Famille Verte 1680-1725 - Page 1

Object 2010C244

Teapot

China

1700-1720

Height with cover 105 mm (4.13 inch), height without cover 87 mm (3.43 inch), diameter handle to spout 184 mm (7.24 inch), diameter of mouthrim 53 mm (2.09 inch), diameter of footring 57 mm (2.24 inch), weight including cover 452 grams (15.94 ounce (oz.)), weight cover 46 grams (1.62 ounce (oz.))

Globular teapot on a footring. Straight spout and a curved C-shaped handle. The inlaying flat cover with round knob. Decorated in famille verte enamels with flowering plants, a large pheasant and two birds in flight. Around the mouth a broad border with four cartouches, each filled with a magpie perched on a branch, on a green-speckled ground with half rosettes. On the cover four flowering branches within a zig-zag pattern border. On the knob a single flower head. The handle and spout are decorated with stylized cloud motifs. The cover has been pierced. To the base a rectangular paper collectors label.

Only grown in China and Japan during the 17th Century, tea became known in the Netherlands early because the Dutch East India Company (VOC) shipped small quantities home. Its use as a beverage was established slowly, and was probably started by retired VOC employees who had become accustomed to drinking tea in the East. At a tea party, the expensive beverage was served in small teapots, one for each guest, filled with the leaves of the type he or she preferred. The tea was poured into small cups, while the teapot was refilled with hot water from a metal or sometimes ceramic kettle. The small quantity of famille verte teapots still abound reflects the demand in Europe at the time. Elaborately decorated, they must have been regarded as luxury wares for the upper classes. (Jörg 2011/2, p.131)

For identically shaped and decorated teapot, please see:

For a similarly shaped and decorated teapot, please see:

Sold Ceramics - Sold Famille Verte wares 1680-1725 - Tea, Coffee and Chocolate wares - Object 2011335.

Condition: A firing flaw to the underside of the cover. A large U-shaped crack around the body. A tiny glaze rough spot to the tip of the spout with a very short connected 2 mm (0.07 inch) glaze hairline (only visible on the inside of the spout).

References:

Ottema 1943, cat. 225

Lunsingh Scheurleer 1977, cat. 142

Jörg & Van Campen 1997, pp.199-200

Jörg 2011/2, cat. 122

Price: € 999 Currency Converter