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

Description

First made during the Ming dynasty, Yixing tea ware, pouring vessels, and their distinctive reddish stoneware have been praised as the best in the world. With special minerals in the clay that absorb and retain tea flavors with each infusion they add extra flavor and aroma. The the teapot’s fine construction also retains heat.

The enamel painted designs on the front of this Yixing teapot have recognizable symbols relating to a wish for long and healthy life. This scene from the Peking opera Romance of Three Kingdoms  romanticizes historical Han dynasty Three Kingdoms period events.The two bowing men hold brooms and the one on the right holding a fan. In Chinese mythology, brooms sweep away fears, disease and evil and broom amulets are used for protection. One of the Eight Immortals Zhongli Quan holds his emblem, a fan, which he waves over the dead to bring them back to life. 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 refer to Hanshan and Shide, Tang dynasty poets the emperor designated as Immortals of Harmony and Unity. Hanshan holds a fan while Shide holds a broom.

The branch with a stylized chrysanthemum blossom on the rear symbolizes longevity and is an appropriate design for tea ware as the Chinese drink chrysanthemum wine and tea for its health and life sustaining properties. The Chinese characters in the white band between them are “Happiness and Health.”

This Qing dynasty pot has seal marks on its body, lid and bottom indicating the maker and the kiln. As with all antiques, we recommend using them for decorative and collecting purposes only.