Tea Caddy
late 18th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The tea caddy is a closed container for dry tea, used at the 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. This example is of an irregular oval shape, with vertical reeded bands, a spherical knob and beaded borders.
The term caddy is derived from the Malay word, kati: a unit of measurement used for weighing tea. The kati was equivalent to about 1-1/3 pounds (600 grams), or the standard 18th century packet of tea.
Sheffield plate originated, with the discovery in 1742, that bars of silver and copper, in unequal proportions, fused by heating under pressure, could be rolled into sheets of laminated metal and worked like silver. The industry this material created flourished for about 100 years until superseded by electroplating in the 1840s.
The term caddy is derived from the Malay word, kati: a unit of measurement used for weighing tea. The kati was equivalent to about 1-1/3 pounds (600 grams), or the standard 18th century packet of tea.
Sheffield plate originated, with the discovery in 1742, that bars of silver and copper, in unequal proportions, fused by heating under pressure, could be rolled into sheets of laminated metal and worked like silver. The industry this material created flourished for about 100 years until superseded by electroplating in the 1840s.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Sheffield plate, the inside tinned |
| Brief description | Tea caddy, Sheffield plate with tin, English, late 18th century |
| Physical description | Of irregular oval section, with vertical reeded bands, spherical knob, beaded borders; the feet wanting. With transverse division and lock. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Style | |
| Production type | Mass produced |
| Credit line | The Wolseley Bequest |
| Production | Reason For Production: Retail |
| Summary | The tea caddy is a closed container for dry tea, used at the 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. This example is of an irregular oval shape, with vertical reeded bands, a spherical knob and beaded borders. The term caddy is derived from the Malay word, kati: a unit of measurement used for weighing tea. The kati was equivalent to about 1-1/3 pounds (600 grams), or the standard 18th century packet of tea. Sheffield plate originated, with the discovery in 1742, that bars of silver and copper, in unequal proportions, fused by heating under pressure, could be rolled into sheets of laminated metal and worked like silver. The industry this material created flourished for about 100 years until superseded by electroplating in the 1840s. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.127-1920 |
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| Record created | September 23, 2002 |
| Record URL |
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