Large Yixing “Shouxing Hu” (把寿星壶) Teapot with Pewter-Mounted Spout Marked Jin Ting (金廷) and Yu Feng (豫丰) in Manchu and Chinese China, late Qing dynasty (late 19th – early 20th century) A large and impressive Yixing zisha teapot of the classic Shouxing Hu (“Longevity Teapot”) form, executed in dark clay and fitted with a distinctive pewter-mounted spout shaped as a butterfly. The recessed cover is also mounted with pewter and surmounted by a red lacquer finial, creating an attractive contrast with the jet-black toned body of the vessel. The rounded and full-bodied shape resembles a longevity peach, an auspicious symbol associated with long life and good fortune. The teapot bears the artisan mark 金廷 (Jin Ting) near the handle, associated with the renowned late Qing potter Shi Jinting (施金廷, 1877–1950), a specialist in the production of Shouxing teapots. Shi Jinting initially left his works unmarked, but later began marking them at the request of commercial firms, using the names “Jin Ting” or “Shi Ji.” The base carries a square seal of the Yufeng (豫丰) pottery company, rendered in both Manchu and Chinese characters. Such bilingual seals were used during the late Qing dynasty, before the fall of the Qing empire in 1911. After the Xinhai Revolution, the Manchu script was generally removed from these seals, leaving only the Chinese characters “豫丰”. The presence of both scripts therefore provides an important indication that this example was produced before or around the end of the Qing dynasty. Historical Context: The Yufeng (豫丰) brand represents one of the most important commercial workshops in the late development of the Yixing zisha industry. The enterprise was formally established in 1910 during the Xuantong reign, when Wu Qinan, a descendant of the Ming official Wu Yishan, founded the Yufeng Pottery Company in Yixing. The company played a significant role in the early industrialisation of Yixing pottery production by consolidating previously scattered workshops into a coordinated commercial enterprise. Among the various forms produced by Yufeng, the Shouxing Hu became the most iconic. Its full, rounded form, reminiscent of the longevity peach, combined practical functionality with auspicious symbolism, making it extremely popular in tea houses and households during the late Qing and early Republican periods. Other utilitarian forms produced by the company included goose-egg and egg-shaped teapots, though the Shouxing type remained the most widely recognised. Yufeng teapots were typically made from Huanglongshan zisha clay, rich in minerals such as iron and mica, producing a range of tones from reddish-purple and chestnut to yellowish and deep black hues. Some examples were further enhanced through specialised firing techniques, including “wu hui” firing, which produced a distinctive dark, jade-like surface. Today, Yufeng teapots are valued not only for their craftsmanship but also as historical objects documenting the transformation of the Yixing pottery industry from traditional artisanal workshops to organised commercial production in the late Qing period. REFERENCE: See a jet-black example with without pewter mounts at Christie's (USD 2.000): https://onlineonly.christies.com/s/contemporary-clay-yixing-pottery-irving-collection/black-yixing-teapot-cover-7/67019 Dimensions: Height: approx. 16.2 cm Width: approx. 21.8 cm Depth: approx. 17.2 cm Capacity: approx. 1.7 litres Condition: Very good condition! Wear consistent with age and use. Filled with water for one hour, with no leaks noticed. Please examine the images carefully. Small imperfections and kiln-firing flaws are not always described in detail. The written condition report is indicative only; the photographs provide the definitive and binding description of the item’s condition. Shipping: The teapot will be securely packed and shipped with insurance.