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An unusual matching pair of antique Chinese export-style engraved metal tea canisters, believed to date to the early 19th century, approximately 1820–1840, presented in a newly handcrafted, custom-fitted cedar chest.
Each canister features a distinctive clipped-corner body, intricate floral and scrollwork decoration, a large engraved circular outer cover, and a separate fitted inner lid. This double-lid arrangement is characteristic of traditional tea-storage canisters designed to fit inside larger tea chests.
The two canisters have matching dimensions, construction, and complementary decorative patterns. They are believed to have originally formed a pair within a larger tea caddy; their original outer chest is no longer present.
A new cedar chest has been handcrafted specifically to house and display the pair. It features a fitted interior divider, complementary clipped corners, and a removable lid that reveals both decorated canister tops.
Condition: Both antique canisters show substantial age-related wear and patina. One was previously crushed and has been carefully reshaped by hand; it retains holes, separated seams, and distortion. Both inner lids were also reshaped after being found bent. Please examine the photographs carefully. The cedar chest is newly made and is not an original 19th-century component.
The circa 1820–1840 date, Chinese export attribution, and pewter composition are estimates based on appearance and comparable historical tea caddies; they have not been independently authenticated or tested.
