Rare Antique Yixing Teapot with Scene from Peking Opera, China (1148BKE)

Description

As with most Chinese accessories, the enamel painted designs on the front of this Yixing teapot have recognizable symbols of Deities-and-Legends and florals relating to a wish for long and healthy life. This scene from the Peking opera Romance of Three Kingdoms  romanticizes historical events in the late Han dynasty and the Three Kingdoms period and includes symbolic images of the two bowing men on the left holding brooms and the large one on the right holding a fan. In Chinese mythology brooms have the power to sweep away fears, disease, and evil and why broom amulets are used for protection. The chief of the Eight Immortals Zhongli Quan always holds his emblem, a fan, which he uses to bring the dead back to life simply by waving it over them. Han’s fan (shan) is a symbol of longevity and also a verbal pun (homophone) for goodness and virtue (shan). The broom and fan here may also be a reference  to Hanshan and Shide, Tang dynasty poets whom the emperor designated as Immortals of Harmony and Unity; Hanshan holds a fan while Shide holds a broom. The branch with the stylized chrysanthemum blossom on the rear also symbolizes longevity and is most appropriate as a teaware design since Chinese drink chrysanthemum wine and tea for its health and life sustaining properties. The Chinese characters in the white band are Happiness and Health. Yixing stoneware teapots with their distinctive reddish washes are considered some of the finest teawares as they have special minerals in the clay that absorb and retain tea flavors with each infusion by adding extra flavor and aroma while the teapot’s fine construction also retains heat. First made during the Ming dynasty, Yixing teaware, pouring-vessels, and their distinctive reddish stoneware are praised as the best in the world. This Qing dynasty pot has seal marks on its body, lid and bottom indicating the maker and the kiln. Part of the VA Ceramics-and-Pottery collection, it is in excellent condition with appropriate signs of use to the interior. We strongly recommend using functional-and-utilitarian antique pieces for decorative and collecting purposes, especially as kitchen-accessories, only and not for serving beverages.This teapot is part of the VA Antique-Chinese-Ceramics-and-Pottery Collection.