"Tea chest\nAbout 1740\u201370\n\nFrance (Paris)\n\nWood (possibly beech), japanned and painted with silk lining\nCanister: japanned tinned iron\n\nMuseum no. W.20-1914\n\nHigh-quality French imitation lacquer is often called vernis Martin after the Martin brothers who perfected the technique in the 1730s. \n\nTheir 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.\n [01/12/2012]"@en . . . .