Chinese Tea Caddy

Pot in slate grey that wears a stack of rings as a hat.

This pewter tea caddy is from Hebei Province, China. Pewter is an alloy made mostly of tin, and it was used in China for tea caddies and wine vessels because it is soft, workable and resists corrosion. Full-bellied vessel with an incised line around the shoulder and a wide lid stepping up in tiers to a small point. The lid edge ripples slightly. Gunmetal surface shows fine scratches and a darker, rubbed lower belly. It is 5 inches wide, 5 deep, 8.5 high and 0.03 in diameter.

Top-heavy in outline and wonderfully pleased about it.