A fine Yixing stoneware cylindrical 'yang tong' teapot and cover. Modern, signed Gu Jingzhou. Photo courtesy Bonhams.

Set with an elongated spout rising from a slightly recessed base, the stepped shoulders ascending towards a flattened lipped rim, flanked at the side with a pair of overhead copper-coiled handles soldered together and fastened with a metallic hook at the ends, the circular cover hollowed at the centre with an arched dome worked with a pair of oval handles, the base impressed with a four-character zhuanshu seal mark, another two-character zhuanshu oval seal mark towards the underside of the cover, the stoneware of a reddish-brown colour. Including handles: 16.4cm high. (2). Estimate HK$ 3 million - 4 million (€290,000 - 380,000)

Gu Jingzhou (1915 - 1996) was a native of Yixing, and is now considered one of the greatest modern and contemporary masters of Yixing stoneware in China. During the early 1930s he was trained by Chu Ming, a Yixing master of the early Republican period, renowned for his cylindrical teapots known as 'yang tong'. When Gu matured and developed his own style, he was invited by the established connoisseur dealer, Lang Yushu, to make teapots after the styles of Ming and Qing potters in Shanghai. 

The four-character seal mark on the base reads 'manxi tao yi'. Manxi is known as one of the haos used by Gu Jingzhou when he was apprenticed to Chu Ming. However, Gu only began to engrave the seal on his teapots when he became an independent potter after successfully completing his two years training with Chu.

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