Box Containing Three Tea Caddies and Covers
Maker Unknown
Date: circa 1767
Place Made: Unknown
Materials & Techniques: Lacquer, wood, old Sheffield plate
Dimensions: Height of box 21.5cm
Accession Number: The Bowes Museum, X.4549.1-3
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This is a decorative box containing three silver-plated tea caddies in which fresh tea was stored. Tea was first introduced to Britain in the mid 17th century and it became a popular drink very quickly. Tea was expensive however, and so boxes for tea caddies were highly sought after as they kept the leaves fresh and safe.
The decoration of this box is in imitation of oriental lacquer. 'True' oriental lacquer was produced from the sap of the sumach tree which is native to Eastern countries.
When lacquer goods became popular in the West, European designers soon tried to produce their own version of it. However, since sumach trees did not grow in Europe they had to try and simulate the true lacquer and this process became known as japanning.
Japanning involves applying coats of coloured pigments and varnish, made from complicated recipes, to the surface of an object. These recipes typically included the use of lac (a thick, sticky substance produced by the lac insect), imported from South East Asia. Japanning is not as strong a finish as true lacquer and this box has needed some conservation because of its age.
Teachers' Information
Activities
1. Show the children in your class the image of the box with the three tea caddies and covers but do not tell them what it is or what it was used for. Ask them what they think might have been kept in the canisters/containers and why. Tell the children that the box was used to store tea. Explain that tea was an expensive drink when it was first introduced to Britain and point out the lock on the front of the box. Ask the children why there are three caddies in the box. After taking some suggestions, explain that the caddies stored different types of tealeaves which had to be mixed at home before the drink could be made. Open up the discussion as to what was/is expensive then/now and why.
2. This box is decorated with Chinoiserie scenes in gold and black imitation lacquer. Chinoiserie is the word used to describe the Western style of design which was influenced by the Orient. Ask the children to look closely at the design on the box, which Oriental-themed images can they spot?
3. Ask the children in your class to find examples of Eastern art on the Internet. Can they have a go at imitating the styles and techniques of the artwork they have found?
4. Use this box containing three tea caddies and covers to inspire the Design and Technology Module on Making Containers (Unit 4a). Instead of making a money container, ask the children to design and create a container in which to hold their most important possessions. You could even try japanning yourself by imitating the process by layering coloured varnishes and paints on the container. Try to aim for a smooth hard finish.