“Dongpo” Overhead Handle Pot (东坡提梁壶) - Yixing Teapot - China - Begin 20e eeuw

“Dongpo” Overhead Handle Yixing Teapot (东坡提梁壶)
China, first half 20th century (Republic period or later)

A finely potted Yixing zisha teapot, modelled in the classic Dongpo Tiliang (东坡提梁) form, distinguished by its elegant high arched handle rising above the lid. The shape is inspired by the refined literati tea culture associated with the Song dynasty scholar-poet Su Dongpo (苏东坡), whose legacy profoundly influenced later Yixing teapot design.

The body is decorated with a poetic inscription, reading:

开心暖胃门冬饮，知是东坡手自煎。

"An Maidong drink that opens the mind and warms the stomach; one knows it was brewed by Dongpo's very own hands."

The text draws directly from a Song Dynasty poem by the iconic poet Su Dongpo (Su Shi). In the original poem, Dongpo's close friend, the legendary calligrapher Mi Fu, braved intense summer heat to bring him a refreshing medicinal herbal drink made of Ophiopogon (Maidong). Deeply touched by this gesture, Dongpo prepared and boiled the drink himself.

This tale was cleverly reinterpreted for the tea table. While the original story took place in summer, the inscription captures the sheer coziness and comfort of drinking warm tea during cold winter days. It serves as a high compliment to the user, poetically suggesting that when you brew tea in this specific pot, it feels as though the great master Su Dongpo himself is standing over the fire, mindfully preparing the tea for you with his own hands. Within the steam of the tea, the warmth of an ancient friendship and a thousand years of poetic rhythm perfectly come together.

Marks, Signatures & Studio Seals:

• The inscription is signed: "Mansheng ming" 曼生铭
• The interior of the lid is marked: 'Pengnian' 彭年
• The underside bears the seal: 'A Manduo Shi' 阿曼陀室 (Studio Mark of Chen Mansheng, 1768–1822).

As a fine 20th-century interpretation, these apocryphal marks and seals directly honor the historic 19th-century collaboration between scholar Chen Mansheng and master potter Yang Pengnian. This legendary partnership revolutionized Zisha pottery by seamlessly integrating Chinese calligraphy, poetry, and painting into teapot design, effectively elevating Yixing vessels from functional wares to highly prized works of literati art. This teapot serves as a beautiful homage to that golden era.

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+++ Bids below the reserve price will not be considered after the auction closes, please bid to buy. +++
Reserve: EUR 500

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Dimensions:
H17x W14 (handle to spout) x W12 cm
Ca. 400 ml

Condition: No damage! In very good condition.

Please refer to the images for the definitive and binding description of the item’s condition.

Shipping method: The item is securely packed and shipped with insurance.