*Vietnamese Market* - Chaozhou Teapot - Dragon - China - Qing Dynasty (1644-1911)

A Rare Silver-Overlay Chaozhou Tea Pot for the Vietnamese Market
China & Vietnam, 19th century

A rare and highly decorative Chaozhou red-brown teapot, entirely mounted in finely pierced and chased silver for the Vietnamese market. The globular body is covered with intricate openwork silver panels of scrolling vegetal motifs and figural reserves, while the swing handle is decorated with dragons pursuing a flaming pearl, a powerful symbol of authority, prosperity, and cosmic energy in Chinese and Vietnamese art.

Although such export-mounted teapots are frequently described as Yixing ware, the present example is more accurately attributable to the Chaozhou kilns of Guangdong province, identifiable by the characteristic smooth reddish-brown slib covering a more orange colored courser clay and the "pulled" production method instead of the panel constructed Yixing-ware. Chaozhou teapots were highly prized for brewing aromatic teas and were extensively exported to Vietnam, Thailand, and other overseas Chinese communities during the 19th century.

The elaborate silver overlay was almost certainly added in Vietnam by highly skilled specialist silversmiths, creating a fascinating cross-cultural object that combines Chinese teapot craftsmanship with refined Vietnamese metalwork. Examples of this hybrid type remain rare, particularly those retaining extensive original silver mounts, But most examples with this elaborate silver mounts are of identical shape.

Provenance:
French Senior military official in the colonial administration in Indochina from 1937 to 1944, and by descent.

Reference:
See a similar teapot (most likely also a Chaozhou example) in:

Yixing : Teapots for Europe - Patrice Valfre | item 328

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+++ Bids below the reserve price will not be considered after the auction closes, please bid to buy. +++
Reserve: EUR 1300

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Dimensions:
H 14.5 × W 18.5 × D 13.5 cm

Condition:
Overall in very good condition! The underside of the lid has several small chips; and a small point of silver mount has been bend en put back into shape. The silver is tarnished and will remain un-polished by us.

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 item will be securely packed and shipped with insurance.