During the 19th century the art of China and Japan was an important source of inspiration for Western designers and craftsmen. Asian-inspired designs had long been considered especially appropriate decoration for teawares on account of tea’s Chinese origins. This silver teapot, made in England in 1877, takes the shape of a porcelain moonflask, vessels which were first produced in China during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD) and are so-called because of their circular, moon-shaped form. The body of the pot is engraved with a tea drinking scene, set in a landscape of cherry trees and pagodas, while the finial takes the shape of a seated woman in traditional East-Asian dress.
