Box is for Tea, Not Tobacco

Source from:  bradenton.com February 03, 2008 02/04/2008

My aunt gave me this little box when I was 8 years old. She said it was for pipe tobacco and it was her father's. That was in 1929, so I know it must be very old. There is a piece of wood missing that fell off sometime but I don't remember when. I would like to know more about it so I can tell my grandson to whom I am going to give it. - M.K. It is easy to see why your aunt would think this little tin-lined box was for tobacco. Even now containers for cigars and loose tobacco use a metal or ceramic lining to keep the tobacco from drying out. However, your box is for tea leaves. Just like tobacco leaves, tea leaves can dry out and become brittle and not as flavorful. Tea bags are a 20th century introduction and all tea was made from loose tea leaves which were measured out and put in the teapot to steep. The tea was poured through some type of strainer into the cup. Later teapots had strainers in the spout to assist in keeping the beverage free from tea leaf particles and to prevent the strainer from clogging. Tea strainers are a popular collectible as they come in many varieties. In fact, drinking tea spawned many accessories. There are tea tables, tea cosies to keep the pot warm, and the waste bowl of a tea set for disposing of the used leaves. Tea was imported from Asia. It came to America and England on the clipper ships, riding high on top of porcelain and other trade goods to keep it dry. The English, in particular, enjoyed tea and brought the drink to America with them. It was such a popular drink that when the English government put a tax on the imported tea, it spawned the revolt known as the Boston Tea Party. Tea was expensive. It was kept in a box which often had a lock. The tea box or tea caddy as they are known was kept on the sideboard and brought to the lady of the house who would have the key and unlock the box. Because tea was kept in the living areas and not in the kitchen, a lot of effort was made into making the boxes attractive. It looks like your is mahogany with a satinwood band inlay. Often the escutcheon around the key hole was also satinwood or ivory. You have a small box. Some boxes had two compartments for two different kinds of tea. A few boxes also had compartments for tea and a mixing bowl. Some boxes were made in the shape of pears or apples and were made from those types of wood. Tea caddies have always been a popular collectible. Their small size makes it possible for them to fit anywhere, even in a small home. Your box has nice inlay and that makes it more desirable than a plain box. Inlaid tea caddies usually had patterns like your or a seashell. Cabinetmakers could buy these inlays from makers who specialized in making inlay. It is not uncommon to see the same inlaid pattern over and over again. Your box dates from about 1800 and has a value of about $400 if you replace the missing piece on the front. Julie McClure has 30 years of experience in the appraisal business and is a member of the Appraisers Association of America. Send queries and photographs via regular mail to About Antiques, The Herald, 102 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton, FL 34205-8810. Please include the measurements of a piece and a phone number. Also, computer printouts of images do not reproduce, so please e-mail images. Photographs will only be returned in a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Enditem