DESCRIPTION: Tea in the early 18 Century was expensive and was consumed in the famous pleasure gardens in London and only the very wealthy colonists. Early tea caddies were small and made in precious materials. Most caddies carried locks on them and it was typical in the 18th century for the lady of the house to keep the caddy key on her chatelaine around her waist. This meant the servants and butler of the house would not be tempted to try such a precious commodity. Tea caddies by 1780 began to be made in walnut, mahogany and Satinwood cross banded. They were made without locks and keys when the hated tea tax was removed in 1784. An emergent middle class could start to drinking tea for the first time as the average price of tea dropped. This is an Antique 1700s Georgian Mahogany Slant Lid Dovetailed Tea Caddy Box from New England circa late 1700s for your consideration. The Georgian Mahogany Tea Caddy would have been paired with Georgian Mahogany Knife Boxes on a classic dining room server or sideboard. The Antique Wooden Tea Caddy was handmade of mahogany and joined together by dovetailing without any nails or pegs. The front body of the Antique Mahogany Tea Caddy is made of single piece of mahogany wood heat bent in a semi-circle shape. The flame grain on the mahogany wood is exquisite and detailed. The base of the Antique Mahogany Tea Caddy is made of a single piece of mahogany wood fashioned in a matching semi-circle shape. The edges have been beveled in a shoe molding shape. The Antique Mahogany Tea Caddy has a slant lid top that is attached with original brass hinges. The back of the Antique Mahogany Tea Caddy is made of a single piece of mahogany wood. The beautiful top of the rare mahogany tea caddy is arched with a detailed finial accent. The Antique Mahogany Tea Caddy Box is in excellent strong condition with a beautiful aged patina.
MEASUREMENTS: 9 Inches High, 7 Inches Wide, and 5 Inches Deep.
Decorative Interior Antique Boxes & Caddies
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