This Chinese porcelain teapot is decorated with the technique known as ‘powder’ or ‘soufflé’ blue. The name originates from the mottled appearance of the glaze once the porcelain is fired, but also refers to the way in which the glaze was applied. The cobalt blue oxide is blown onto the unglazed porcelain surface through a hollow bamboo tube, covered at the opposite end with a piece of gauze, which evenely distributes the ground colour. The white reserves on this teapot were covered with paper panels during the blowing process and then hand-painted with depictions of auspicious objects.
