Dehua Pomegranate-Form Teapot

Dehua pomegranate-form teapot and cover fitted with 18th-century continental silver mounts.
Qing dynasty, 17th century
Porcelain, Dehua kilns
Fujian province, South Central China.
H:10cm D: 14cm

The tea pot is elegantly potted in the form of a pomegranate resting on a star-shaped foot simulating the calyx, with a curved handle in the form of a branch and a protruding spout with straight sides. The body and cover is moulded with leafy sprays, the cover is surmounted by a looping branch finial. The exterior of the teapot is covered with a transparent glaze. Fitted with 18th century continental silver mounts.

• Another example decorated with later European overglaze enamel is in the Gardiner Museum, Toronto, Canada. Accession number: G83.1.814.1-.2.

Provenance:
– Collection of Alexandre J. Argyropoulos (1894-1978), Greek Ambassador to China, late 1940s-early 1950s, and thence by descent within the family.
– J. J. Lally & Co., New York.