Teapot with design of the Ramakien

Teapot, depressed globular shape; short neck; low heavy foot with rounded footrim. Two projections on either side of shoulder, each with perforation to engage the ends of bronze handle which are held in place by two screws whose heads are in the form of a flower. Curved spout. Saucer-shaped lid with flat flange and concave bottom; fits inside neck of teapot. The lower extremity of the foot is bound with metal, and so are the tip of the spout and the rim of the lid.
Paste: white porcelain with occasional pittings and small cracks.
Glaze: pure, colorless.
Decoration: In underglaze blue. A continuous scene depicting two armies in combat against landscape setting; several monkeys; body in water. Spray of bamboo on spout. Top of lid decorated with drawing of a single soldier brandishing a sword and holding a flag in landscape background; flange has desgin of four floral scrolls. Mountains and ground executed in outline and wash; foliage delineated with dabs of pigment.

Historical period(s)
Qing dynasty, late 19th century
Medium
Porcelain with cobalt pigment under clear glaze; bronze and metal fittings
Style
Jingdezhen ware
Dimensions
H x W: 10 x 17.7 cm (3 15/16 x 6 15/16 in)
Geography
China, Jiangxi province, Jingdezhen
Credit Line
Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art Collection
Accession Number
F1978.3a-b
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Ceramic, Vessel
Type

Teapot

Keywords
China, cobalt pigment, Jingdezhen ware, landscape, porcelain, Qing dynasty (1644 - 1911), tea
Provenance
Provenance research underway.
Description

Teapot, depressed globular shape; short neck; low heavy foot with rounded footrim. Two projections on either side of shoulder, each with perforation to engage the ends of bronze handle which are held in place by two screws whose heads are in the form of a flower. Curved spout. Saucer-shaped lid with flat flange and concave bottom; fits inside neck of teapot. The lower extremity of the foot is bound with metal, and so are the tip of the spout and the rim of the lid.
Paste: white porcelain with occasional pittings and small cracks.
Glaze: pure, colorless.
Decoration: In underglaze blue. A continuous scene depicting two armies in combat against landscape setting; several monkeys; body in water. Spray of bamboo on spout. Top of lid decorated with drawing of a single soldier brandishing a sword and holding a flag in landscape background; flange has desgin of four floral scrolls. Mountains and ground executed in outline and wash; foliage delineated with dabs of pigment.

Inscription(s)

Mark: Four characters, pao chu li chi (^c^), presumably a shop mark, in underglaze blue on base; calligraphy of indifferent quality.

Published References
  • Julia Murray. A Decade of Discovery: Selected Acquisitions 1970-1980. Exh. cat. Washington, 1979. cat. 32, p. 41.
Collection Area(s)
Chinese Art
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
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