A Chinese melon-shaped teapot and cover, Kangxi or Yongzheng

Code: 270211

An attractive Chinese export teapot and cover of compressed 'melon' shape with moulding to the body, decorated in underglaze blue, and dating from the late Kangxi or Yongzheng period. Each side of the teapot is panted with a landscape scene with a figure crossing a bridge and looking across a lake towards mountains and a walled town in the distance.  The lid is decorated with two panels of a pavilion in a landscape.  Height to top of lid 11cm (4.3"), width from tip of spout to handle 14cm (5.5").

Date: Kangxi or Yongzheng c1710-30

Condition: The body of the pot has a long, curved, hairline which runs near the foot below the spout.  This has been consolidated and is not easily seen over most of its length, but is visible at the ends which are stained.  There is a missing piece of glaze at the rim, which may be a firing fault.  The glaze on the handle is fritted near the base on one side.  There is some glaze discolouration along one edge of the spout from firing. There are several firing cracks inside the pot, but these are not visible from the outside.  Please see our photos where we have tried to show these faults.