Stunning C. 1800 Very Fine Chinese Export (Canton) Lacquered Tea Caddy vintage woodblock but unreadable

but unreadable

almost like a stop motion animation or a diagram of a dance

it would once have held a glass bottle inside

Embossed "Imperial" crown at upper left

TM 90 (perhaps dating it to 1990 though I am not certain) and measures 1 1/2 inches by 1 1/8 inches (and weighs 18 grams)

Stunning C. 1800 Very Fine Chinese Export (Canton) Lacquered Tea Caddy vintage woodblock but unreadableIts not too often that I buy a piece of Asian lacquerware, but this early 19th c. hand painted Chinese export tea caddy struck me as so fine and so lovely that I could not resist. And, since finding it, I found a very very similar one listed sold on 1st Dibs for $6000, albeit containing its original pewter canisters inside. The exterior is decorated overall in black lacquer with fantastic finely hand painted gilt floriate pattern all over plus tiny