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One of the rarest pen work tea caddies we have ever seen, it has rural scenes as opposed to the normal Chinoiserie or Indian decoration and the lid with a seascape scene with ships (one named "Hope") and a dock. In the Stone's Pocket Guide to Tea Caddies, Noel Riley writes that "(Penwork) was originally conceived as a cheap substitute for the elaborate and expensive ivory-inlaid furniture imported from India during the 18th Century. Items were embellished with 'Indian' designs of flowers and foliage, oriental figures and buildings, neo-classical scenes or flowers, which appear in black reserves on the uncoloured wood, with their detail worked up in fine pen or brush strokes. The technique differs from japanning in its use of watercolour paint rather than coloured varnishes. In Penwork, varnish was only used as a surface protection, as with other kinds of painting." This caddy has mellowed with age but still shows signs of the original varnish. The interior still shows the original vibrant colours. Without doubt the most unusual feature of this extremely rare tea caddy are the two front feet, which are painted as miniature globes.
Very rare penwork tea caddy
One of the rarest pen work tea caddies we have ever seen, it has rural scenes as opposed to the normal Chinoiserie or Indian decoration and the lid with a seascape scene with ships (one named "Hope") and a dock. In the Stone's Pocket Guide to Tea Caddies, Noel Riley writes that "(Penwork) was originally conceived as a cheap substitute for the elaborate and expensive ivory-inlaid furniture imported from India during the 18th Century. Items were embellished with 'Indian' designs of flowers and foliage, oriental figures and buildings, neo-classical scenes or flowers, which appear in black reserves on the uncoloured wood, with their detail worked up in fine pen or brush strokes. The technique differs from japanning in its use of watercolour paint rather than coloured varnishes. In Penwork, varnish was only used as a surface protection, as with other kinds of painting." This caddy has mellowed with age but still shows signs of the original varnish. The interior still shows the original vibrant colours. Without doubt the most unusual feature of this extremely rare tea caddy are the two front feet, which are painted as miniature globes.
Stock Number: 017028/sum10
Height: 7 in / 17.78 cm
Width: 8.5 in / 21.59 cm
Depth: 5.5 in / 13.97 cm