Overview

Tea was introduced to Britain in the 1650s. Its popularity burgeoned over the following two-and-a-half centuries, until it became the defining feature of British culture. Drawing inspiration from China, British craftsmen worked to display their skills on numerous tea-related objects, which ritualised the process of drinking tea and imbued it with luxury status. Ceramic and silver tea sets and canisters, stored in lockable chests, became the established means of storing and preserving this precious commodity. These canisters, chests and caddies were not merely functional items that might lurk at the back of the kitchen – they were intended for display. Even as the habit of tea drinking filtered down the social scale, such tea caddies were a means of demonstrating the wealth of the owners, and were an essential accoutrement for fashionable women. This book collects numerous fine examples of tea caddies, presenting them alongside detailed historical research conducted into their place at the forefront of British society across two and a half centuries. With historical art showing tea's integration into British society, extracts from old broadsheets, and numerous examples of antique tea chests and caddies, this is a must-buy book for historians and collectors. AUTHOR: Marian Walecki was a keen collector of tea chests and caddies from her early teens. Interested in all aspects of the art world, she began this project in 1995. SELLING POINTS: . An in-depth study on the relevance of tea, tea caddies and tea chests to British society . Over 800 pictures of tea caddies/chests and other tea-related illustrations . Traces the exponential growth of tea's popularity from the mid-17th century to the 1900s . Expertly researched and beautifully illustrated – the perfect collectors' reference 850 colour illustrations

Full Product Details

Author:   Anne Stevens ,  Kate Richenburg ,  Gillian Walkling
Publisher:   ACC Art Books
Imprint:   ACC Art Books
Weight:   2.716kg
ISBN:  

9781788841467

ISBN 10:   1788841468
Pages:   432
Publication Date:   18 May 2022
Audience:   General/trade ,  General
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In Print  
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Table of Contents

Preface – Anne Stevens Acknowledgements PART I: Setting the Scene A short history of tea and tea drinking in Britain – Richard Rose and Richard Dey Overview of tea chests and caddies – Anne Stevens, Kate Richenburg and Gillian Walkling Making, Merchandising and Pricing – Clive Edwards Components of tea chests and caddies – Anne Stevens, Kate Richenburg and Gillian Walkling PART II: The Objects, Techniques and Materials Wood: plain or inlaid – Anne Stevens and Gillian Walkling Tunbridge ware – Brian Austen Mauchline ware – Anne Stevens and Kate Richenburg Japanned wood – Rufus Bird Penwork – Anne Stevens and Kate Richenburg Ivory – Gillian Walkling Tortoiseshell – Gillian Walkling Mother-of-pearl – Gillian Walkling Rolled paper – Anne Stevens and Kate Richenburg Straw work – Anne Stevens and Kate Richenburg Japanned metal – Anne Stevens and Kate Richenburg Papier mâché – Anne Stevens and Yvonne Jones Silver – Jeanne Sloane Pewter and other metals – Kate Richenburg Ceramics – Sally Kevill-Davies Glass – Charles Hadjamach Enamel – Julia Clarke Miscellaneous – Anne Stevens, Kate Richenburg and Gillian Walkling Teapoys and other large tea containers – Anne Stevens A case study – Anne Stevens and Kate Richenburg Appendix I: Comparable values of money in terms of purchasing power

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Author Information

The authors, including the General Editors Anne Stevens, Kate Richenburg and Gillian Walkling, are all top experts in their fields, and many are drawn from museums, leading auction houses and academic institutions. The originator of this work was Anne Stevens who became the leading British authority on tea chests and caddies. Starting in the 1950s she carried out research on these items, building up a sizeable archive of findings, many taken from primary sources. She lectured on the subject in Britain and Australia and wrote various related articles. Contributors to The Story of British Tea Chests and Caddies include Brian Austen, Rufus Bird, Julia Clarke, Richard Dey, Clive Edwards, Charles Hadjamach, Yvonne Jones, Sally Kevill-Davies, Richard Rose and Jeanne Sloane.

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