TEA CADDY FROM A TEA CASKET (ONE OF TWO)
Creator(s): Unknown
On view in: Second Floor Hallway
About this object
This superbly crafted casket belongs to a group of distinct enamel boxes made in Birmingham in the mid-eighteenth century. In Birmingham and the Southern Staffordshire area, the manufacture of enamels developed into a major industry with a wide net of distribution throughout the European continent. The cover and sides of this rectangular casket have finely painted Italianate landscapes, with trees, rivers, ruins, shepherds, and shepherdesses covering the entire white enamel ground. Finely chased scrolled mounts bind together the sides. Their finely painted pastoral landscapes in subtle tonalities imitate the style of Flemish painter Nicholas Berchem. In contrast, the two tea caddies and sugar canister are covered with delicate flowers painted in a naturalistic style.
Inside tea casket-white enamel with scattered sprays of flowers in full color.
- Object name:
- TEA CADDY FROM A TEA CASKET (ONE OF TWO)
- Made from:
- Enamel -- copper -- gilt copper
- Made in:
- ENGLAND: South Staffordshire, Bilston, or Wednesbury
- Date made:
- ca. 1770
- Size:
- 14 × 12.1 × 23.7 cm (5 1/2 × 4 3/4 × 9 5/16 in.)
Detailed information for this item
- Catalog number:
- 15.142.2-3
- Class:
- ENAMEL
- Signature marks:
- Credit line:
- Bequest of Marjorie Merriweather Post, 1973