Kettle. China, Qing dynasty, ca .1890

Teapot; China, Qing dynasty, ca. 1890.
Porcelain with enamelled decoration.
Measurements: 21 x 20 cm (diameter).
Chinese teapot in porcelain enamelled in cobalt blue on white, combining vegetal and figurative patterns that are arranged in the superior zone of the cylindrical body of the teapot. The profusion of ornamentation stands out on the front of the piece, where the presence of various figures accompanied by animals can be seen.
The Ching or Qing Dynasty, also known as the Manchu Dynasty, was the last of the Chinese imperial dynasties. Founded in what is now northeastern China by the Manchu clan in 1644, its rule ended with the abdication of the last emperor in 1912 by the Xinhai Revolution and the establishment of the Republic of China, all the while maintaining the capital at Beijing. In general, traditional art forms flourished in many different and varied levels and formats, thanks to a highly educated upper class, a thriving publishing industry of books, pamphlets, etc., really prosperous cities and the Confucian emphasis on cultivating the mind. While the Emperors themselves were often outstanding artists (especially in painting), the best work was done by scholars and the urban elite in calligraphy and painting, both areas of great interest to the court. Even cuisine was elevated as a source of cultural pride in this period, taking elements from the past and working on them to reach new heights.