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Tea caddy

Tea caddy

  • Place of origin:

    Guangzhou, China (made)

  • Date:

    ca. 1790-1820 (made)

  • Artist/Maker:

    Unknown (production)

  • Materials and Techniques:

    Wooden box, covered with black lacquer, with gold lacquer decoration; pewter tea caddies

  • Credit Line:

    Mrs Constance Elizabeth Horton Bequest

  • Museum number:

    FE.170 to F-1975

  • Gallery location:

    China, room 47f, case 8

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The interior of this lacquered box is divided into two compartments. Each contains a pewter tea caddy with two sets of lids. The lid of the box is inscribed with the owner's monogram WJCCB. This piece is a typical export item, and a reminder that tea was originally an expensive luxury.

Physical description

[Tea caddy] Tea caddies are only decorated on their upper surface with a floral pattern against a ring matted ground.
[Tea caddy] Tea caddies are only decorated on their upper surface with a floral pattern against a ring matted ground.
[Box] Rectangular wooden box, with hinged lid, decorated in gold lacquer on black ground. Each side of box is decorated with panels, containg gold symmetrical floral scroll against a continuous ground pattern of hexagons and triangles. Each cartouche has inner panel containing birds in flight and schematized flowers against the ground pattern. The inner panel on the top of the box, also contains a monogram with initials WJCCB in oval. The various borders of the box, both on the interior and exterior, as well as those of the panels, are filled with floral and geometric diaper patterns.

Place of Origin

Guangzhou, China (made)

Date

ca. 1790-1820 (made)

Artist/maker

Unknown (production)

Materials and Techniques

Wooden box, covered with black lacquer, with gold lacquer decoration; pewter tea caddies

Dimensions

Height: 13.7 cm box, Width: 21.4 cm box, Depth: 12.5 cm box

Materials

Wood; Pewter; Oriental lacquer

Categories

Containers

Collection code

EAS

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Qr_O34879
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