What was inside an inlaid walnut caddy?

These boxes held valuable dried tea leaves under lock and key, protecting them from damp and domestic staff in Georgian and Victorian households. Inside, you typically find two foil-lined or wooden compartments for different teas, occasionally accompanied by a central glass mixing bowl.

How do I date an inlaid walnut caddy?

Dating relies on combining the overall silhouette, the style of the inlay, and the interior hardware. Georgian examples tend to favour restrained rectangular proportions with simple stringing, whereas Victorian pieces often adopt sarcophagus shapes or busy Tunbridge ware. Examine the construction of the interior compartments and the type of hinges used, as these mechanical details shifted visibly across the decades of the nineteenth century.

How do I care for burr walnut veneer?

Burr walnut requires stable humidity and protection from direct sunlight to prevent the thin decorative veneers from drying out and lifting. Keep the timber nourished with appropriate beeswax rather than modern silicon polishes. Avoid placing these boxes near radiators or open fires, as sudden temperature shifts cause the historic glue beneath the parquetry to fail.

Are all these boxes meant for tea?

While tea storage accounts for the majority of these items, the category also includes sewing boxes, liquor caves, and tabletop cabinets sharing identical decorative vocabularies. Makers applied the same mastery of walnut, brass, and mother of pearl across various tabletop storage forms intended for the polite drawing room.

Home > Antiques For Sale > Inlaid Walnut Caddy > Page 2

Inlaid Walnut Caddy

17 items · page 2 of 2

← Page 2 of 2 →

These inlaid walnut caddy pieces are timber boxes designed for holding dried leaves, displaying the rich grain and precision inlay that defined Georgian and Victorian domestic storage.

18th century

Save

Decorative Inlaid Georgian Box 1800

From Michael Johnson Antiques

£490

FOR SALE

boxes

← 1 2 →

Inlaid Walnut Caddy

Decorative Inlaid Georgian Box 1800

Add keywords to the filter

Price

Era

Period

Style

Material

Origin

Stock Location

Recently Added

Online Payments

Categories