This tea cannister belongs to a larger tea service decorated in a style known as the ‘Queen’s pattern’. The origin for this name is unknown, but the design has panels of Japanese style flowers alternating with narrower blue bands embellished with gold and a red chrysanthemum medallion. Generally, tea canisters could be bought as part of a complete tea service or separately as a pair. A full tea service by the late 1760s would have comprised at least 40 pieces. Apart from multiple tea and coffee cups with matching saucers, other standard items included a teapot, sugar bowl, milk jug as well as a slop bowl (into which the dregs from tea and coffee cups were emptied).
