Tea Caddy
1769-1770 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The term caddy (originally catti) is derived from the Malay word, kati, which was a unit of weight used for tea, 75 katis equalling 100lbs. The kati was the weight, about one and one third pounds (600 grams) of the standard 18th century packet of tea.
The tea caddy is a closed container for dry tea, used at a tea table as part of a tea service. The earliest examples in silver were in the shape of Chinese porcelain tea jars. Later, caddies in silver or Sheffield plate were made in many styles, shapes and sizes.
The tea caddy is a closed container for dry tea, used at a tea table as part of a tea service. The earliest examples in silver were in the shape of Chinese porcelain tea jars. Later, caddies in silver or Sheffield plate were made in many styles, shapes and sizes.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Silver, embossed and cast |
| Brief description | Tea caddy, silver, (one of a pair), London hallmarks for 1769-70, mark of William Vincent. |
| Physical description | Tea caddy, silver, (one of a pair), square with serpentine shaped sides, resting on four feet and with a slightly domed cover, the latter surmounted by a rose knop. Floral embossed decoration. With its pair, contained in a silver mounted tortoiseshell case. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Credit line | Gift of Miss Rachel Leighton through The National Art Collections Fund |
| Object history | Gift of Miss Rachel Leighton through the National Art Collections Fund. Acquisition RF: 40 / 291 |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | The term caddy (originally catti) is derived from the Malay word, kati, which was a unit of weight used for tea, 75 katis equalling 100lbs. The kati was the weight, about one and one third pounds (600 grams) of the standard 18th century packet of tea. The tea caddy is a closed container for dry tea, used at a tea table as part of a tea service. The earliest examples in silver were in the shape of Chinese porcelain tea jars. Later, caddies in silver or Sheffield plate were made in many styles, shapes and sizes. |
| Associated objects |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.2:1-1940 |
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| Record created | September 10, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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