Porcelain Cat Teapot, Chinese Republic (17022C-GLK) $135

Description

In China and Japan cats are often portrayed in the form of small-teapots that provide individualized servings and better retain heat for the tea.  Porcelain with a glaze surface was the preferred form for these pouring-vessels as it was viewed as more elegant. Since Mao (猫), the word for cat in Chinese, is a homophone for octogenarian, it has been 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. These teapots often have long ribbons (shoudai) around their necks as a homophone and symbol for longevity (shou 壽). These charming teapots enrich any kitchen or other space and as symbolic wish for a long life and good luck make special gifts for any occasion, especially birthdays. It is in excellent with minor, normal dark dot-like firing imperfections as on most white glazed objects and normal scratches demonstrating its age and use. There is an indented circle on the bottom without Chinese characters and no red stamp or seal naming the maker or factory. This piece is likely an antique dating to the Qing Dynasty and dating circa 1900-1920. Later pieces have “Made in China” or stamps of the maker on the bottom. As with any antique teapots, we advise they be used only for decorative purposes.