Antique Victorian Amboyna Wood Travelling Tea Caddy

A beautiful antique Victorian travelling tea caddy dating to around 1850, veneered in richly figured amboyna with a wonderful warm colour and striking natural grain. Compact in scale and very decorative, it is a particularly attractive example of a mid-19th-century personal tea caddy.

The exterior is finished in highly figured amboyna veneer, with fine contrasting stringing around the edges and a simple rectangular form that allows the quality of the timber to take centre stage. The lid is secured by a catch to each side rather than a central front catch, a practical detail that would have helped keep the caddy firmly closed when being transported.

Opening the hinged lid reveals a single metal-lined compartment designed to help protect and preserve the tea. Its compact proportions and secure side catches distinguish it from the larger domestic tea caddies more commonly seen and make it especially appealing as a travelling or personal example.

Amboyna was one of the most prized exotic cabinet woods used during the 19th century, valued for its dramatic figuring and rich colour. The use of such an expensive veneer on a small functional object gives this caddy a particularly refined appearance.

A charming and highly decorative Victorian tea caddy, combining beautiful timber, compact proportions and practical design. It would display wonderfully in a kitchen, dining room, study or collection of antique boxes and tea-related objects.

Condition Report

In good antique condition with age-related wear and marks consistent with its age and use. The amboyna veneer retains a lovely warm colour and figure, and the metal-lined interior shows expected signs of age. Please refer to the photographs as they form part of the condition report.

Measurements

Height:15.5cm(6.10in)
Width:15.5cm(6.10in)
Depth:10.7cm(4.21in)

Date of manufacture: Circa 1850

Origin: England

Available for UK and international delivery. Please contact us for a competitive worldwide shipping quotation.