211 5 British tea service from the Chelsea Porcelain Manufactory, 1758–1769, New York, Metropolitan Museum of Art, inv. 54.163.7 a, b–.34. 6 Two tea caddies and a sugar box in a case, Paul de Lamerie, London, 1738–1739, New York, Metropolitan Museum of Art, inv. 2022.254 a–g. The growing consumption of tea led to the creation of exclusive services, such as this one with gilt and enamel. They were often decorated with colonial motifs such as exotic animals. Even though tea was an exotic commodity from India, its packaging stressed the Britishness and safeness of the product. In the home, tea caddies in various designs and materials were used to keep the tea fresh. This set of two silver tea caddies and one sugar box came in a boxwood and ebony case with silver fittings.
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