Hexagonal tea pot with a figure on a dragon's head amid waves c. 1700 - 1749

This hexagonal teapot with a figure on a dragon's head amid waves was made by an anonymous artist. The lack of clear dating invites us to consider the social context of its production and reception. Ceramics and tea drinking were deeply embedded in Chinese culture. The decoration of dragons, waves, and figures would have resonated with cultural and perhaps religious significance for the people using the teapot. In China, tea houses and tea ceremonies played a part in social life and commerce. The presence of this object in the Rijksmuseum speaks to the history of Dutch trade with China and the circulation of luxury goods. Historians of art and material culture are interested in understanding the complex social lives of objects like this. They can look at trade records, shipping manifests, and the inventories of wealthy families.