Porcelain Cat Teapot, Chinese Republic (19420A-JAS) $135

Description

In China and Japan cats are often portrayed as small-teapots that provide individualized tea servings and better retain heat. White porcelain with a clear glaze was often the preferred pottery form for preparing tea as it was viewed as more elegant. Since Mao (猫), the word for cat, is a homophone for octogenarian, it is a well-known Chinese longevity symbol (shou 壽). Qing dynasty and Chinese-Republic functional-and-utilitarian cat-teapots are often portrayed with a raised paw as its spout, a popular motif of a “beckoning cat” like the famous Japanese Maneki Neko widely used in feng shui, especially among Chinese merchants, as a greeting and welcoming gesture to promote and maintain positive energy (chi) and bring good luck and fortune into their store. These cats often have long ribbons (shoudai) around their necks, a homophone symbolizing longevity (shou 壽). They are charming antique/vintage porcelain pouring-vessels that will enrich any space, especially a kitchen, and their symbolic wishes for a long life and good luck make them appropriate gifts for any occasion, especially birthdays. Its condition is excellent with normal dark dot-like firing imperfections and minor scratches from age and its use. Red Chinese characters identifying the maker were a double stamped seal on the bottom, which is rather unusual. Later vintage versions have “Made in China” stamped on the bottom. As with all antique teaware, we advise they be used only for decorative purposes.