What could this Antique Box really contain?

On a recent visit to Astra Antiques Centre in Lincolnshire, I met up with dealer Chris who has a stand on the first floor in what is one of the biggest antiques centres in the UK. I spotted a large antique box with a great shape and wondered what it was originally designed for ? Made during the British Regency period, circa 1820 / 1830, it’s made from mahogany and in a sarcophagus shape. There’s a lock to the front and what looks like originally a divided interior. Three sections originally designed to hold something…but what was that something? Let me know your thoughts!

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[ByrRaven]

That’s quite a tea box. It’s beautiful.

[jlander]

If I lived on your side of the Atlantic I would purchase that caddy in a heartbeat.
It's a beautiful piece of craftsmanship.

[joanfreestone]

The original owners must have been very rich to afford that much tea! It's a beautiful box and I thought it would have a much higher price tag.

[anttickwitty]

Well worth that. It's a real beauty. I'd go with the tea caddy theory but this definitely came from a large house.

[VintageCarHistory]

I looked at the dividers and lining and thought, 'I wonder if this was for serving ice cream?' Tea makes more sense, of course.

[stlawrenceriverrat]

The interior lining was embossed with a design, that should give some clue as to its actual use. Unfortunately, it didn't show up well on camera & wasn't shown long enough to really appreciate it. Seemingly it was divided into 3 compartments, but I can't imagine it being used as a tea caddy, unless it was taken on some sort of long distance travel by ship maybe; used abord a ship. Hope you're able to discover for sure & let us know.

[HighPeakVideo]

Similar look and size to one on Dickinson's Real Deal Series 13 Episode 51 (cCXgdm68lwo time=18min) was tea chest from stately home, complete with side compartments and central mixing bowl. Sold at auction for £120 in 2017.

[skiracer]

Dear Chris and David, it's a tea

[andrewmacmillan]

David, I'm thinking a kimono chest. 🙂

[OriginalNethead]

Too big for a proper tea chest. Tea chest or.... sugar! Sugar was expensive too and came in big lumps, and it was locked up. It's dead bang size-wise for a dining area sugar chest. Ridonculously big for tea unless the household was stupidly wealthy.