Tea Caddy or Tobacco Box
early 18th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This container of pierced and engraved brass was intended for use as either a tobacco jar or tea caddy. While the shape is more typical of a tea caddy, the iconography of the engraving refers to smoking. The engraving, which is of exceptional quality, includes figures of a man and a woman, floral scrolls, vases of flowers and an in Dutch, 'the Dutchman and his wife'.
A tea caddy is a closed container for dry tea, used as part of a tea service. The term caddy (originally 'catti') is derived from the Malay word kati, which was a unit of measure used exclusively for tea. A kati equalled about 600 grams--the weight of the standard 18th century packet of tea.
A tea caddy is a closed container for dry tea, used as part of a tea service. The term caddy (originally 'catti') is derived from the Malay word kati, which was a unit of measure used exclusively for tea. A kati equalled about 600 grams--the weight of the standard 18th century packet of tea.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 3 parts.
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| Materials and techniques | Brass, pierced and engraved |
| Brief description | Brass tea caddy or tobacco box, pierced and engraved with floral scrolls, figures and an inscription, Dutch, early 18th century |
| Physical description | Engraved with figures, floral scrolls and an inscription. The liner is missing. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This container of pierced and engraved brass was intended for use as either a tobacco jar or tea caddy. While the shape is more typical of a tea caddy, the iconography of the engraving refers to smoking. The engraving, which is of exceptional quality, includes figures of a man and a woman, floral scrolls, vases of flowers and an in Dutch, 'the Dutchman and his wife'. A tea caddy is a closed container for dry tea, used as part of a tea service. The term caddy (originally 'catti') is derived from the Malay word kati, which was a unit of measure used exclusively for tea. A kati equalled about 600 grams--the weight of the standard 18th century packet of tea. |
| Bibliographic reference | Turner, Eric An Introduction to Brass, London, HMSO, 1982 ill. ISBN 0112903762 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 591-1883 |
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| Record created | January 12, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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