A YIXING STONEWARE ‘DRAGON AND CARP’ TEAPOT AND COVER, BY WANG YUYING, REPUBLIC PERIOD
China, 1912-1949. Finely potted with overlapping lobes forming raging waves, decorated to one side with a scaly dragon and to the other with a carp, flanked by the C-shaped handle and short spout, the cover with a finial in the form of a lingzhi-shaped cloud above a movable dragon head. The underside of the cover impressed with the artist’s seal.


Inscriptions
: To the underside of the cover, ‘Wang Yuying’.


Provenance
: From a private collection in Zagreb, Croatia.

Condition
: Very good condition with minor wear and surface scratches. The extendable tongue of the movable dragon head is lost.

Weight: 286.5 g
Dimensions: Length 16.5 cm


This intricately potted teapot
depicts the lively imagery of the legendary carp transforming into a dragon after leaping over the ‘Dragon Gate’, symbolizing the success of a candidate in passing the civil servant examination in ancient China and hence onto a path of honor and status.


Literature comparison:

It is widely believed that Shao Daheng (1796-1850) created the 'dragon' teapot, and stone wares of this form subsequently became in vogue. Examples are found in Wang Yiyu's collections, Nanjing, see Gu Jingzhou, Yixing zisha zhenshang, Appreciation of Yixing Stonewares, Hong Kong, 1992, p. 88, pl. 65. Compare a related example in the collection of K. S. Lo, in the Hong Kong Museum of Art ed., Yixing Purple Clay Wares - The K. S. Lo Collection, Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware, Hong Kong, 2002, p. 104, pl. 59. Compare a closely related Yixing teapot by Wu Zhilai, dated to the early 20th century, at Sotheby’s London, 7 April 2004, lot 315.


Auction result comparison:

Type: Closely related
Auction: Bonhams Hong Kong, 27 May 2012, lot 593
Price: HKD 37,500 or approx.
EUR 5,800
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A Yixing stoneware 'dragon' teapot and cover, Republican period, signed Kai Xiang
Expert remark: Compare the closely related form, motif, and execution, also with a movable dragon head. Note the darker color and the size (19.2 cm).




民國宜興龍魚茶壺，王玉英款

中國，1912-1949年。茶壺成花瓣形，一側飾龍紋，一側飾鯉魚，兩側有彎曲執柄和短流。蓋飾如意雲狀鈕。上方有一個可移動的龍頭。


款識：
壺蓋下可見“王玉英”款


來源：
克羅地亞薩格勒布私人收藏。

品相：
狀況極好，有輕微磨損和表面劃痕。活動龍頭的可伸縮的舌頭遺失。

重量：286.5 克
尺寸：長 16.5 厘米


文獻比較：

人們普遍認為，邵大亨（1796-1850）創作了“龍形”茶壺，這種形式的茶壺隨後開始流行。一件南京王玉英收藏茶壺，見顧景舟，《宜興紫砂珍賞》，香港，1992年，頁88，圖65。比較一件相近的羅桂祥藏品，見香港藝術館編，《宜興紫砂陶器 - 茶具文物館羅桂祥珍藏》，香港，2002年，頁104，圖59。比較一件非常相近的二十世紀初期吳雲根宜興紫砂茶壺，見倫敦蘇富比，2004年4月7日，lot 315。


拍賣結果比較：

形制：非常相近
拍賣：香港邦翰斯，2012年5月27日，lot 593
價格：HKD 37,500（相當於今日
EUR 5,800
）
描述：民國墨綠泥魚化龍壺
專家評論：比較非常相近的外形、主題，還有可動的龍頭。請注意深色顏色和尺寸 (19.2厘米)。