Pair of English Regency Red Tôle & Gilt Chinoiserie Tea Caddies, Nos. 2 & 4

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Pair of English Regency Red Tôle & Gilt Chinoiserie Tea Caddies, Nos. 2 & 4, numbered ‘2’ and ‘4’ in … Read more Pair of English Regency Red Tôle & Gilt Chinoiserie Tea Caddies, Nos. 2 & 4, numbered ‘2’ and ‘4’ in the traditional English manner, indicating different tea varieties within an original Regency-period tea service.
England, Regency period, circa 1815–1835

This striking pair of large-scale English tea caddies dates to the Regency period, when Chinoiserie remained a powerful and fashionable influence in British decorative arts. Executed in painted and japanned tôle (tinplate), the caddies are finished in a rich vermilion red ground, lavishly embellished with gilt foliate ornament and black transfer-printed figural scenes inspired by European interpretations of Chinese courtly life.

Each caddy features a faceted body with gently sloping shoulders and retains its original fitted lid, decorated with gilt banding. The front panels are centered with oval reserves depicting Mandarin figures standing beside stacked tea chests—an explicit visual reference to the tea trade—framed by ornate scrolling cartouches. Flanking these scenes are stylized pseudo-Chinese calligraphic motifs, typical of Regency Chinoiserie, intended to evoke the appearance of Chinese script rather than convey literal meaning.

The bases are clearly marked “2” and “4,” a traditional English convention indicating different tea varieties within a multi-caddy tea service, such as green, black, or blended teas. Their exceptional scale suggests these were intended for prominent display on a sideboard or tea table in a refined domestic interior rather than for purely utilitarian storage.

The interiors retain their original tin linings, showing appropriate oxidation and wear consistent with early 19th-century use. Surface abrasions, paint losses, and minor wear throughout are entirely consistent with age and contribute to the authentic patina expected of Regency tôleware.

Both decorative and historically evocative, these caddies are equally suited to a Chinoiserie-focused collection, a Regency interior, or use as bold decorative objects flanking a mantel or console.

Dimensions (each):
• 19" H x 10" diameter
• Lid diameter: 5"

Condition:
Good Regency-period condition overall. Expected surface wear, paint and gilt losses, and interior oxidation consistent with age and use. Lids are present and fit well.

A rare and highly decorative Regency-period pair, notable for their scale, saturated color, and strong graphic presence. See less