{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O10916"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O10916/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AM7382/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AM7382/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AM7382","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AM8492","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O10916/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O10916","accessionNumber":"M.180A/1, 2-1919","objectType":"Pair of tea canisters","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"<b>Object Type</b><br>This is one of a pair of tea canisters. One canister would hold black, fermented tea leaves, the other green, unfermented tea leaves. Tea canisters are usually known today as tea 'caddies'.  The word 'caddy' came into common usage in Britain in the late 18th century, and is probably a derivative of the Malay word for a measure of weight (<i>kati</i>) equivalent to about half a kilogram.<br><br><b>Use</b><br>The sliding base at the bottom of this silver canister by Bowles Nash (active from 1723) allows for ease of refilling, while the interior lead lining can be removed for cleaning and refilling. The lead lining and the tightly-fitting slip-on cover would ensure the contents were kept dry. The cover of a tea canister is often thought to have been used as a measure before the introduction of the caddy spoon.<br><br><b>Design</b><br>The octagonal body, with incurved corners and stepped base and shoulders, are characteristic of canisters produced in the early 18th century. The lack of surface ornament is also typical of the period. The initials inscribed on the base could indicate that the pair were a marriage gift.","physicalDescription":"Caddy, one of a pair","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Nash, Bowles","id":"A8686"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"AAT251917"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"silver","id":"AAT11029"},{"text":"lead","id":"AAT11022"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Silver, with lead liner","categories":[{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"},{"text":"Tea, coffee and chocolate wares","id":"THES48886"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":["2006AM7382","2006AM8492"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"52B (VA)","id":"THES49255"},"free":"","case":"CA2","shelf":"","box":"9"},{"current":{"text":"52B (VA)","id":"THES49255"},"free":"","case":"CA2","shelf":"","box":"9"},{"current":{"text":"65","id":"THES49734"},"free":"","case":"12","shelf":"1","box":""},{"current":{"text":"65","id":"THES49734"},"free":"","case":"12","shelf":"1","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Tea caddy","id":""}],[{"text":"Lid","id":""}],[{"text":"Tea caddy","id":""}],[{"text":"Lid","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1722-1723","earliest":"1722-01-01","latest":"1723-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Harvey Hadden","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"7.75","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Tea canister","note":"M.189A/1 and A/2-1919"},{"dimension":"Width","value":"5.4","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Tea canister","note":"M.189A/1 and A/2-1919"},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"11.7","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Tea canister","note":"M.189A/1 and A/2-1919"},{"dimension":"Height","value":"11","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Tea canister","note":"M.180:1-1919"},{"dimension":"Width","value":"8","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Tea canister","note":"M.180:1-1919"},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"5.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Tea Canister","note":"M.180:1-1919"},{"dimension":"Weight","value":"427","unit":"g","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Tea canister","note":"M.180:1-1919"}],"dimensionsNote":"Dimensions for checked: Registered Description; 01/01/1998 by KN [M.180A/1 and A/2-1919]","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"Inscribed with the initials 'R.A.W.'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":"A8877"},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""}],"objectHistory":"Made in London by Bowles Nash (active from 1723).","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Silver tea canister with lead lining. Made in London by Bowles Nash (active from 1723).","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"V&A Catalogue, 1920, No. 219"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"PAIR OF TEA CADDIES\r\nSilver\r\nLONDON; Hallmark 1722-3\r\nMark of Bowles Nash\r\nM.180 & a-1919","date":{"text":"Pre-2000","earliest":"2000-01-01","latest":"2000-12-31"}},{"text":"British Galleries:\nAlthough this canister has been simply produced, it would have cost about three guineas to buy, equivalent to several weeks' wages for many craftsmen. The sliding base allowed the lead liner to be removed for refilling.","date":{"text":"27/03/2003","earliest":"2003-03-27","latest":"2003-03-27"}}],"partNumbers":["M.180A/1-1919","M.180A/2-1919","M.180:1-1919","M.180:2-1919"],"accessionNumberNum":"180","accessionNumberPrefix":"M","accessionYear":1919,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE","Tea caddy [1]","Lid [1]","Tea caddy [2]","Lid [2]"],"assets":["2019LN3263","2019LP7421","2019LP2199","2019LP0829","2019LU9817","2019LV6285"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-07-30","recordCreationDate":"1999-04-23","availableToBook":false}}