What was a tea caddy used for?

Tea caddies served as secure storage containers for dry tea leaves when tea was an expensive commodity kept under lock and key. Wealthy households relied on them to preserve the aroma and flavour of imported leaves between uses. Over time, these containers evolved from simple wooden chests with internal canisters into decorative metal boxes displayed prominently in the parlour or dining room.

How do I identify the date of a silver caddy?

Dating relies primarily on the combination of hallmarks stamped onto the silver surface by official assay offices in cities such as London, Birmingham, Sheffield, and Chester. A date letter stamp within the sequence points directly to the exact year of testing. Stylistic cues such as Georgian fluting, Victorian scrollwork, or Edwardian simplicity provide additional context when hallmarks are rubbed or partially obscured.

Are caddy spoons different from regular teaspoons?

Caddy spoons feature noticeably shorter handles and wider, often shallow bowls shaped to dip easily into the narrow opening of a tea caddy or canister. Their proportions kept them practical for transferring loose leaves directly into a pot. Silversmiths frequently shaped these bowls as shells, leaves, or jockey caps, turning a purely utilitarian implement into a decorative novelty.

How should I clean antique silver?

Routine maintenance requires only a soft cloth and warm soapy water to remove dust and surface oils from the silver without abrasive friction. Chemical dips should be avoided because they strip away the dark oxidation in engraved recesses that gives the design contrast. Natural tarnish that builds up slowly in the background of engraved scrolls often enhances the legibility of the maker's work and the crispness of the lines.

Home > Engraved Sterling Silver Caddy > Page 3

Engraved Sterling Silver Caddy

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An engraved sterling silver caddy brings tactile weight and fine decorative detail to the tea table, rewarding the hand as much as the eye.

Antique Victorian Scottish Sterling Silver and 15ct Yellow Gold Box

19th century

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Antique Victorian Scottish Sterling Silver and 15ct Yellow Gold Box

From AC Silver

£1,895

3+ MONTHS AGO

silver

1900 - 1920

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Victorian Silver Spoon. Chester 1901

From Carse Antiques

£145

3+ MONTHS AGO

silver

19th century

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Superb Quality Nathaniel Mills Silver Table Snuff Box

From Piers Rankin Antique Silver

£1,050

3+ MONTHS AGO

silver

18th century

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1780 Very Rare Large Cork Silver Box by John Hillery Macnamara Crest , Times Provenance

From Dudley Antique Silver

£3,950

3+ MONTHS AGO

silver

18th century

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Georgian Silver Tea Caddy

From Ballinderry Antiques

£1,850

3+ MONTHS AGO

silver

19th century

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An Antique Early Victorian Silver Caddy Spoon with a Rectangular Bowl with Foliate Engraving.

From Robert Belcher Antiques

£175

3+ MONTHS AGO

silver

19th century

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Rare Antique Solid Silver Palm Pattern Spoon

From The Silver Cabinet

£170

3+ MONTHS AGO

silver

1900 - 1920

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Antique Silver Tea Caddy in the Form of a Jockey’s Cap

From Colin Brand Antiques

£135

3+ MONTHS AGO

silver

19th century

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Antique English Sterling Silver Playing Card Box - 1899

From Puckerings

£2,400

3+ MONTHS AGO

silver

1900 - 1920

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Silver Strainer Spoon

From AJD Antiques

£145

3+ MONTHS AGO

silver

Early silversmiths occasionally shaped silver spoons into tiny jockey caps complete with peaks, feeding the Georgian passion for horse racing right down to the tea caddy.

19th century

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Georgian Silver Caddy Spoon

From AJD Antiques

£145

3+ MONTHS AGO

silver

19th century

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Georgian Period London 1801 Solid Silver Tea Caddy Spoon by George Wintle.

From Serpentine Antiques

£185

3+ MONTHS AGO

silver

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Engraved Sterling Silver Caddy

Antique Victorian Scottish Sterling Silver and 15ct Yellow Gold Box

Victorian Silver Spoon. Chester 1901

Superb Quality Nathaniel Mills Silver Table Snuff Box

1780 Very Rare Large Cork Silver Box by John Hillery Macnamara Crest , Times Provenance

Georgian Silver Tea Caddy

An Antique Early Victorian Silver Caddy Spoon with a Rectangular Bowl with Foliate Engraving.

Rare Antique Solid Silver Palm Pattern Spoon

Antique Silver Tea Caddy in the Form of a Jockey’s Cap

Antique English Sterling Silver Playing Card Box - 1899

Silver Strainer Spoon

Georgian Silver Caddy Spoon

Georgian Period London 1801 Solid Silver Tea Caddy Spoon by George Wintle.

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