Tea Caddy
1780-1800 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Tea leaves were expensive, so were usually stored in lockable containers. Early tea containers were referred to as canisters, kept in locked boxes known as tea chests. Smaller wooden boxes with one or two fixed inner compartments for loose tea became popular from about 1780 onwards and by 1800 were generally known as tea caddies. The word 'caddy' is thought to derive from the Malay word for a measure of weight (kati ) equivalent to about half a kilogram.
The surface is japanned, a technique using layers of varnish to imitate lacquer. This has now dulled with time. By the 18th century the serving of tea had become a genteel social event. The tea caddy would have been displayed along with other fine accessories on the tea table.
The surface is japanned, a technique using layers of varnish to imitate lacquer. This has now dulled with time. By the 18th century the serving of tea had become a genteel social event. The tea caddy would have been displayed along with other fine accessories on the tea table.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | papier mache; japanning; brass |
| Brief description | Black japanned tea caddy with gilt border |
| Physical description | Oval tea caddy, papier mache (layered) japanned black and with a border of vermiculated ornament and rosettes in white and gold; with brass handle and escutcheon; the interior has a cover also japanned black. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Given by Thomas Sutton, Esq., in memory of his wife |
| Object history | This tea caddy was part of a large gift of tea caddies given by the collector Thomas Sutton in 1919. [R.P. 19/3782]. |
| Historical context | Tea leaves were expensive, so were usually stored in lockable containers. Early tea containers were referred to as canisters, kept in locked boxes known as tea chests. Smaller wooden boxes with one or two fixed inner compartments for loose tea became popular from about 1780 onwards and by 1800 were generally known as tea caddies. The word 'caddy' is thought to derive from the Malay word for a measure of weight (kati ) equivalent to about half a kilogram. The surface is japanned, a technique using layers of varnish to imitate lacquer. This has now dulled with time. By the 18th century the serving of tea had become a genteel social event. The tea caddy would have been displayed along with other fine accessories on the tea table. |
| Summary | Tea leaves were expensive, so were usually stored in lockable containers. Early tea containers were referred to as canisters, kept in locked boxes known as tea chests. Smaller wooden boxes with one or two fixed inner compartments for loose tea became popular from about 1780 onwards and by 1800 were generally known as tea caddies. The word 'caddy' is thought to derive from the Malay word for a measure of weight (kati ) equivalent to about half a kilogram. The surface is japanned, a technique using layers of varnish to imitate lacquer. This has now dulled with time. By the 18th century the serving of tea had become a genteel social event. The tea caddy would have been displayed along with other fine accessories on the tea table. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | W.66-1919 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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