PAIR OF HUBEI MI ZHUAN CHÁ (BLACK TEA) TEA BLOCKS
China, Circa 1860 or Earlier
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".
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.

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.