An Yixing stoneware 'archaic' teapot and cover. Signed Xu Youquan. Photo courtesy Bonhams. 

Of elongated melon-like form, the fluted body of alternating inward and outward vertical ribs joining upwards to a triangular barbed rim, the cover with similar design further surmounted by a rounded knop in the form of a bean, flanked on the sides with a cylindrical pointed spout and the 'C'-shaped handle protruding from the head of a mythical beast, all raised atop three cylindrical feet, the base carved with a two-character kaishu potter's signature, the stoneware of a dark brown colour with greyish speckles. 12.5cm wide. Estimate HK$ 400,000 - 600,000 (€38,000 - 57,000)

Xu Shiheng, whose designation or hao is Youquan, was active during the Wanli period, and had been taught by Shi Dabin. Little is known about Xu Shiheng and only a brief account was mentioned by Zhou Gaoqi (1596-1645) in his book, Collections of Yangxian Teapot: Masterworks, that Shiheng's father invited Shi Dabin to his house as he was a great admirer of his works. When Shi Dabin was challenged and forced to use a lump of clay to make a cow from it, regardless of Shi's hesitation, Shiheng took the clay from him and turned the clay into a cow with one leg bent on the ground. This amazed Shi Dabin, who subsequently became his supervisor.

For a very similar teapot dated to the early seventeenth century, also bearing the signature of Xu Youquan in the K. S. Lo collection, now in the Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware (fig.1), see Hong Kong Museum of Art ed. Yixing Purple Clay Wares - The K.S.Lo Collection, Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware, Hong Kong, 2002, p.59, pl.8; for another in the Chen Keli collection (1908- after 1985), see Lai Fulai and Chen Keli, Yangxian shaqi jingpin tupu (An Illustrated Collection of Fine Stonewares of Yangxian), Taipei, 1985, pl.6; and another one sold at Sotheby Parke Bernet, Hong Kong, 24 May 1978, lot 317. Compare also a waterpot and cover signed by Xu Youquan, also from the Mr and Mrs Jimmy Sha collection, sold at Bonhams Hong Kong, 27 May 2012, lot 552.

Bonhams. MASTERPIECES OF YIXING STONEWARE FROM THE MR AND MRS JIMMY SHA COLLECTION. Hong Kong. 24 Nov 2013 13:30 CST