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Description:
Ref: 896TC   http://hygra.com/box/896TC 
Antique export Lacquer box with two colours of gold depicting scenes of Oriental life.  The box stands on gilded carved feet.  The box is labeled both inside and to the base  "Henri Defossez, Rue Royalle 12 Lille".  Export lacquer boxes were sometimes used as luxury chocolate boxes and for this purpose would have been supplied without pewter liners. This box is similar in form to: Hygra: Antique Chinese Export Lacquer Tea Chest with lift out pewter canisters and gold decoration Circa 1840. They are almost a pair.

Origin: Canton, China;  Circa: 1840; Materials: Gold decorated lacquer on wood. 

Size: 23 cm wide by 16.5 cm by 12,5 cm:   9.1 inches wide by  6.5 inches by 4.9  inches.

Condition: good overall; working lock and key; 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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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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"Henri Desfossez, Rue Royalle 12 Lille".

Export lacquer boxes were supplied for use as luxury chocolate boxes as well as tea caddies.