Tea Caddy

Original OwnerOriginally owned by the Lord family (American)

Dateabout 1800-1820

MediumMolded Chinese export porcelain with overglaze black enamel (grisaille)

DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height x width x depth): 4 7/8 x 3 1/8 x 1 1/2in. (12.4 x 7.9 x 3.8cm)

ClassificationsCeramics

Credit LineGift of Mary F. Lord and Katherine L. Lord

DescriptionRectangular, Chinese export porcelain tea caddy with hand-painted overglaze black enamel decoration, a technique known as grisaille. The hand-painted decoration, found on both sides of the tea caddy, shows a small landscape consisting of two trees and a Chinese structure on a hill. A border, found at the foot, consists of a wavy line with black dots where the line dips down. A border, around the curved top of the tea caddy, consists of a scalloped line with a cluster of three dots where the line peaks.

The tea caddy is missing its lid and has a loss of about one-third of the round opening at the top. Two broken pieces from this portion of the tea caddy (.b and .c) are located in a small plastic bag.

Object number1938.24.24a-c

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