Skip to main content
Advanced Search
Tea tray with a scene of the death of Captain Cook
Tea tray with a scene of the death of Captain Cook

Tea tray with a scene of the death of Captain Cook

Artist (British, 1772 - 1819)
Date1781-1819
Object number00055335
NameTea tray
Mediumwood lacquer
DimensionsOverall: 50 × 790 × 615 mm, 2.143 kg
ClassificationsCommemorative artefacts
Credit LineANMM Collection
DescriptionA japanned tea tray by artist Edward Bird depicting the death of Captain Cook in Hawaii. The scene is based on the well-known 1781 work by George Carter who depicted the armed altercation between Cook and his crew and Chief Kalaimanokahoʻowaha and local Hawaiians. The moment captured here is the confrontation between the two leaders, moments before Cook was killed. On the reverse of the tray is painted: The Death of Captain Cook Painted by Edward Bird R.A. Apprenticed to a tray maker of Birmingham Born 1772, Died 1819 Presented to HWF Bolckow, Esqr. Marton Hall By John J. Bagshaw, Sheffield The tray was in the collection of Henry Bolckow, member of British parliament whose residence, Marton Hall in Yorkshire, incorporated the birthplace of James Cook.HistoryJapanning was a decorative process that became popular in the 17th and 18th-century in Europe for decorating and finishing wood, leather, tin, and papier-mâché. It was intended to imitate the popular lacquer work exported from China, Japan and India without using the traditional lacquer made from the sap of the Chinese Lacquer Tree. In Britain the japanning industry was based primarily around Birmingham, in towns such as Wolverhampton and Bilston. The method, now replicated with local materials, was used in the production of furniture and other decorative and functional household items such as tea trays. Manufacturers embraced the popularity of drinking tea which had increased significantly in the first half of the eighteenth century and was another import from Asia that had changed local production in Britain. The domestic British 'tea ceremony' saw the increase in the desire for cups, pots, bowls and trays. The flat surface area of these tea trays in particular were prime areas for decoration, the quality of which reflected the owners social standing. In Wolverhampton japanned tea trays were a specialty reaching a level of exceptional quality, such as this tray painted by Edward Bird. Bird was a local painter who became renowned for his japanned ware and his historic scenes. As late as the late nineteenth century his work was still highly regarded with an 1880 edition of the journal 'Notes and Queries' noting; ‘I have seen at Wolverhampton some of Bird’s tea trays which, it is needless to say, were distinguished by the excellence of the central painting, and which were highly prized by their possessors, who, in some cases had cut out the painting and had framed it.’ This tray by Bird was not unusual in reflecting the outpouring of grief and commemoration of James Cook that appeared following his death. Highly regarded and well known in his own life time, Cook's death elevated him to almost mythical status and British depictions of his death reinforced this heroic perception. This Edward Bird tray came into the collection of Henry Bolckow who owned the site where Cook was born and subsequently amassed an important collection of Cook material, including the ENDEAVOUR journal and Cook's secret instructions for the voyage. On the site of the cottage where Cook was born, Bolckow erected a classical granite urn bearing the inscription, ‘This granite vase was erected by H.W.F. Bolckow of Marton Hall A.D. 1858 to mark the site of the cottage in which Captain James Cook the world circumnavigator was born Oct 27th 1728.' SignificanceThe japanned tea tray dates to the late 18th century and is an unusual and intriguing example of both Asian influence on European art forms, and the many forms of public grief triggered by news of James Cook's death in Hawaii in 1799. Edward Bird is widely regarded as England's preeminent japanning artist and his works were highly prized. The tray was presented to H.W.F Bolckow who owned the site where Cook was born and amassed an important collection of Cook material, including the ENDEAVOUR journal and Cook's secret instructions for the voyage - both now in the National Library of Australia.