An unusual Chinese Yixing 'chrysanthemum' teapot and coverQing dynasty, 18th centuryOf unusual ogival section, the red clay moulded with leafy chrysanthemums issuing from rocks on either side, the cover with grapes and squirrel finial, 13.5cm wide.清十八世紀 宜興模印牡丹紋茶蓋壺Whilst in the 17th century the drinking of tea in Europe was an expensive luxury used as a medicine as much as a refreshment, in the 18th century it spread more widely amongst the wealthy upper classes of continental Europe. At this time, all the tea drunk in Europe was Chinese, and Yixing teapots like the present lot were a much admired, rare import.Cf. Yixing teapots of different forms, but comparable moulded decoration in the collection of the Victoria and Albert museum, all dated to the Kangxi period, accession nos. FE.29-1970, 729-1853, C.32&A-1947, C.27-1947, many with the chrysanthemum, and the squirrel and grapevines patterns.