Customize this tea caddy table lamp with the shade and finial of your choice and enjoy free shipping on all East Enterprises lamps and porcelain products! This lamp comes with the shade pictured, or you may select from a variety of other shade shapes, styles, and colors. Additional charges may apply depending on the options you choose. Lamps also come with the finial pictured. You may also add finials of varying shapes and styles for an additional charge. For help placing an order, please call us at (781) 631-5555 or email us at customerservice@roomtonic.com for assistance.
What is a tea caddy?
The term tea caddy is derived from the word 'catty' which is the Chinese word for the unit of measure that was used to buy tea in China in the 17th century. This unit of measure has been used widely in China and Southeast Asia to weigh food and groceries at wet markets and shops. A catty is equivilent to 1 1/3 pounds of mass based on the British Imperial system of measurement. In the metric system, it is equivilant to just under 605 grams. Tea caddies were used to protect tea during transport from China as well as to store tea at home. Tea was an expensive luxury that only the wealthy could afford during the 18th and 19th centuries. Because of the popularity and high cost of tea, the tea caddy, which is still the best vessel to store tea even today, became an important symbol of status during the 18th and 19th centuries. They were often crafted from wood, tortoise shell, and semi-precious metals. Many were box shaped and ornately decorated.
The body of this lamp is a Famille Rose polychrome porcelain tea caddy of scalloped form with a lappet border at the foot base and a peacock perched among peony flowers of blue, pink, and orange and scrolling tendrils with a ruyi-head band encircling the body just below the shoulder and short neck. The cover is also decorated with peony flowers and scrolling tendrils.
Why should you buy this table lamp?
For those designers and home owners who appreciate bespoke works of art and beauty, these table lamps bring the utility of ambient light into your home on the body of a hand-made and hand-decorated porcelain vessel that was created with the unique artistry of long-honored Chinese motifs and imperial patterns along with the same potting and firing methods used in the ancient kilns of Jingdezhen, China.
What else should you know before you buy this table lamp?
Shade measurements and related details below are specific to the lamp, shade, base, and finial shown.
Since these works of art are hand-made, measurements are approximate and can vary depending on the potter who is making the piece. Slight differences in size do not constitute defect. Because these porcelain vessels are hand-decorated, color and design can also vary depending on the artist applying the decoration, as well as the temperature of the kilns used to fire these pieces. Differences in color or decoration do not constitute defect. Handmade and hand decorated, all lamps are made to order. If purchasing a pair, please order them at the same time so we can ensure a close match.
Please review the product details and our shipping and returns policies. Make To Order (MTO) items are not returnable. Again, differences in color, size, and decoration, do not constitute defect. While we warranty that they will arrive free of damage or defects, there are rules to follow when making a warranty claim. We encourage our customers to read our Warranty Policy before making their purchase.
Since these lamps are made to order, please allow 1 to 2 weeks for your item to arrive.