Regency Chinoiserie Penwork Tea Chest

About the Item

From our Tea Caddy collection, we are delighted to offer this Regency Chinoiserie Penwork Tea Chest. The Tea Chest of rectangular form sits upon four brass ball feet with matching brass twin loop handles to either side. Crafted from Sycamore the Tea chest is of slight sarcophagus shape with a tapered body and angled lid. The exterior features a central band of foliage and blossoming flowers with Chinoiserie scenes to each of the faceted panels on the lid. The interior of the Tea Chest features a red paper lining, two removable Tea Caddies with further Chinoiserie penwork decoration and a central hand made etched glass sugar bowl. The Tea Chest dates to the early 19th century during the short lived Regency era (1811-1820) and the reign of Prince George circa 1820. The Tea Chest comes complete with working lock and tasselled key. Sycamore, also known as Harewood is a member of the Maple family, found in Europe. It is light yellow in colour and is often a very clean wood, with a straight, fine grain. The wood is often pippy. However, these pips are usually a very similar colour to the rest of the wood making them hardly visible. Chinoiserie is a decorative style in Western art, furniture, and architecture that was undertaken particularly in the 18th century. It is characterized by the use of Chinese motifs and techniques hence the name Chinoiserie. Regency is an era of British history between 1811 and 1820. The Regency era was initiated by King George III first suffered a debilitating illness in the late 1780s. He relapsed into his mental illness in 1810 and by the Regency Act in 1811 his eldest son George, Prince of Wales, was appointed prince regent to discharge royal functions. When George III died in 1820, the Prince Regent succeeded him as George IV. Penwork, or pen and ink, was used on boxes to illustrate picturesque scenes and, at times, to document a vacation or visit to a foreign country. The prints would often depict people, landscapes, birds, insects, plants, flowers, and animals, as well as stories from Greek mythology or depictions of spa towns. Each of these drawings was very accurately drawn and beautifully varnished with shellac. It is likely that some penwork was commissioned by professional artists. Many of these works were highly detailed, showcasing the skill and expertise of the artist. Penwork was primarily a pastime practised by women (some of whom were just as skilled as the professionals) which explains the presence of so many examples throughout history. Measurements (centimetres) 18cm High x 33cm Wide x 17cm Deep

Dimensions:

Height: 7.09 in (18.01 cm)Width: 12.99 in (33 cm)Depth: 6.69 in (17 cm)

Style:

Regency (Of the Period)

Materials and Techniques:

Sycamore,Hand-Crafted,Hand-Painted

Place of Origin:

England

Period:

Early 19th Century

Date of Manufacture:

Circa 1820