Page 106 - Mounted Oriental Porcelain Getty Museum

19- LIDDED POT

THE PORCELAIN: Chinese (Kangxi), from Dehua, circa 1670-1700
THE GILT-BRONZE MOUNTS: French (Paris), circa 1765-70

HEIGHT: 9% in. (25.1 cm); WIDTH: j% in. (18.7 cm); DEPTH: 6J/4 in. (15.9 cm)
78.01.359

DESCRIPTION FIG. 19A.

The hexagonal molded globular body is composed been removed, thus converting it from a utensil into a
of six shaped panels molded in low relief with the fol- purely decorative object (fig. 196).
lowing scenes: the philosopher Li Bai with his winejar;
Confucius in discussion with Laozi (the reputed founder The porcelain lid is discolored and has a heavy
of Daoism); a Tea Master with a boy who fans the fire to cracklelure; the corners are chipped. Complete blanc-
boil water for tea; a scholar with a boy attendant who de-chine teapots of this type are known. Unmounted
holds the chin, a stringed instrument; a boy pointing to specimens are to be found in the British Museum, Lon-
the sun implying a wish that his master will achieve high don1 (fig.190), at Hampton Court, England (once in the
rank; and Confucius on hisown. collection of Queen Mary, 1689-94),2 and at Blenheim
Palace, England. Another is referred to in the inventory
The pot is clasped at each side by a gilt-bronze of white tea wares belonging to Augustus the Strong of
handle formed of foliate scrolls. The two handles are Saxony (1670-1733). The inventory was begun in 1721,
joined by a threaded rod extending the full width of the and the pot is the first entry in this section.3 A complete
interior of the pot, brazed to one handle and attached to wine pot, with an early-eighteenth-century gilt-bronze
the other by means of a screw. The hexagonal foot of the addition to the spout and the lid attached to the handle
vase is held by a deep gilt-bronze mount around which
are repeating ovals enclosing cabochons. This in turn is
clasped by six scrolled and foliate feet at the angles. The
hexagonal neck of the pot is mounted with a collar of
repeating ovaloes and clasped at four of the corners by a
cluster of leaves; the two remaining corners are mounted
with short sprays of leaves springing from the handles
(fig. I9A). The porcelain lid, which fits into the collar
mount, is surmounted by a gilt-bronze finial of pyrami-
dal form that supports a cluster of berries held by scroll-
ing acanthus leaves.

MARKS
The porcelain lid is impressed with an illegible seal
mark now covered by the gilt-bronze finial.

COMMENTARY
The porcelain pot was originally a lidded teapot.
The form is identical to contemporary metalwork ves-
sels. The spout, the tall arched handle, and the finial,
probably in the form of a seated Buddhist lion, have

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