Porcelain Cat Teapot, Chinese Republic (19420F-XAS) $130

$130.00

H: 7”  W: 8.625”  D: 3.625” | FREE SHIPPING!

Unlike other white porcelain cat tepots, this charmingly plump  one is a single piece. Tea is poured from its raised paw but it has no removable head for adding water. Instead, water is added using the opening on its back. Its long sinuously curved tail is a handle and its paw is the spout. It is whimsically and colorfully hand-painted with a thin ribbon-like gold collar with dangling ornamental tassels and red, brown, gold, orange and black accents defining the face, ears, head, and paws.

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 demonstrating its age and use. As with all antique teaware we advise they be used only for decorative purposes.

Additional information

Place of Origin

China

Date

1912-1949

Materials and Technique

Porcelain

Dimensions (inches)

Ht: 7” Width: 8.625” Depth: 3.625”

Dimensions (metric)

Ht: 17.78 W: 21.90cm D: 9.20cm

Condition

Excellent, age appropriate signs of wear

Reference Number

19420F-XAS

Shipping Box Size