in Japonesque taste, comprising a tea pot, covered sugar bowl, cream jug and tray, the grounds of cinnabar-coloured lacquer applied with insects and Japanese flowers, the tray applied with a spider and dragonfly on an engraved web, the sugar bowl with flower and bee finial, the tea pot with lizard finial, 84 standard, Dutch import mark

Christie's Geneva, 18 November 1980, lot 127

The lacquer with small patches of scattered losses throughout, particularly to the tea pot, and with areas of restoration, notably around the bee figure of the teapot. The gilding slightly worn, though not to the silver. The tray with large areas of restoration around the spider and the dragonfly, four areas of restoration on the upperside of the lid and six areas of restoration around the outerside rim.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

An un-lacquered but otherwise identical tray was exhibited by Tiffany & Co. at the 1878 Paris Exposition Universelle in a display that won Charles Tiffany the Légion d'Honneur.  The tray was later exhibited by Wartski, London, Japonisme: From Falize to Fabergé, The Goldsmith and Japan, 10-20 May 2011, no. 148, p. 81, illustrated.