What were tea caddies used for?

Tea caddies served as secure storage containers for expensive tea leaves when tea was a highly rationed luxury commodity in British households. They frequently included internal lids or divided canisters to keep different blends separate. Wealthy homeowners kept these boxes locked in the parlour or dining room, dispensing the leaves personally to household staff. This practical necessity drove cabinetmakers to produce increasingly ornate vessels featuring mother of pearl inlay and fine timbers.

How can I tell a Victorian box from a Georgian one?

Georgian boxes generally favor restrained classical proportions, featuring understated mahogany or walnut veneers with subtle stringing and symmetrical brasses. The joinery is often characterised by hand-cut dovetails and simpler interior layouts designed for letters or dry goods. Victorian pieces embrace eclectic revival styles like Rococo Revival and Chinoiserie, alongside heavy use of papier-mâché, mother of pearl, and burr maple. The interiors of Victorian trinket and stationery boxes tend to be more complex, utilising plush velvet linings and tiered compartments.

What is Tunbridge ware?

Tunbridge ware is a specialised form of mosaic woodwork produced in Kent, featuring tiny blocks of naturally coloured timbers assembled to form pictorial scenes. Craftsmen sliced these multi-wood blocks into ultra-thin veneers to wrap around keepsake and desk boxes. These geometric and floral motifs required immense patience, often incorporating thousands of individual wood squares in a single panel. Collectors prize these pieces for their topographical precision and distinct regional provenance.

How should I care for an antique lacquered box?

Antique lacquer surfaces require stable indoor humidity away from direct sunlight to prevent the underlying wood or papier-mâché from warping. Dusting should be done gently with a dry, soft microfibre cloth without commercial cleaning sprays. Avoid placing damp items or heavy moisture directly onto antique lacquer or tortoiseshell finishes. Maintaining a consistent room temperature preserves the integrity of delicate surface glazes and prevents crazing.

Home > Antiques For Sale > Decorative Box > Page 2

Antique Decorative Box

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When you handle an antique decorative box, you hold centuries of portable craftsmanship designed to safeguard everything from precious letters to fragrant tea leaves.

1940 - 1960

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Calcutta Indian Box

From Millers Antiques

£220

FOR SALE

boxes

18th century

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Antique Early 18th Century Quality Oak Box Coffer in the Form of a Miniature Chest

From London City Antiques

£1,185

FOR SALE

miscellaneous

19th century

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Victorian Walnut Brass Bound Box

From In A Nutshell Antiques and Interiors

£110

FOR SALE

boxes

19th century

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George III Mahogany Tea Caddy

From David Pickett Antiques

£125

FOR SALE

boxes

French 19th C. Inlaid Kingwood Jardinière with Fine Porcelain Plaque

19th century

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French 19th C. Inlaid Kingwood Jardinière with Fine Porcelain Plaque

From Treasure Trove Worcester Ltd

£1,450

FOR SALE

miscellaneous

An Unusual Antique Engine Turned Snuff Box - Decorated Inside and Out

18th century

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An Unusual Antique Engine Turned Snuff Box - Decorated Inside and Out

From Opus Antiques

£445

FOR SALE

boxes

Japanese Gilt Lacquer Zodiac Inro, Early 19th C. Edo Period.

19th century

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Japanese Gilt Lacquer Zodiac Inro, Early 19th C. Edo Period.

From Philip Carrol Antiques

£980

FOR SALE

miscellaneous

19th century

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19th Century Lacquered Chinoiserie Box

From Treasury Antiques

£140

FOR SALE

boxes

Rare Napoleonic Straw-work Prisoner-of-war Workbox

19th century

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Rare Napoleonic Straw-work Prisoner-of-war Workbox

From Colin Brand Antiques

£650

FOR SALE

boxes

Vintage Indian Sterling Silver and Enamel Elephant Card or Cigarette Box

1920 - 1940

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Vintage Indian Sterling Silver and Enamel Elephant Card or Cigarette Box

From Ritas Bazaar

£850

FOR SALE

silver

Victorian manufacturers offered singing birds safely caged in brass, providing cheerful avian acoustics without the inconvenience of feeding live plumage.

Pair of Victorian Singing Birds in a Brass Cage

19th century

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Pair of Victorian Singing Birds in a Brass Cage

From Walton House Antiques

£895

FOR SALE

miscellaneous

18th century

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Collection of Three 18th Century Antique Wood and Boxes with Mother of Peral and Bone Details

From The English Interior

£420

FOR SALE

boxes

Susse Freres Paris- Gold and Polychrome Leather Covered Box

19th century

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Susse Freres Paris- Gold and Polychrome Leather Covered Box

From The English Interior

£440

FOR SALE

boxes

Decorative Victorian Sterling Silver Jewellery or Trinket Box

19th century

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Decorative Victorian Sterling Silver Jewellery or Trinket Box

From Piers Rankin Antique Silver

£1,450

FOR SALE

silver

Antique Horseshoe Cribbage Board & Playing Card Box. Oak Brass Games Box.

19th century

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Antique Horseshoe Cribbage Board & Playing Card Box. Oak Brass Games Box.

From Krave Antiques

£295

FOR SALE

boxes

Rare French Guichard Carriès Salt Glazed Window Planter Trough

19th century

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Rare French Guichard Carriès Salt Glazed Window Planter Trough

From CJ Antiques

£795

FOR SALE

miscellaneous

← 1 2 3 4 5 ... 19 →

Antique Decorative Box

Calcutta Indian Box

Antique Early 18th Century Quality Oak Box Coffer in the Form of a Miniature Chest

Victorian Walnut Brass Bound Box

George III Mahogany Tea Caddy

French 19th C. Inlaid Kingwood Jardinière with Fine Porcelain Plaque

An Unusual Antique Engine Turned Snuff Box - Decorated Inside and Out

Japanese Gilt Lacquer Zodiac Inro, Early 19th C. Edo Period.

19th Century Lacquered Chinoiserie Box

Rare Napoleonic Straw-work Prisoner-of-war Workbox

Vintage Indian Sterling Silver and Enamel Elephant Card or Cigarette Box

Pair of Victorian Singing Birds in a Brass Cage

Collection of Three 18th Century Antique Wood and Boxes with Mother of Peral and Bone Details

Susse Freres Paris- Gold and Polychrome Leather Covered Box

Decorative Victorian Sterling Silver Jewellery or Trinket Box

Antique Horseshoe Cribbage Board & Playing Card Box. Oak Brass Games Box.

Rare French Guichard Carriès Salt Glazed Window Planter Trough

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