Tea tray
Category
Furniture
Date
circa 1650
Materials
lacquered and gilded cedar
Measurements
12 x 50 x 39 cm
Place of origin
Java
Order this imageCollection
Ham House, Surrey
NT 1140033
Summary
A small lacquer tray, possibly Javanese, circa 1650, of oblong form with rounded and indented corners and a deep concave edge. It is lacquered in gold and colours with a water landscape on a black background. The tray stands on a frieze of pierced lambrequins with bracket feet. Probably acquired with the lacquer tea table at Ham House (NT 1140034) listed in the Duchess's Private Closet in the 1679 inventory. A contemporary and comparable lacquer table can also be seen at Dyrham Park (NT 452980). The Javanese origin of these pieces is not certain and the design of the tables is also very reminiscent of the ‘Soban,’ low tea table from Korea with similar "tiger" legs.
Provenance
Acquired in 1948 by HM Government when Sir Lyonel, 4th Bt (1854 – 1952) and Sir Cecil Tollemache, 5th Bt (1886 – 1969) presented Ham House to the National Trust, and entrusted to the care of the Victoria & Albert Museum, until 1990, when returned to the care of the National Trust, and to which ownership was transferred in 2002.
References
Thornton and Tomlin 1980 Peter Thornton, and Maurice Tomlin. “The Furnishing and Decoration of Ham House.” Furniture History, The Journal of The Furniture History Society Vol.XVI, 1980, fig.89