An Yixing stoneware teapot and cover. Qing dynasty, signed She Weng, incised by Nan Weng. Photo Bonhams

The curved and elongated conical-shaped body rising from a slightly recessed base, flanked by a short spout and an extended 'C'-shaped handle, surmounted by a domed cover and knop, a square seal mark at the lower end of the handle, another circular seal mark at the base, fitted box. 12.7cm high. (3). Lot 605. Sold for HK$ 2.2 million

From a distinguished Asian family collection

Notes: Mei Tiaoding (1839-1906), who lived during the Daoguang to Guangxu reigns, was a native of Cixi, Zhejiang. Adopting the style name Youzhu, pseudonym Nanweng, he was a calligrapher of the late Qing dynasty, trained under the two Wangs (Wang Xizhi and Wang Xianzhi) and noted for his elegant style. Mei had a special passion for zisha teapots, often commissioning famous masters to create the wares for him to engrave the inscriptions himself. Most of his marks show the characters 'Nanweng'. Yunshi was a potter of the Qing dynasty with unknown family name and life dates. This 'Qinquan' ware was potted by Yunshi with inscriptions engraved by Mei Tiaoding. For a similar 'langzhui' ware in the Shanghai Museum Collection which has 'Yunshi' and 'Linyuan' marks with Mei Tiaoding's engraved inscriptions, see Liang Baiquan and Gu Jingzhou ed.,Yixing zisha, Yixing Purple Clay Ware, Hong Kong, 1990 p. 140-141. 

Illustrated 出版: Ho Chien, Purple Clay. Wellington Wang's Collection of Yixing Wares, Taipei, 1993, p.77. 
何健，《紫泥 王度宜興珍藏冊》，奇園國際藝術中心，台北，1993，頁77。

Bonhams. 27 May 2012 4 p.m. Hong Kong. Yixing stoneware and scholar's objects from private collections