China Trade Silver and Mother-of-Pearl Tea Caddy

1795

A China trade silver and mother-of-pearl tea caddy (Chinese, c. 1795) of rectangular form supported on four silver claw and ball feet, the sides with silver scroll handles, the cover with a silver loop handle bearing nine beads on the spine, the wood carcass applied all-over on the exterior with mother-of-pearl overlaid with delicately carved and incised mother-of-pearl panels depicting flowers, scrolls and jin di brocade (weaving technique) the cover with a bird and branches, the interior with three compartments and the original blue satin lining fastened with silver trimming; having the original silver key.

China

wood

silver

mother of pearl

15.9 x 26.7 x 15.2 cm (6 1/4 x 10 1/2 x 6 inches)

Gift of J.A. Lloyd Hyde.

PSNC.1777a-b