Square teapot in "fa-lang-ts'ai" enamels with floral decor on I-hsing ware body
K'ang-hsi reign (1662-1722), Ch'ing dynasty
Total height: 11.2 cm, rim diameter: 6.5 x 6.5 cm, base diameter: 7.1 x 7.1 cm

This square teapot has a straight rim with a curved square handle and a spout, flat bottom, short foot ring, and square lid and knob. The base of the square knob is decorated with lotus petals in blue and circled with red dots on white ground. The lid is decorated with monthly rose, chrysanthemum and narcissus. Each side of the plain body reveals one of flowers of each season--including peony, lotus, hollyhock, and plum blossom--done in the close-up "broken stem" manner. The hollyhock section is also set against autumnal begonias, chrysanthemums, and grasses. The dark clay body is slightly rough with impurities of black and yellow sand, including pit marks where the grains fell out. Enameled in blue against white on the bottom is the inscription "Made in the K'ang-hsi Reign", done in standard script within a thick and thin outline square frame.

K'ang-hsi imperial I-hsing enameled tea ware was fired on I-hsing body ware. After select pieces were chosen, they were sent to the Bureau of Manufacture for court painters to decorate with enamel colors and then fired again at low temperatures. This square teapot is painted in such beautiful and refined color glazes. However, the surface is not covered with transparent glaze, making it unique among surviving examples and a rare type of imperial tea ware from the Ch'ing court. This work may be the one mentioned in "Display Archives of Enamel, Glass, I-hsing, and Porcelain Wares".