Tea chest
About 1740–70
France (Paris)
Wood (possibly beech), japanned and painted with silk lining
Canister: japanned tinned iron
Museum no. W.20-1914
High-quality French imitation lacquer is often called vernis Martin after the Martin brothers who perfected the technique in the 1730s.
Their recipes required numerous coats of varnish, made with plant resins suspended in a drying oil. This gave a hard, transparent surface and a wide range of brilliant colours, suitable for furniture, panelling and coach panels.
[01/12/2012]