Famille Rose is the name given to Chinese export wares decorated with rose-colored enamels, usually in a light and free style of painting. The term was coined by French art historian Albert Jacquemart (1808-1875) towards the end of the 19th century in his seminal book “L’Histoire de la Céramique”. In China this style of decoration was known as Ruan Cai (soft colours) or Fen Cai (powder colours). Famille rose wares created during the Yongzheng period (1723 to 1735) were of the highest quality and were exported to Europe in vast quantities due to the ever growing demand for Chinese and Japanese porcelain. Each side of this hexagonal teapot has double walls, a decorative technique known as reticulation. The inner wall retains the tea, while the external walls are moulded and cut free-hand to create an openwork honeycomb effect with painted flowering branches. Pierced openwork decoration was known in China as lòu diào (which translates to omitting, or leaving out) in reference to the pieces that are cut away from the surface.
