Teapot in the Shape of a Phoenix

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Teapot in the Shape of a Phoenix
China; Qing dynasty; 18th-19th c.

The lower part of the teapot is transformed into the shape of a stylized bird whose tail becomes a handle, its head and beak a spout. The ring hanging under the neck shows the great skill of the master who carved the whole vessel from a single piece of jade. The fabulous Phoenix covered with magnificently coloured feathers has a chicken's head, a human eye, a snake's neck, the intestines of a locust, a back covered with a turtle's carapace and a fish tail. It symbolizes the empress, strength and beauty and is one of the most common motifs in Chinese art.