Antique Japanese lacquer tea caddy, from ca.1850. With key.

Antique Japanese lacquer tea caddy, from ca.1850. With key. Exquisite beautiful tea caddy, with functioning lock and key, with beautiful inlaid flower motifs in mother-of-pearl. History: When tea started coming to Europe, it was sought after and particularly valuable, so the nobility locked the tea in so-called tea caddy chests, the first tea caddies were types like this imported from Japan, later tea caddies of ceramics and wood, produced in Europe. Dimensions: 22,5x16,5x8,5 cm. Condition: The lacquer has been touched up with black paint. Lock functions somewhat, but not optimally, otherwise see pictures.