Stunning C. 1800 Very Fine Chinese Export (Canton) Lacquered Tea Caddy animal design including standing up straight on

including standing up straight on his own

definitely complete

and a very charming little creature I think

but this is the first I've seen with arrows integrated into the design--four of them altogether

and believe one can never have too many

Stunning C. 1800 Very Fine Chinese Export (Canton) Lacquered Tea Caddy animal design including standing up straight onIts 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