What were tea caddies used for?

Tea caddies served to store expensive tea leaves under lock and key in the formal rooms of the house. Servants brought the caddy to the drawing room so the lady of the house could measure out each brew. Many examples feature internal lidded compartments to separate green and black teas, alongside a central mixing bowl for blending leaves before steeping.

How do I identify Regency boxes?

Regency boxes typically lean into architectural restraint, favouring dark rosewood or mahogany surfaces contrasted with crisp brass stringing or inlaid roundels. The proportions remain balanced and geometric, reflecting classical taste. Look for lion-mask ring handles, bracket feet, and subtle brass escutcheons rather than the heavy floral carvings seen in later Victorian furniture.

What is Tunbridge Ware?

Tunbridge Ware refers to wooden boxes and desk accessories decorated with mosaic patterns built from thousands of tiny, naturally coloured wood prisms. These miniature wooden tiles combine to depict castles, butterflies, or complex geometric borders. Originating in Kent, this cottage industry reached its height during the nineteenth century, leaving behind highly collectable souvenirs of English spa towns.

How should I clean my wooden box?

Maintain the surface of an antique box by dusting it gently with a dry, soft cloth and avoiding modern liquid polishes that contain silicone. A light application of quality beeswax restores moisture to dry timber without harming vulnerable veneer or old finishes. Keep these boxes away from direct sunlight and radiators to prevent the wood from shrinking and the delicate inlay from lifting out of its channels.