An important pair of Lowestoft tea canisters, circa 1763-65An important pair of Lowestoft tea canisters, circa 1763-65Of large size and rectangular form with canted corners, moulded in Hughes style with panels edged with scrollwork, flowers and leaves, painted in blue with a fisherman in a river landscape, a sailing boat to one side, the reverse with a pagoda on an island, one inscribed in blue on the ends 'G', 'T' and 'G Tea', the other 'H', 'T' and 'H Tea', with scattered floral sprays and insects, a diaper border above the feet and a narrower border of scrolls and leaves around the shoulders, 12.6cm high, painter's numeral 5 on both examples (2)ProvenanceGeoffrey Godden Collection, Bonhams, 30 June 2010, lot 132Sylvia and Alan Low CollectionOne canister is illustrated by Geoffrey Godden, English Blue and White Porcelain (2004), p.279 pl.339 and British Porcelain: An Illustrated Guide (1974), p.286, pl.341. Both canisters are illustrated by Godden, Lowestoft Porcelains (1985), p.71, pl.67. The inscriptions on the ends indicate the type of tea that the vessel was designed to contain, Green or Gunpowder tea or Hyson tea. Others are recorded inscribed 'B TEA' and 'Super Fine'. A single canister inscribed 'Singlo Tea' was sold by Bonhams on 18 May 2011, lot 372.