3524

China, Circa 1860 or Earlier

PAIR OF HUBEI MI ZHUAN CHÁ (BLACK TEA) TEA BLOCKS

Dried and powdered black tea formed and pressed in a mold. Fronts with three sections: the top with five stars, the middle with an archway and decorative foliage, and the bottom with Chinese characters. Backs with a decorative pattern of 16 squares with intertwined motifs. One in a tray and the other framed.
Blocks 9.5" x 7.5". Framed 10.5" x 8.5".
Condition: The absence of a condition report does not imply an object is free of defects. All items may have normal signs of age and wear commensurate with their age; these issues will likely not be mentioned in the condition report. Please contact Eldred's before the auction with any condition questions. Questions about condition will not be answered after purchase. Condition reports are provided as a courtesy, and we are not responsible for any errors or omissions. Important note on frames: Frames are not guaranteed to be in the same condition as they are in the item photograph. Due to handling and shipping, many frames, especially antique ones, are prone to losses. If you have questions about the condition of a frame, please contact us prior to the auction. 

  • Provenance:
    Eldred's, 1999.
    The Kelton Collection of Marine Art & Artifacts.
  • Exhibited:
    Newport Harbor Nautical Museum, Newport Beach, California: "Mariners & Mandarins", July- November, 2000.
    Maritime Museum of San Diego, California: "Mariners & Mandarins", March-September, 2003.
    Hong Kong Marine Museum.

    Notes:
    In ancient China, compressed tea bricks were usually made with thoroughly dried and ground tea leaves pressed into bricks and other various shapes. Some tea bricks were also mixed with preserving binding agents in order to withstand physical use as currency as they were the preferred currency in trade prior to the 19th Century in Asia. Compressed tea bricks were more compact than loose-leaf tea and were also less susceptible to physical damage on the ancient tea route.

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Shipping

We require prompt payment and removal of your purchases as stated in Paragraph 12 of the Conditions of Sale. If you plan to pick up your purchases, please call ahead and we'll make every effort to have your items ready. Our physical address is 1483 Route 6A, East Dennis, MA. Pick up of smaller items at our Mystic, CT location is also available with advance notice.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to provide shipping quotes until the invoice had been paid in full.
In house shipping is offered exclusively though UPS. All items are shipped with UPS insurance (max. $50,000). UPS insurance is billed at $2.70 for the first $100 and at $0.90 per hundred afterwards. Eldred's charges a minium $15 handling fee per package plus actual UPS shipping charges.
COLLECTION OF PURCHASES: Delivery or shipping arrangements must be made within seven (7) days from the close of the auction for all purchases. All items must be removed from Eldred's facilities within fourteen (14) days of the end of the auction. All items remaining after fourteen days may be subject to a $15/per item/per day storage fee. No items will be released unless storage fees are paid in full. Items remaining over thirty (30) days from the close of the auction may be sold for the buyer's account minus auction and storage fees.

August 5, 2022 9:30 AM EDT
East Dennis, MA, US

Eldred's

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $2,999 $100
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $29,999 $1,000
$30,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 + $10,000