Teapot of globular shape on a footring. Straight spout with a curved C-shaped handle. The inlaying flat cover (pierced) with round knob. Chinese Imari, decorated in underglaze blue and overglaze iron-red and gold with on one side a paper folded container with a knotted ribbon filled with flowering chrysanthemum and iris branhces and on the other side a paper folded container with a knotted ribbon filled with flowering iris branches and blossoming prunus branches. Round the mouth a border with florets between scrolls in gold on an iron-red ground. On the spout and handle scattered stylised clouds motifs. On the cover two flower sprays.

Jörg states that among the Japanese motifs (taken over by the Chinese as decorating designs for Chinese Imari) were the kiku (chrysanthemum) roundels, fan-shaped panels, partly unrolled bamboo blinds and rather pronounced foliate and floral scrolls. ( Jörg & Van Campen 1997, p.199 ) When looking closely at the chrysanthemum flower group on this teapot, one can easily spot a Japanese shaped kiku roundel (chrysanthemum flower head) between the Chinese shaped chrysanthemum flower heads and the paper folded container with knotted ribbon.

For an identically shaped, sized and decorated, Japanese Imari decorated teapot, please see:

A closely comparable example is illustrated in O Chá da China: Uma Colecção Particular, published by the Museu de Macau (Macao Museum), an important reference for Chinese tea wares and export porcelain.

• Mistrovská dĩla Japonského porcelánu / Masterpieces of Japanese Porcelain, (F. Suchomel, Prague 1997), pp.104-105, cat. 93.

For an example of a paper folded container, filled with flowering branches, with a knotted ribbon on a Japanese Imari bowl please see:

• Japanese Export Porcelain. Catalogue of the Collection of the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, (O. Impey, Hotei Publishing, Amsterdam, 2002), p.199, cat. 324.

Condition: Handle restored, addition to the spout and some frits to lid. Size: 17.5x10CM Length xHeight

Information with thanks to Pater Gratia Oriental Art

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Important information

Handle restored, addition to the spout and some frits to lid. Size: 17.5x10CM Length xHeight

18th century