Antique Chinese
Export Lacquer Tea Chest with lift out pewter canisters and gold decoration
Circa 1840.
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Description:
Ref: 894TC http://hygra.com/box/894TC
Antique Chinese Export lacquer tea chest decorated with two colours of
gold depicting scenes of Oriental life. The chest opens to two lift out
pewter tea caddies or canisters. The caddy stands on gilded carved
feet.
Origin: Canton, China ; Circa:
1840; Materials: Gold
decorated lacquer on wood; pewter liners.
Size: 22 cm wide by 16.5 cm by 12.5 cm:
8.7 inches wide
by 6.5 inches by 5 inches.
Condition: good
overall; working lock and key; see images; replacement hinges; pewter
canisters are a bit dinted. 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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See: http://hygra.com/oriental.htm
Oriental Lacquer is the natural
sap of trees belonging to the Rhus species. It was first used in China
both to protect and beautify wood. There are references to Emperor Shun
(2255-2205BC) the last of the five sages advocating its use to his
people. It is impossible to determine the precise date of its first
application; it is part of an ancient and revered tradition interlinked
with the culture of this complex ancient civilization.
The tree, which yields the best
lacquer, is the Rhus Vernicifera, which is indigenous to China. At first
the trees grew wild but as their value was understood they were
cultivated and periodically protected by law.
The trees yield the best sap when they
are a few years old. Depending on weather and soil conditions they can
be ready in five years and continue to yield good lacquer until they are
ten. The best time for gathering the sap is during the warmer months of
the year when the trees are more active growing and the liquid flows and
rises in greater quantities. It also oozes more freely without the cold
freezing it. The trees are mostly found on high ground, above six and a
half thousand feet where temperatures are very low in winter. In earlier
times, before the plains were cleared for agriculture Rhus trees were
also grown on lower ground. ... more
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The chest opens to a single
compartment with two lift-out pewter tea canisters.
The facings are also
decorated with gold.
The hinges are an early
replacement.
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The tops of the canisters are
decorated with geometric patterns, some of which rely on naturalistic inspiration.
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The scenes of Oriental life are within framed cartouches.
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A
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Top. |
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Detail of one of the gilded carved feet. |
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All text and images and linked images are ©
1999-2017 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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