Porcelain Cat Teapot, Chinese Republic #19420F

Description

In China and Japan, cats are often portrayed as small teapots that provide individualized tea servings and better retain heat. White porcelain was 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). Chinese Republic 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 and to promote and maintain positive energy (chi) and bring in good luck and fortune. Porcelain cats often have long ribbons (shoudai) around their necks, a homophone symbolizing longevity (shou 壽). These charming pouring-vessels enrich any space and their symbolic wish for a long life and good luck make them appropriate gifts for any occasion, especially for birthdays, cat lovers and as kitchen-accessories. From the Qing Dynasty or Chinese-Republic it is in excellent condition with minor normal firing imperfections, discoloration and scratches showing  its age and use. As with all antique teaware, we advise they be used only for decorative purposes.