Porcelain Cat Teapot, Chinese Republic, China (19420D)

Description

In China and Japan, cats are often portrayed as small clear glazed white porcelain which was viewed as elegant. Small pots to provide individualized tea servings were used to offer many advantages. They assured tea was hot when poured, allowed maximum use of leaves, limited bitterness and made brewing more precise as water was infused with flavor faster. Cats were popular pot motifs since the word for cat (Mao) is a homophone for octogenarian and a well-known Chinese longevity symbol. Qing dynasty and Chinese Republic teapots have a raised paw spout of a “beckoning cat” like the Japanese Maneki Neko used in feng shui. Chinese merchants used them as a welcoming gesture, to promote and maintain positive energy (chi) and bring good luck into their store. These cats wear long ribbons around their necks, symbolizing longevity. They enrich any space, especially a kitchen. They symbolize wishes for long life and good luck make them great gifts for any occasion: birthdays, housewarmings and weddings.

This antique/vintage Qing Dynasty or Chinese Republic rotund teapot has a removable head to be filled with water, long sinuously curved handle tail, and raised paw spout.  It is whimsically decorated with hand painted dark blue double ribbon-like collar with bows representing long life,  pink, brown and black accents on face and head and rich brown accents on its coat and tail. As a gesture of protection, he steps on a large painted black mouse which is very unique.  It is in excellent with normal firing imperfections and minor discoloration, and scratches from age and use.  As with all antique teaware, we advise they be used only for decorative purposes.