Tea Canister thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
British Galleries, Room 118, The Wolfson Gallery

Tea Canister

1780-1800 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Object Type
Tea caddies were used to store loose tea leaves. They were called 'canisters' until about 1800, when they became known as 'caddies', the term we use today. They were placed on the table as tea was served, and were therefore decorated in a variety of fashionable styles.

Ownership & Use
Tea was a popular drink even in smaller households in the later 18th century, although the price was high owing to import restrictions and duties. All tea came from China until 1839, when Indian tea began to be imported.

Design & Designing
The caddy is in the form of an octagonal urn or vase, in the Neo-classical style fashionable in the 1770s and 1780s. The eight sides show off the figure of the wood veneer to great effect. Around the rim of the cover is a border pattern of vertical stripes, stained green, which accentuate the shape. Knife cases in the shape of vases were also popular dining-room accessories.

Materials & Making
The body of the caddy is made of oak and beech, veneered with bird's-eye maple, from the North American maple tree. The inside of the caddy is lined with lead and the lid is lined with marbled paper (coloured to imitate marble). The base is veneered in mahogany. The finial, or knob, at the top of the lid is made of turned wood.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Burr maple and mahogany veneers, with some green staining; bowl lined with lead; cover lined with marbled paper; turned finial
Brief description
Urn-shaped tea canister, English, 1780-1800
Physical description
Urn-shaped octagonal tea caddy, standing cup with hinged, concave-sided steeple-cover surmounted by a ball-finial, standing on a square base. The body is of oak veneered with maple. Round the rim of the cover is a band of cross-banded veneer of a striped green wood. The turned pedestal is painted green to match. The base is veneered in mahogany. The bowl is lined with lead, the cover with marbled paper.
Dimensions
  • Height: 29.21cm
  • Width: 13.97cm
Dimensions checked: Registered Description; 18/03/1999 by KN
Credit line
Given by Mr Geofrey C. Stevenson
Summary
Object Type
Tea caddies were used to store loose tea leaves. They were called 'canisters' until about 1800, when they became known as 'caddies', the term we use today. They were placed on the table as tea was served, and were therefore decorated in a variety of fashionable styles.

Ownership & Use
Tea was a popular drink even in smaller households in the later 18th century, although the price was high owing to import restrictions and duties. All tea came from China until 1839, when Indian tea began to be imported.

Design & Designing
The caddy is in the form of an octagonal urn or vase, in the Neo-classical style fashionable in the 1770s and 1780s. The eight sides show off the figure of the wood veneer to great effect. Around the rim of the cover is a border pattern of vertical stripes, stained green, which accentuate the shape. Knife cases in the shape of vases were also popular dining-room accessories.

Materials & Making
The body of the caddy is made of oak and beech, veneered with bird's-eye maple, from the North American maple tree. The inside of the caddy is lined with lead and the lid is lined with marbled paper (coloured to imitate marble). The base is veneered in mahogany. The finial, or knob, at the top of the lid is made of turned wood.
Collection
Accession number
W.4-1963

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Record createdMarch 27, 2003
Record URL
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