This grisaille-decorated tea caddy, dating to the mid-18th century, is a refined example of Chinese export porcelain made for the European market. The rectangular or oval body is painted in black (grisaille) enamel accented with gilding—depicting a European scene, featuring figures in Continental dress within an architectural and garden setting.
Tea caddies like this were prized as part of the Western fascination with exotic goods, combining Chinese porcelain craftsmanship with European subject matter based on prints or engravings sent overseas. The grisaille palette mimicked fashionable European engravings and gave the object a neoclassical, refined appearance.
Used to store loose-leaf tea—then a luxury commodity—this piece would have graced the table or tea chest of an affluent household. Today, it stands as a compelling example of cross-cultural exchange, where Eastern artisans transformed Western imagery into enduring works of porcelain art.
Condition: Fine condition, but no lid. Losses to gilding
