Pitcher with handle and spout in the shapes of animals

Chinese export wares were divided into types appealing to the Japanese, Southeast Asian, Near Eastern, and European markets. Many were potted according to the design of samples provided by foreign merchants who placed commissions. This piece, marked by its deep body with a tall stem and curved handle, was molded after a Western style of tableware. The lotus band around the rim was rendered in a white floral scroll on a blue ground, which later became the inspiration for blue-and-white designs on European ceramics. The subject matter is divided into two vignettes on a hilly landscape, one representing the scholar enjoying the moon, the other a gentleman preparing to visit friends accompanied by his boy-servant, who holds the instrument qin. This specimen illustrates a skillful blend of Chinese elements with a Western shape.