The Chinese characters painted on the caddy read (from top to bottom, from right to left)
'Qian Wai Da Shan Lan Xi Shou Lu Bei', the address of the tea shop ('Hong Ji Cha Zhuang', 'Hong Ji' is the brand name, 'Cha Zhuang' means tea shop.
('Dian Hua Nan Ju Yi Ling Ling Jiu Hao', Telephone number: South Bureau, No. 1009.)

From the address painted on the caddy we know that this 'Hong Ji' was located in the most prosperous commercial area 'Da Shanlan' in Beijing. It was probably either the 'Dong Hongji' (East Hongji) or 'Xi Hongji' (West Hongji) founded by the Ruifuxiang Silk Fabric Store in 1903 and 1906 respectively. Liang Shiqiu (1903-1987), a renowned Chinese writer, recalled that he bought tea at East Hongji or West Hongji in Beijing before moving to Taiwan in 1949. This was probably in the 1920s or 30s when he was teaching in Beijing. All these suggest that the caddies were products of the first half of 20th century.