19th C. Chinese Qing Incised Pewter Tea Caddy
**First Time At Auction**
East Asia, China, Qing Dynasty, ca. 19th to early 20th century CE. A pretty lidded pewter vessel for storing tea, that is deeply engraved with flowers, trees, and Chinese characters! The tea caddy rests on a square base with four tiny feet, and the walls swell outward with indented corners. The top of the body is flat but for a short, circular lip in the center. A circular lid with a rim fits snugly into the caddy's mouth and over the rim of the opening. The four walls are engraved with nature motifs, a pine branch, a flowering cherry branch, bamboo stalks, and a flowering vine. Four Chinese characters next to the bamboo are likely a poem. Each face represents a different season. Tea was valuable and often stored in protective canisters or caddies such as this example to protect the leaves from humidity. Size: 2.5" W x 2.5" H (6.4 cm x 6.4 cm)
Provenance: private Evergreen, Colorado, USA collection; ex-private Denver, Colorado, USA, collection; acquired 1960 to 2000
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.
Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.
#163157
Condition Report: Surface scratches and abrasions. Small indentations to top of vessel. Lid fits flush into mouth. Motifs are preserved and sharp. Nice signs of age and use.
View it on
Estimate
Time, Location
Auction House
**First Time At Auction**
East Asia, China, Qing Dynasty, ca. 19th to early 20th century CE. A pretty lidded pewter vessel for storing tea, that is deeply engraved with flowers, trees, and Chinese characters! The tea caddy rests on a square base with four tiny feet, and the walls swell outward with indented corners. The top of the body is flat but for a short, circular lip in the center. A circular lid with a rim fits snugly into the caddy's mouth and over the rim of the opening. The four walls are engraved with nature motifs, a pine branch, a flowering cherry branch, bamboo stalks, and a flowering vine. Four Chinese characters next to the bamboo are likely a poem. Each face represents a different season. Tea was valuable and often stored in protective canisters or caddies such as this example to protect the leaves from humidity. Size: 2.5" W x 2.5" H (6.4 cm x 6.4 cm)
Provenance: private Evergreen, Colorado, USA collection; ex-private Denver, Colorado, USA, collection; acquired 1960 to 2000
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.
Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.
#163157
Condition Report: Surface scratches and abrasions. Small indentations to top of vessel. Lid fits flush into mouth. Motifs are preserved and sharp. Nice signs of age and use.
Estimate
Time, Location
Auction House
Similar Items
