Y6 A “Mini” Yixing teapot

Description

Description:  Chinese Yixing teapot of classical plain shape, and very small size. It has metal fittings which are most probably original, made to prevent damages due to the very thin potting. It bears the handwritten name Meng Chen in cursive script. The name is apocryphal, since the teapot is not of Meng Chen’s time. It is possible that this pot is not Yixing but ChaoZhou red clay.

Dating:  20^th century

Size:  9.1 cm from handle to spout

Provenance:  Antiquarian market

References:

Notes:  Hui Mengchen was a potter alive between the Ming Tianqi and Qing Kangxi reigns; that Mengchen-marked teapots were exported far and wide in the past, but that today their use is primarily prevalent in Taiwan and Fujian to brew an unusually strong tea (hence the small serving sizes)