Tea caddy with a brown black glaze and two handles

About this artwork

…; collection of Herman Karel Westendorp (1868-1941), Amsterdam, 1941;{Note RMA.} his widow Betsy Westendorp-Osieck (1880-1968), Amsterdam, by whom bequeathed to the Vereniging van Vrienden der Aziatische Kunst, 1968;{note RMA.} from whom on loan to the museum, 1972

Art Historical Context

This delicate tea caddy, standing just 8.7 cm high and 5.1 cm in diameter, exemplifies everyday elegance from the late 18th early 19th centuryca. 1775–1824). Crafted anonymously, its compact form with two sturdy handles and a rich brown-black glaze was designed to store precious tea leaves—a luxury commodity that fueled global trade and social rituals during this era. Such caddies were essential in households where tea drinking bridged Asian traditions and European refinement, highlighting the object's role in cross-cultural exchange. The medium of "turning" refers to the skilled lathe-based ...