The return of an old friend....I handled this about thirty years ago.  

This is a pristine example, that has an obvious stain, but truly 18th-century. Wonderful surface, original lock and hinge. No key. Good size.

Circa 1785-1790

5 inches high

The passing of the Commutation Act of 1784 by Parliament significantly reduced the duty on imported tea effectively halved the price of tea and made it affordable. The consumption of tea doubled the following year from, approximately, 6 million pounds to 11 million pounds - thus stimulating an enormous rise in the production of tea caddies in England. Most of ones we see today date from this period, as this apple form example.

Reference:  Pinto, Edward H. Treen and other wooden bygones. London: Bell & Hyman, 1969. Pages 293-296m for a full dsicussion of these fruit form tea caddies. Illustration on  Plate 315.