Antique Boxes in English Society
1760 -1900
by ANTIGONE
Tea Caddies and Tea

The shapes of the single caddies are varied. They are square, oval, polygonal, sometimes with elongated sides ending in a point. Oval caddies are sometimes elliptical. Very rarely we see an urn shaped caddy. Tops are mostly flat with sometimes a small loop handle or finial in the centre. Escutcheons are inlaid ivory, bone or boxwood. Inside they have a free standing lid. Sometimes the tops are of pyramid shape, continuing the proportions of the side panels. This is mostly the case with ivory or tortoiseshell veneered caddies.