Teapot

The teapot is complete. It is circular in shape. In cross-section, the teapot has the shape of an inverted, truncated baluster. The top has a recessed shelf of the same shape as the body. The top is straight, and continues into a shoulder drooping towards the wall, which is tapered towards its base. The foot is in line with the wall, with a wide, flat base. The bottom is recessed and flat. The teapot has a vertical handle made of two overlapping ribbons. The spout is curved like a swan’s neck. Flared at its junction with the wall opposite the handle, it is tapered towards its front end; its top is flat and has an oval opening. The inner wall, at its junction with the beak, features a filter made of circular holes arranged in a circle, with a central hole. There appears to be a mark printed in blue under the base: c. There are flaws in the paste, particularly at the foot. The decoration is molded, painted over glaze and applied by underglaze printing (Transfer printed); the painted decoration is gilded and the printed decoration is dark blue with an oriental motif (Two Temples). The molded decoration is visible on the handle, which was molded separately. Printed decoration is visible on the outer wall, as well as on the spout. The decoration on the wall is repeated on the two opposite outer walls and consists of an oriental scene of islands, two of which are linked by a bridge spanning a river. On one of the islands stand two tiered temples with dark blue roofs, each with an entrance and staircase; in one of them stands a figure, presumably. These temples are surrounded by trees, and tiered rocks lie on the shore. Behind the temples is a wall with three sections intersecting at right angles; one section has three rectangular windows. The island borders a river to the left, spanned by a single-arched stone bridge, seen in profile, on which two bald figures stand, following one another. Behind the bridge, the temple island is enclosed by a fence with two angled compartments and a post; the compartments are decorated with a central rectangle. The bridge leads to another island lined with rocks and trees, including a willow tree. In the foreground, a fence crosses the river; it features angled compartments decorated with swastikas. The outer base of the spout features three stylized boulders emerging from the water; curved plant stems emerge from the upper boulder. The rendering of the decoration is blurred. The decorations are clearly cut into the wall. The handle is vertical and composed of two thin, oval ribbons that overlap twice in height. At the top, the ribbons are folded down to rest on the shoulder of the teapot. At the base, the ribbons rest on the body of the teapot. The ends of the four ribbons feature a molded motif that includes a rosette above two leaves. The rim is gilded, and the handles are filleted along their entire length. There is also a plant motif of stylized leaves in gilding on the outer wall of the spout, as well as gilding around its mouthpiece at the top of the spout.