Also Called :

Square Canisters, Square Boxes

Rarity :

Very Rare

Age :

Early to Mid 19th Century

Price Range :

$500.-$3,500. Depending on size.

Dimensions :

Left to Right:

Total: 7 1/4″ square x 8″ high; Top: 1 1/4″ high; Bottom: 7″ high

Total: 6 1/2″ square x 7″ high; Top: 1 1/8″ high; Bottom: 6″ high

Total: 5 3/4″ square x 6 3/8″ high; Top: 1″ high; Bottom: 5 1/2″ high

Total: 5″ square x 5 3/8″ high; Top: 3/4″  high; Bottom: 4 3/4″ high

Total: 4 3/8″ square x 5″ high; Top: 3/4″ high; Bottom: 4 1/4″ high

Total: 3 3/4″ square x 4 1/4″ high; Top: 3/4″ high; Bottom: 3 5/8″ high

Total: 3 1/8″ square x 3 3/4″ high; Top: 5/8″ high; Bottom: 3 1/8″ high

Total: 3″ square x 3 3/8″ high; Top: 1/2″ high; Bottom: 3″ high

Total: 2 3/4″ square x 3 1/8″ high; Top: 5/8″ high; Bottom: 2 1/2″ high

Weight :

Left to Right:   Total Weight: 7 lbs. 10 oz. Bottom: 6 lbs. 2 oz. Top: 1 lb. 8 oz.———Total Weight: 4 lbs. 6 oz. Bottom: 3 lbs. 8 oz. Top: 14 oz.——–Total Weight: 3 lbs. 8 oz. Bottom: 2 lbs. 11 oz. Top: 13 oz.———Total Weight: 2 lbs. 10 oz. Bottom: 2 lbs. 3 oz. Top: 7 oz.———Total Weight: 2 lbs. 1 oz. Bottom: 1 lb. 10 oz. Top: 7 oz.———-Total Weight: 1 lb. 11 oz. Bottom: 1 lb. 6 oz. Top: 5 oz.———Total Weight: 1 lb. 1 oz. Bottom: 13 oz. Top: 4 oz.———Total Weight: 13 oz. Bottom: 11 oz. Top: 2 oz.———–Total Weight: 10 oz. Bottom: 8 oz. Top: 2 oz.

Provenance :

Left to Right:

2012

Sprain & Vanderbeck, NJ-1966

1989

Sotheby’s, NYC-1988

Richard Withington, Hillsboro, NH-1991

Diane Louv, PA-1991

Diane Louv, PA-1991

Bunte Auction, Elgin, IL-2006

Diane Louv, PA-1991

Availability :

ALL SOLD

Description: Of the 3 different Canister sets: barrel shape, round and square, we feel the square canisters are somewhat easier to assemble a set than the others. Pictured here are 9 square canisters that range from 3 1/8″ to 8″ high. It is believed that canisters were used to hold tea and spices. Some of them nest nicely together which made them easy to ship.

Square Canister characteristics: 1) all tops are domed 2) rain cloud borders are on the tops only 3) sampans/houses on all tops, there are 2 full Canton scenes on the  4 sides 4) there are not any decoration variations like there are on the round and barrel canisters 5) all bottoms glazed 6) tops stay on better than on the two other canister sets.

Generally, prices escalate from the smallest to the highest. They are all very rare.

Herbert Schiffer’s 1975 book has barrel canisters on page 99, round ones on page 100 and squares on page 104. Jane Wilson’s 1977 booklet has a barrel on page 34, a round one on page 35 and a square on page 12.

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