What were tea caddies used for?

Tea caddies served to store expensive tea leaves securely under lock and key in wealthy households. Servants or the master of the house would measure out the leaves for each pot, keeping the contents safe from damp and pilfering.

How do I date a painted wooden box?

Dating relies on examining the timber species, construction joints, and the style of the painted decoration. Georgian and Regency pieces often utilise solid mahogany or satinwood with specific hinge types, while later Victorian boxes show different interior linings and manufacturing methods.

Can I use these boxes for modern storage?

These decorative containers adapt well to holding small keepsakes, jewellery, or modern trinkets on a desk or dressing table. Care should be taken to protect delicate painted surfaces and interior linings from heavy or sharp items.

What is Chinese Export porcelain?

Chinese Export porcelain refers to ceramics manufactured in China specifically for the European and Western markets. These pieces often combined traditional Chinese ceramic techniques with decorative shapes and motifs requested by foreign buyers.

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Hand Painted Caddy

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These hand painted caddy pieces are decorated boxes and tea canisters created to hold leaf tea or treasures, bringing painted artistry into period interiors.