Tea caddies earned their locks honestly, tea was expensive through much of the 1700's and into the 1800's, taxed heavily enough that households kept it under lock and key the same way they might silver or jewellery, and the caddy form persisted well after tea prices dropped simply because it had become an established piece of furniture in its own right. This one carries boxwood stringing along the mahogany body and a bone escutcheon around the keyhole, with a fitted interior originally divided for tea storage and a red paper lining still intact on the underside of the lid.
The mahogany has developed a deep, mellow patina over more than a century of handling, standing on a hessian-covered base typical of the period's caddy construction. With the fitted interior no longer needed strictly for tea, the generous proportions suit jewellery, letters, or sewing accessories just as well, while the working lock and key, uncommon to find intact after this long, add a level of function most decorative boxes from the period can't match.
Condition notes
Very good antique condition. Displays age-related surface wear, scratches and small knocks consistent with over 150 years of use. There are some small nibbles along the edges and small losses to the boxwood stringing. The interior shows expected wear and remnants of the original red paper lining, with light staining and historic marks from use. The original lock is fully functional and comes complete with its working key.
