A Chinese teadust-glazed teapot and cover, of compressed cylindrical form with an arched handle, the cover surmounted by a ball finial, covered inside and out with an olive-coloured glaze flecked with a fine yellow mist, the base incised with a four-character Yongzheng seal mark, 17.3cm long The teadust glaze is remarkable for its delicate, but unconventional, colour. The yellow developed from the dark green background is from crystallisation of iron and lime silicates in the glaze, caused by reducing the firing temperature. The experimental results include 'eel-skin yellow', 'snakeskin green' and 'speckled yellow', and it is often used to imitate the patina of archaic bronzes. Provenance: From an old prestigious private Irish collection. For a similar item, see the National Palace Museum, Taipei, image number C1B005112N000000000PAD. 茶叶末釉茶壶 《雍正年制》篆书刻款 Condition report: Surface scratches to foot rim.