Yixing begonia-style teapot with flowers of the four seasons in painted enamels, Qing dynasty, Kangxi reign (1662-1722)-China Archive

Image Number: K1B016976N000000000PAC
Dynasty: Qing dynasty
Category: Ceramics
Function: drinking vessel
Material: Minerals/Ceramics/
Description:
The pot is a four petal melon shaped body with curved handle and short flow. The edge of the lid is a four petal lotus shaped curling lip with a round button. The top of the button is a round vent. The four edges of the outer wall of the pot are divided into four seasons flower patterns, such as peony, lotus, chrysanthemum, camellia, etc. The cover is decorated with okra and daisy. The inside of the whole vessel is plain, and the surface of the outer wall is covered with transparent glaze. The bottom of the pot is printed in four character yellow regular script “Made by Emperor Kangxi”, with double circles. The teapot is made of Yixing purple clay. The body is not as delicate as porcelain clay, and the particles are relatively thick. There are black and yellow fine sand spots in the middle of the body, causing uneven surface. Therefore, small bubbles are often seen at the decorative patterns and glaze colors to scratch the brown eye traces. The melon petal shaped Yixing embryo enamel colored teapot was popular in the Kangxi period. Besides flowers, there were also flower and fruit patterns. For example, according to the “Archives of Enamel, Glass, Yixing, and Magnetic Tyre Furnishings”, the hospital has two pieces of four season flower Begonia (or melon shaped) tea