Teapot in underglaze blue with phoenixes decor, Ming dynasty, Yongle reign (1403-1424)-China Archive

Image Number: K1B006762N000000000PAG
Dynasty: Ming dynasty
Category: Ceramics
Function: Container
Material: Mineral/ceramic/porcelain
Description:
Small round mouth, semicircular body, three series of shoulder decorations, flat bottom, shallow concave feet, meandering, bamboo handle, with flat top and round cover. The whole vessel is decorated with blue and white flowers. A double banana leaf pattern is painted on the shoulder and bottom of the pot, a pair of lotus phoenix are decorated on both sides of the pot belly and cover, a phoenix is decorated on the cover, and a lotus pattern is painted on the flow and handle. The blue and white flowers are thick and colorful, with iron brown or brown yellow defects in many places. The fetal bone is even, and the sole of the foot is exposed, which is firm and delicate. In addition, we have a sweet white three series pot (hence porcelain 017825), which has the same shape and is unparalleled in the world. Both sweet white and blue and white are representative works of the Yongle period, which are precious. This teapot used to be called “White ground blue and white teapot with a lid”. Since the Emperor Hongwu of the Ming Dynasty ordered to stop making regimental tea and pay tribute, leaf tea frying became the most popular way of drinking tea in the Ming Dynasty, so the teapot became the main tea vessel for making tea.