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Tea and Opium
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A Chinese export lacquer tea caddy
depicting groups of birds highlighted in red lacquer. Circa 1840.
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Reference: TC130
Description:
TC130: A Chinese export lacquer tea caddy in reddish earth
colored lacquer having rounded corners decorated with two colors of
gold depicting groups of birds highlighted in red lacquer. Circa
1840.
The top has raised gold lacquer
giving a three dimensional quality.
Origin: China Circa:
1840 Materials: wood lacquer
Size: It measures 7 inches
wide by 6.6 inches deep and it is 3.7 inches high
including feet: 18 cm wide by 12.5 cm deep by cm 9.5 high.
Condition: good
overall, see images.
As each person has different criteria and antiques by their very nature
have wear please enlarge the images and ask for extra information
as needed.
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Originally there would have
been a lift out pewter canister. This is missing.
The facings are decorated
with a formal leafy design in gold.
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Please click on images to enlarge or |
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current list of available tea
caddies.
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Birds have symbolic and
mythical meanings for the Chinese. They are not a usual subject in
export lacquer ware. There are many stories of people who speak bird
language escaping danger helped by the birds.
The birds here are orioles,
the harbingers of joy and music and the symbols of friendship.
Here the birds are
beautifully painted in two colors of gold. Detail is picked out in
black lacquer. The feet and tongues are red lacquer.
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Please click on images to enlarge
It is very interesting to note that it is rarer to have birds
depicted in Chinese lacquer than in English chinoiserie.
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Please click on images to enlarge or |
slide show |thumbnail index | Request
current list of available tea
caddies.
The top has raised lacquer
giving a three dimensional quality.
The scenes on each side of
the caddy are different. The butterfly in the top left hand corner adds
to the interest. Butterflies are rich in symbolism and feature in many
Chinese stories.
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Birds have symbolic and
mythical meanings for the Chinese. They are not a usual subject in
export lacquer ware. There are many stories of of people who speak bird
language escaping danger helped by the birds.
Here the birds are beautifully
painted in two colors of gold. Detail is picked out in black lacquer.
The feet and tongues are red lacquer.
Unusually, for Chinese
Export lacquer the birds are in raised lacquer giving a 3D effect.
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Please click on images to enlarge or |
slide show |thumbnail index | Request
current list of available tea
caddies.
Please click on images to enlarge or |
slide show |thumbnail index | Request
current list of available tea
caddies.
All text and images and linked images are ©
1999-2011 Antigone Clarke and Joseph O'Kelly. If you require any further
information on permitted use, or a licence to republish any material, email us
at copyright@hygra.com
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