View VI
Archive VII A black Victorian papier-mache tea caddy featuring mother-of-pearl floral inlays and gold painted embellishments on a shaped pedestal base. View VII
Archive VIII A black Victorian papier-mache tea caddy featuring mother-of-pearl floral inlays and gold painted embellishments on a shaped pedestal base. View VIII
Enlarged Archival View
Applecross Antiques

Applecross Antiques
Telephone 07711 802159
Location
Shrewsbury
Shropshire
United Kingdom
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/applecross
Verified Since Sep 2010
Items For Sale 210
Items Sold 350
Applecross Antiques
Applecross Antiques
Verified Since Sep 2010
View Dealer Info
Location: Shrewsbury, Shropshire, United Kingdom
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/applecross
Verified
Sep 2010
For Sale
210
Sold
350
A black Victorian papier-mache tea caddy featuring mother-of-pearl floral inlays and gold painted embellishments on a shaped pedestal base.
Antique English Victorian Papier-mâché Tea Caddy
Ref: SA1085153
A black Victorian papier-mache tea caddy featuring mother-of-pearl floral inlays and gold painted embellishments on a shaped pedestal base.
Detail View 1
Detail View 2
Detail View 3
Detail View 4
Detail View 5
Detail View 6
Detail View 7
Archival Detail

Strictly Vetted Dealers

Every single antique dealer on our platform is individually approved by our internal team. We verify their professional trade history, ethical standards, and photographic quality to ensure a secure, high-standard buying environment. Upon joining, every dealer agrees to a strict 9-point code of conduct. While issues can occasionally arise, our dealers typically resolve them swiftly and directly with the buyer. In fact, since our founding in 2002, Sellingantiques has only had to step in to help resolve an issue on roughly five occasions—a true testament to the quality of our dealers and their dedication to your happiness.

Secure Transit

Our dealers are highly experienced in packing and shipping fragile, high-value antiques. Because you are in direct contact with the dealer, you will be able to easily go through all available shipping and insurance options together to ensure your item arrives safely.

The Sustainable Choice

Antiques are the ultimate green purchase. By choosing historical pieces over newly manufactured goods, you completely eliminate the carbon footprint of modern mass production while preserving exceptional, timeless craftsmanship.

Cataloguer’s note

Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing
  • ObjectTea Caddies
  • Period19th century
  • StyleVictorian
  • MaterialPapier-mache, Mother-of-pearl, Gold Leaf, Lacquer
  • ColourBlack
  • MotifsMother-of-pearl floral inlay, Gilded foliate painting, Shaped pedestal base, Domed hinged lid
  • SizeH 15.5 cm (6 in) x W 27 cm (11 in) x D 19 cm (7 in)

This mid 19th-century English Victorian tea caddy is formed from black papier-mâché in an octagonal rectangular shape with a domed hinged lid and a shaped pedestal base standing on four simple scroll feet. The surface is finished with black lacquer and embellished with intricate mother-of-pearl floral inlays in shades of pink, white and blue, combined with gilded foliate painting and gold leaf details. The piece measures 15.5 cm high, 27 cm wide and 19 cm deep. It functions as a decorative accessory for a sideboard top in a living room, dining room or hallway, providing a traditional home storage container for dry goods or small trinkets.

FAQs

Tea caddies were container vessels used for storing tea leaves, which were valuable commodities in nineteenth-century Britain. Papier-mache caddies became popular during the Victorian era, crafted from pressed paper pulp or layered sheets finished with heavy black lacquer and detailed hand decorations.

Victorian papier-mache items were constructed from steam-pressed paper sheets soaked in adhesive and linseed oil to create a dense core. Decorative finishes involved black asphaltum varnish, gilding with gold leaf, and delicate inlays of iridescent mother-of-pearl shell.

Authentic nineteenth-century pieces usually feature hand-painted gilded foliage, mother-of-pearl shell inlays with subtle natural variations, and fine craquelure across the lacquer surface. They often retain lead-lined interior compartments or remnant foil meant to preserve tea freshness.

A Victorian tea caddy functions well as a decorative focal point on a sideboard top, bookshelf, or entry console table. Its dark finish and shell shimmer contrast effectively against neutral backdrop surfaces or contemporary vignettes.

Keep the piece away from direct sunlight, excess moisture, and sudden temperature changes, as dampness can soften the paper core. Clean gently with a soft, dry microfibre cloth and avoid water, liquid polishes, or harsh chemical solvents that could compromise the delicate lacquer.
items
Add keywords to the filter
Price
£100
£250000
Era
Period
Style
Material
Origin
Stock Location
Recently Added
Online Payments
Categories