Group of two Chinese export porcelain tea caddies or poys for the American market, late 18th to early 19th century. Each with a lid and decorated with an armorial crest.

Provenance: From the Estate of C. Curtis "Curt" Dunnavan, Long Lake, Minnesota.

C. Curtis "Curt" Dunnavan (1926-2022) was a passionate world traveler and avid collector. It was through his travels that he was inspired to begin a lifelong relationship with the Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia), becoming a major sponsor of the institute and facilitating the growth of their Asian art department, which is now one of the best in the country. His generous donations to Mia allowed them to establish a fund for the Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer, one of the few endowed positions of this type in the museum field. He additionally served as a trustee of the institute, advocating for its operational growth. In its turn, the museum established a gallery named in his honor in recognition for his endowment fund and numerous contributions to their collection. The selections here showcase his talent and breadth of collecting, ranging from ancient statues to 19th-century woodblock prints. His appreciation for art persisted throughout his life and we are honored to offer items from his collection in this auction.
Each; height: 6 in x width: 3 1/4 in x depth: 1 1/2 in. There is wear throughout both items as expected from age and use. Minute firing flaws throughout. There are minute losses to the gilding and discoloration. The caddy on the left in the listing image shows signs of restoration. There are cracks to the paint along the upper corner; the area shows signs of previous restoration. Along the lower rim of the lid there is a chip. The caddy shown on the right in the listing image, featuring birds, is in overall good condition. The lid shows signs of restoration throughout, particularly along the finial.