A YIXING POTTERY ‘LOTUS AND FROG’ TEAPOT, LATE QING TO REPUBLIC China, 1850-1949. Delicately potted as a large lotus leaf with a short stem to the base. The handle formed by two curled lotus stems terminating in blossoms to either side. The similarly modeled cover with a handle in the form of a stem and surmounted by a frog. The interior with a strainer and covered in a finely crackled ivory-white Guan type glaze.

Inscriptions: To one side with a signature within an oval reserve.

Provenance: From a private collection in New York, USA.
Condition: Good condition with minor old traces of use and some wear, which may partially have been skillfully simulated by the potter. Minimal firing irregularities, as well as few minuscule nicks, minor chips, and small losses.

Weight: 187.0 g
Dimensions: Length 16.5 cm (spout to handle)

Expert’s note: Reputedly, the subject of ‘lotus and frog’ in Yixing pottery originally goes back to Chen Mingyuan, one of the most famous and versatile Yixing potters, who was active during the Kangxi/Yongzheng periods (1662-1735). His works included teapots and articles for the scholar's table, many simulating objects from nature such as those in the K.S. Lo Collection, illustrated in The Art of the Yixing Potter, Hong Kong Museum of Art, 1990, pages 139-142.

Auction result comparison: Compare a related Yixing teapot and cover by Chen Mingyuan, also with lotus and frog, at Bonhams Hong Kong in Masterpieces of Yixing Stoneware from the Mr and Mrs Jimmy Sha Collection on 24 November 2013, lot 109, bought-in at an estimate of HKD 2,300,000-3,300,000.

清末民初宜興青蛙荷花茶壺
中國，1850-1949年。精緻捏塑大荷葉茶壺，兩個捲曲的葉莖為執柄，一側一片荷葉另一側一朵荷花。荷葉形壺蓋帶有蓋鈕，壺蓋上有一隻青蛙。壺嘴內有過濾器，覆蓋著象牙色釉，釉面開片。

款識：茶壺執柄一側下方有一橢圓形章。

來源：美國紐約私人收藏。
品相：狀況良好，有輕微舊時使用痕跡和一些磨損。 有輕微燒製不規則性，以及輕微磕損和小缺損。

重量：187.0 克
尺寸：長16.5 厘米 (壺嘴至執柄)

拍賣結果：比較一件相近陳明遠製荷花青蛙宜興茶壺，見香港邦翰思Masterpieces of Yixing Stoneware from the Mr and Mrs Jimmy Sha Collection 2013年11月24日lot 109, 估價HKD 2,300,000-3,300,000。