Tea Canister
1760-1770 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
Ceramic tea canisters in the 18th century tended to resemble miniature versions of the japanned metal canisters from which loose tea was dispensed in grocers' shops. This particular example has been copied either from a simple metal can, or perhaps from a square tea chest, with only a small hole and pill-box lid to keep the contents fresh. The style of decoration suggests that it may possibly have been made at one of the Yorkshire potteries rather than in Staffordshire.
Retailers & Traders
Tea, coffee and chocolate were sold by pottery and porcelain retailers (known as 'Staffordshire Warehouses' and 'China Men') as well as by grocers. Until the repeal in 1784 of the huge tax on tea, the two most popular teas were very expensive: Bohea, a black tea, at prices from 16 to 24 shillings per pound, and Hyson, a green tea, at 14 to 20 shillings per pound - representing a week's wages for a master craftsman.
Ownership & Use
Such an elaborately decorated (and apparently unique) tea canister seems too good to have been used: it may, in fact, have been employed as part of a shop window display rather than in the home. Display rather than use would not have been compromised by the major crack that exists around the body. Caused by the repeated enamel firings, this crack is disguised by a meandering chain in yellow enamel.
Ceramic tea canisters in the 18th century tended to resemble miniature versions of the japanned metal canisters from which loose tea was dispensed in grocers' shops. This particular example has been copied either from a simple metal can, or perhaps from a square tea chest, with only a small hole and pill-box lid to keep the contents fresh. The style of decoration suggests that it may possibly have been made at one of the Yorkshire potteries rather than in Staffordshire.
Retailers & Traders
Tea, coffee and chocolate were sold by pottery and porcelain retailers (known as 'Staffordshire Warehouses' and 'China Men') as well as by grocers. Until the repeal in 1784 of the huge tax on tea, the two most popular teas were very expensive: Bohea, a black tea, at prices from 16 to 24 shillings per pound, and Hyson, a green tea, at 14 to 20 shillings per pound - representing a week's wages for a master craftsman.
Ownership & Use
Such an elaborately decorated (and apparently unique) tea canister seems too good to have been used: it may, in fact, have been employed as part of a shop window display rather than in the home. Display rather than use would not have been compromised by the major crack that exists around the body. Caused by the repeated enamel firings, this crack is disguised by a meandering chain in yellow enamel.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
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| Materials and techniques | Salt-glazed stoneware, painted in enamel colours |
| Brief description | Tea canister, salt-glazed stoneware, painted in enamel colours, Staffordshire, England, 1760-1770 |
| Physical description | Tea canister and cover of salt-glazed stoneware. Rectangular with flat top and wooden cover. Painted in strong colours with small figures in landscapes and on the front in a panel surmounted by a mask and flanked by flowers, urns and scrollwork the inscription, 'FINE BOHEA TEA'; on the top a border of scrollwork and diapers. |
| Dimensions |
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| Gallery label |
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| Credit line | Bequeathed by Mr Wallace Elliot |
| Object history | From the C.H.E. Sönhsen Collection. Formerly the L.M. Solon Collection. Exhibited on loan at the Hanley Technical Exhibition 1890. |
| Summary | Object Type Ceramic tea canisters in the 18th century tended to resemble miniature versions of the japanned metal canisters from which loose tea was dispensed in grocers' shops. This particular example has been copied either from a simple metal can, or perhaps from a square tea chest, with only a small hole and pill-box lid to keep the contents fresh. The style of decoration suggests that it may possibly have been made at one of the Yorkshire potteries rather than in Staffordshire. Retailers & Traders Tea, coffee and chocolate were sold by pottery and porcelain retailers (known as 'Staffordshire Warehouses' and 'China Men') as well as by grocers. Until the repeal in 1784 of the huge tax on tea, the two most popular teas were very expensive: Bohea, a black tea, at prices from 16 to 24 shillings per pound, and Hyson, a green tea, at 14 to 20 shillings per pound - representing a week's wages for a master craftsman. Ownership & Use Such an elaborately decorated (and apparently unique) tea canister seems too good to have been used: it may, in fact, have been employed as part of a shop window display rather than in the home. Display rather than use would not have been compromised by the major crack that exists around the body. Caused by the repeated enamel firings, this crack is disguised by a meandering chain in yellow enamel. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | C.69&A-1938 |
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| Record created | March 27, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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