Title
Teapot
Year/Period
Late 19th-early 20th centuries
Region
Yixing, Jiangsu province, China
Dimension
Object Size: 6.7 x 12.8 x 8.8 cm,
Object Size: Refer to parts
Object Size: Refer to parts
Accession No.
C-1101
Collection of
This teapot is a typical example of the enamelled Yixing (宜兴) stoneware. It features auspicious phoenix, floral and foliage motifs.TIt also has three round feet and twisted brass handles. A two-character mark ‘Gong Ju’ (贡局) or ‘Tribute Office’ stamped on its base, suggests that these wares were made as tribute, a form of taxation-in-kind.Introduced during the mid-Ming dynasty as teawares for the literati, teapots such as this were admired for their heat-absorbing properties, which kept the tea warm and improved the strong aroma and taste of Chinese teas.
