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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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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