A MASSIVE SILVERED-COPPER RITUAL TEAPOT AND COVER, TIBET, 19TH CENTURY
The body raised on a tall flaring foot cast with overlapping petals and surmounted by a narrow neck with a cupped mouth topped by a cover which is attached to the handle by a finely beaded chain. The handle and spout cast in the form of fierce Makara beasts with sharp fangs and thick scales. The body decorated with two shaped panels enclosing to one side an arhat seated on a pedestal holding mala beads, surrounded by a bird, deer, and auspicious objects bearing wan marks, and to the other a monkey riding an elephant within a forest with birds. The ground densely incised with peony blossoms borne on leafy scrolling vines.


Provenance:
From an Austrian private collection.

Condition:
Good condition with wear, casting irregularities, signs of corrosion, minor losses, dents, and scratches.

Weight: 8.7 kg
Dimensions:
Height 58.2 cm


The shoulder and neck are cast with tigers, monkeys, deer, and leopards in high relief against an intricate ground of floral scroll. The neck and body are separated by an incised key-fret band below a beaded rim. The mouth and cover are decorated with Eight Buddhist Emblems (bajixiang) on an incised floral ground. The lid is topped by a bud-shaped finial cast with a foliate design. The foot is cast with overlapping lotus petals.

Elaborate teapots with handles and spouts issuing from the jaws of mythological water monsters (makara) were found throughout the Tibetan cultural area in slightly differing styles. They were used only on special occasions such as weddings or other ceremonies or for an important visitor.


Literature comparison:

Compare a related brass and silver teapot, 30.2 cm, Tibet, 19th century, in the Victoria & Albert Museum, accession number IM.113-1927. Compare a related brass and silver teapot with dragon handle and makara spout, 34.8 cm, Tibet, 19th century, in the Victoria & Albert Museum, accession number IM.154-1921.


Auction result comparison:

Type: Related
Auction: Christie’s Amsterdam, 23 March 2011, lot 159
Price: EUR 6,000 or approx.
EUR 8,100
adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A Tibetan silver and gilt copper tea vessel, 19th century
Expert remark: Compare the related form with similar makara spout.
Note the much smaller size (36.5 cm).


Auction result comparison:

Type: Related
Auction: Galerie Zacke, Vienna, 10 March 2023, lot 525
Price:
EUR 11,700

Description: A parcel-gilt and silver-applied brass ritual teapot, late 18th to early 19th century
Expert remark: Compare the related form with similar makara handles and spout.
Note the much smaller size (31.3 cm).





西藏十九世紀鍍銀銅茶壺

縮頸，杯形壺口；壺蓋上蓮紋鈕，獅面輔首，用一條串珠鉸鏈接到執柄上。執柄和流成兇猛的摩迦儸形，長著鋒利的獠牙和厚厚的鱗片。蓮瓣紋高圈足外翻。壺身飾兩塊開光，一面為坐於手持念珠的羅漢，周圍環繞著鳥、鹿及吉祥紋飾，另一面為林中騎著大象的猴子，滿飾纏枝牡丹紋。


來源：
奧地利私人收藏。

品相：
狀況良好，有磨損、鑄造不規則、腐蝕跡象、輕微損失、凹痕和劃痕。

重量：8.7 公斤
尺寸：
高
58.2 厘米


肩部和頸部鑄有虎、猴、鹿、豹圖案，纏枝花卉紋地。頸部和壺身由串珠邊緣下方的雷紋地紋帶隔開。壺口及蓋上刻有花卉紋地與八吉祥紋。


文獻比較：

比較一件相近的十九世紀西藏鍍銀銅茶壺，30.2 厘米，收藏於維多利亞和亞伯特博物館，館藏編號IM.113-1927。比較一件相近的十九世紀西藏鍍銀銅龍耳茶壺，34.8 厘米，收藏於維多利亞和亞伯特博物館，館藏編號IM.154-1921。


拍賣結果比較:

形制：相近
拍賣：阿姆斯特丹佳士得，2011年3月23日，lot 159
價格：EUR 6,000（相當於今日
EUR 8,100
）
描繪：十九世紀西藏鎏金銀銅茶壺
專家評論：比較相近的摩迦儸形壺口。
請注意尺寸較小(36.5 厘米)。

拍賣結果比較:

形制：相近
拍賣：Galerie Zacke，維也納，2023年3月10日，lot 525
價格：
EUR 11,700

描繪：西藏局部鎏金銀銅茶壺
專家評論：比較相近的摩迦儸形柄和壺口。
請注意尺寸較小(31.3 厘米)。