Description:
A polychromed tea chest with scenes of oriental life. The pictures are skillfully painted in the manner of the Company school of painting.  The original varnish survives, albeit understandably cloudy. Exceptional. 

Origin: England or Scotland

Circa: 1815-20.

Materials: Wood paint glass

Size: 13.6" wide.

Condition: The original varnish survives, albeit understandably cloudy. The chest is rare and exceptional.

This chest is featured at 

This caddy is featured at figure 381 0f Antique Boxes, Tea Caddies, and Society -- 1700--1880, ISBN: 0764316885  Antigone Clarke & Joseph O'Kelly, A Schiffer Book for collectors.

Recent research indicates that this chest may belong to a group of boxes made in Cumnock Scotland. See www.hygra.com/uk/articles/art101

This particular genre was developed by English artists who went to China and India and painted exotic scenes and people from these countries. They were influenced both by Chinese painters who were executing commissions for the East India Company traders, and by Indian artists and book illustration. The precision of line, the application of color, and the professional nature of the work, displays many characteristics of this artistic genre.  The birds and flowers with their precise blocks of color are very much in the genre of the Company school of painting. The floral patterns share characteristics with fabrics produced in India both in the English and Dutch Company factories.

The figures are sometimes tilted towards Indian prototypes and sometimes towards Oriental. This is in keeping with the artistic intention of producing scenes from the vague magical place, Cathay. Around the top rim of the box there is a line of dragons chasing each other. This was probably inspired by Edward Darly's drawing of these creatures.

The figures are sometimes tilted towards Indian prototypes and sometimes towards Oriental.

 Detail of side. The gilded embossed brass drop handle of typical regency form. It is interesting to compare the painting to those in a large chest discussed in.

 www.hygra.com/articles/art101

The birds and flowers with their precise blocks of color are very much in the genre of the Company school of painting.

The floral patterns share characteristics with fabrics produced in India both in the English and Dutch Company factories.

The birds and flowers with their precise blocks of color are very much in the genre of the Company school of painting.