Pair of Tea Caddies 1744 - 1745

These tea caddies were made by Eliza Godfrey, a London silversmith, sometime before 1758. They are made of sterling silver, a material whose preciousness aligns with tea's status as a luxury good in the 18th century. Consider the labour involved: the mining of silver, its refinement, and the hand-crafting of these caddies. Silver is a soft material, ideally suited for intricate designs. Godfrey likely hammered the silver into sheets, formed the caddies' rectangular bodies, and then meticulously engraved the floral patterns and heraldic crests. These caddies speak volumes about the social context of their time. Tea drinking was a ritual deeply embedded in British culture, and owning such refined objects signaled wealth and status. The high level of skill required elevates these caddies beyond mere functional containers; they are a testament to the artistry and labour that transformed raw materials into objects of beauty and social significance. They are not just containers for tea, but vessels of cultural meaning.