How were these tea boxes originally used?

Tea was an expensive commodity in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, kept locked away to prevent theft by household servants. The mistress of the house would use the key to unlock the caddy, measure out the loose leaves into the interior canisters, and mix them using the central glass bowl. Inside, separate compartments kept black and green teas distinct from one another. The boxes lived in the formal drawing room rather than the kitchen, signalling hospitality and status to visiting guests.

How do I tell a Regency box from a George III one?

George III pieces tend to lean towards classical architectural restraint, favouring straight lines, flame mahogany, and subtle stringing. Regency and George IV examples introduce bolder classical revival motifs, such as lion mask handles, heavier brass inlay, and exotic veneers like rosewood and coromandel. Proportions also shift, with Regency boxes often displaying more pronounced sarcophagus curves and bolder plinth bases. Examining the interior fittings and secondary woods helps confirm the manufacturing era.

Are the interior mixing bowls usually original?

Finding a box with its original cut glass bowl is uncommon, as glass was easily broken during daily household use. Many surviving caddies have replacement bowls or retain empty central recesses where the original vessel once sat. When a matching cut glass bowl does survive, it matches the contours of the wooden aperture precisely. Collectors do not penalise replacements heavily, provided the surrounding timber and foil linings remain undisturbed.

Where should I place a tea box in my home?

These boxes function well on side tables, chest tops, or dedicated display cabinets where their figured grain and brass work catch natural light. Keep them away from direct sunlight and strong heat sources to prevent timber shrinkage and veneer lifting. Using them to store small modern items, such as keys or jewellery, keeps them functional while protecting their historic wax-polished surfaces from unnecessary daily wear.

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Georgian Sarcophagus Tea Box

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These Georgian sarcophagus tea box examples combine architectural presence with functional design, offering collectors a refined receptacle for storing precious dry leaves.

19th century

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Early 19th Century Mahogany Teapoy

From Martlesham Antiques

£1,450

FOR SALE

boxes

A Regency Period Birdseye Maple Lidded Work Box

19th century

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A Regency Period Birdseye Maple Lidded Work Box

From John Beazor Antiques

£1,250

FOR SALE

boxes

Antique George IV Gonçalo Alves & Amboyna Marquetry Tea Caddy C1825 19th C

19th century

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Antique George IV Gonçalo Alves & Amboyna Marquetry Tea Caddy C1825 19th C

From Regent Antiques

£1,550

FOR SALE

boxes

Antique Regency Quality Mahogany Inlaid Tea Caddy

19th century

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Antique Regency Quality Mahogany Inlaid Tea Caddy

From London City Antiques

£535

FOR SALE

boxes

19th century

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Tea Caddy

From Carlton House Antiques

£250

FOR SALE

boxes

18th century

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A Rare 18th Century Burr Thorn Wood Tea Caddy

From Hansord Antiques

£1,700

FOR SALE

boxes

19th century

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Small Mahogany Antique Tea Caddy

From Driscolls Antiques Ltd

£245

FOR SALE

boxes

18th century

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Georgian Tea Caddy

From James Reeve (Quinneys of Warwick)

£275

FOR SALE

boxes

Regency Rosewood and Brass Inlaid Tea Caddy

19th century

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Regency Rosewood and Brass Inlaid Tea Caddy

From Hobson May Collection

£525

FOR SALE

boxes

William IV Period, Circa 1830 Wonderful Large Rosewood Tea Caddy Box or Chest with Beautiful Mother of Pearl Bird and Foliate Inlay.

19th century

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William IV Period, Circa 1830 Wonderful Large Rosewood Tea Caddy Box or Chest with Beautiful Mother of Pearl Bird and Foliate Inlay.

From Serpentine Antiques

£595

FOR SALE

boxes

The listings here span the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, covering George III, Regency, George IV, and Victorian eras in mahogany, rosewood, and coromandel.

Fantastic Quality Antique Regency Coromandel Wood Tea Caddy

19th century

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Fantastic Quality Antique Regency Coromandel Wood Tea Caddy

From Unique Antiques by Emma Jade

£675

FOR SALE

boxes

19th century

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Brass Inlaid Rosewood Tea Caddy

From LTANTIQUES.CO.UK

£575

FOR SALE

boxes

19th century

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19th Century Mahogany and Ebony Inlaid Tea Caddy

From Walton House Antiques

£825

FOR SALE

boxes

Fine Early Regency Chinoiserie Penwork Tea Caddy C.1800

19th century

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Fine Early Regency Chinoiserie Penwork Tea Caddy C.1800

From A Brookes

£1,675

FOR SALE

boxes

Antique Keepsake Box, English, Coromandel, Inlaid Stationery Case, Regency, 1830

19th century

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Antique Keepsake Box, English, Coromandel, Inlaid Stationery Case, Regency, 1830

From London Fine Antiques

£895

FOR SALE

boxes

Antique Sarcophagus Loose Leaf Tea Caddy, Drawing Room, English, Regency, C.1820

19th century

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Antique Sarcophagus Loose Leaf Tea Caddy, Drawing Room, English, Regency, C.1820

From London Fine Antiques

£1,495

FOR SALE

boxes

← 1 2 3 4 →

Georgian Sarcophagus Tea Box

Early 19th Century Mahogany Teapoy

A Regency Period Birdseye Maple Lidded Work Box

Antique George IV Gonçalo Alves & Amboyna Marquetry Tea Caddy C1825 19th C

Antique Regency Quality Mahogany Inlaid Tea Caddy

Tea Caddy

A Rare 18th Century Burr Thorn Wood Tea Caddy

Small Mahogany Antique Tea Caddy

Georgian Tea Caddy

Regency Rosewood and Brass Inlaid Tea Caddy

William IV Period, Circa 1830 Wonderful Large Rosewood Tea Caddy Box or Chest with Beautiful Mother of Pearl Bird and Foliate Inlay.

Fantastic Quality Antique Regency Coromandel Wood Tea Caddy

Brass Inlaid Rosewood Tea Caddy

19th Century Mahogany and Ebony Inlaid Tea Caddy

Fine Early Regency Chinoiserie Penwork Tea Caddy C.1800

Antique Keepsake Box, English, Coromandel, Inlaid Stationery Case, Regency, 1830

Antique Sarcophagus Loose Leaf Tea Caddy, Drawing Room, English, Regency, C.1820

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