teapot; lid BM-Franks.808.+

Period:Qing dynasty Production date:1720-1725 (circa)
Materials:porcelain
Technique:glazed, painted,

Dimensions:Height: 11.80 centimetres Weight: 0.45 kilograms Width: 18.60 centimetres

Description:
‘Famille rose’ teapot with a French coat of arms. The teapot has a round squat body and a splayed foot, a spout with a dragon’s head and leaf terminal, and a handle with scrolling end, probably representing the dragon’s tail; the cover is surmounted by a lion knob. On one side is an armorial design with two oval shields in a decorative ring, surrounded by a chain of fleurs-de-lis with a medal, and with a coronet above, on a background of a blue ermine-lined cloak. On the other side are Chinese motifs such as pine, prunus, bamboo, a ‘ruyi’ sceptre, a musical instrument and a fan. Between these designs and on the cover are different plants, baskets of fruit and various emblems, and a red-and-gold diaper border encircles the rim. The design is painted almost exclusively in colours of the ‘famille verte’ with minimal additions of rose-pink.
IMG


Comments:Harrison-Hall and Krahl 1994:The French coat of arms on this teapot has been identified as d’Ailly impaling Beaumanoir, and belongs to Louis Auguste Albert d’Ailly, Duc de Chaulnes (1676-1744). The armorial design is surrounded by the collar of the ‘Ordre du Saint Esprit’ which the Duke received in 1724 (Hobson, 1908, p. 183). The service to which this teapot belonged may have been made for this event or soon after, since this colour scheme went out of fashion early in the Yongzheng period (1723-35) and was replaced by a proper ‘famille rose’ palette with rose-pink dominating over iron-red. The shape of this teapot derives from European silverware. The cover is fastened to the spout and the handle with a silver chain, added in Europe.