How were tea caddies used?

Tea was an expensive dry commodity stored securely under lock and key by the head of the household. Servants brought the caddy to the parlour where the host measured leaves into a mixing bowl. Fitted internal compartments kept black and green teas separate before blending. The key remained with the owner to prevent household theft of the valuable leaf.

A teapoy is a container for leaf tea raised on its own pedestal stand or legs rather than placed upon a table. These larger pieces often incorporate internal mixing bowls and multiple caddies. They functioned as independent tea-service stations in nineteenth-century drawing rooms. The term eventually described both the lidded box and its supporting stand.

How do I identify a Georgian tea caddy?

Georgian examples often display straight-sided rectangular, oval, or hexagonal forms executed in mahogany, satinwood, or tortoiseshell. Cabinetmakers relied on fine veneers, brass stringing, and paper filigree rather than heavy carving. Interiors usually feature simple wooden compartments with drop-in lids. The proportions reflect eighteenth-century neoclassical design principles.

What is Tunbridge ware?

Tunbridge ware is a specialised form of mosaic woodwork produced in Kent using small squares of naturally coloured timbers. Artisans glued these wood blocks together to form intricate geometric or floral bands. These decorative panels adorn the lids and sides of nineteenth-century boxes. The technique demonstrates high Victorian precision craftsmanship.