What Is Caddy Spoon?

Use a caddy spoon to measure tea.

A caddy spoon is small spoon used to measure tea from a caddy. The caddy is a decorative tea container. Caddy spoons have become cherished antiques and hot collector items for their timeless craftsmanship.

Use

In the 18th century, tea was very expensive, with a pound often costing more than a skilled worker's weekly wages. Caddy spoons were used to measure tea so none was wasted.

History

The earliest caddy spoons were made in the 1760s, with most originating from London silversmiths. The craftsmen began dating the spoons around 1777, so modern collectors can trace the origins of the antiques.

Features

Caddy spoons are small, typically measuring less than 4 inches long, so they fit neatly inside a tea caddy. Caddy spoons can feature many decorative designs; a shell-shaped spoon was very popular in the 18th and 19th centuries. Some caddy spoons also feature a pierced scoop to fish stray leaves out of a cup of tea.

Types

While early caddy spoons were made of sterling silver, other materials used since include bone, brass, ceramic, ivory, pearl and tortoiseshell.

Fun Fact

The term caddy comes from the Malaysian word "kati," which was a unit of measurement.

References

• SpoonPlanet.com
• Mortons Antiques
• Quezi.com