T'ien-shun (active 19th century)
Tea Caddy, mid 19th century
Pewter, 11.1 x 8.5 cm (4 3/8 x 3 3/8 in.)
This Chinese pewter hexagonal tea caddy has a dark patina and is delicately engraved. This urn-shaped caddy is footless, has a concave neck, and a circular lid. Each side of this vessel has a unique image engraved on them and are framed with a pattern of dots. These images, that appear gold in color, include a single blossom in a vase, a standing person looking up at a bird in flight, and various other plant and floral images. The neck is engraved with images of bats hanging upside down with outstretched wings. A pear shaped image is engraved on the top of the lid.
Short Gallery
Commentary
Isabella Stewart Gardner kept meticulous records of many of her acquisitions. In keeping with this legacy, object information is continually being reviewed, updated, and enriched in order to give greater access to the collection.