Square teapot with shishi in relief c. 1775 - 1799

Curator: So, what leaps out at you initially about this earthenware teapot? It's dated around 1775-1799. Editor: I have to say, it looks very...grounded. The square shape gives it a feeling of stability and tradition. Like it has secrets to share over warm cups, if you know what I mean? Curator: Indeed. This unique object is known as a "Square teapot with shishi in relief" and resides here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: Ah, shishi! Those guardian lions... always make me think about the unseen forces, protective energies swirling around domestic spaces. Especially here, almost playfully posed on the lid. And that contrast between the brown ceramic and the lighter-colored relief…it’s visually so pleasing. Curator: It's a beautiful example of ceramic artistry, yes. I’m interested in the symbology, actually: Shishi lions often symbolize power, protection, and imperial authority in Chinese culture, positioned, as you pointed out, like guardians. How might this relate to the function of a teapot, a tool for quiet ritual and comfort? Editor: It suggests elevating the mundane, doesn't it? This isn’t just about brewing tea; it's about infusing the everyday with deeper meaning. Every pour becomes an act of mindfulness, almost a ceremony presided over by those protective figures. Perhaps also inviting fortune into one's household, quite literally making one wealthy. Curator: Exactly! And consider the interplay of squares and circles in its design; The very controlled shape of the pot contrasts so strongly with the circular handle and the intricate, almost dreamlike details of the relief, which seem far removed from Euclidean geometry. It adds depth and invites speculation. Editor: I agree, and think that the creator wished to communicate not only that very sense of wealth, but something even more fundamental. The way the decorations feel both integral yet slightly detached also suggests this subtle connection, an interplay between reality and dreams, perhaps. Curator: Wonderful observation! Editor: What an intricate piece to hold, contemplate and sip from, wouldn't you say? Curator: Absolutely! It reminds us how functional objects can also be vessels of culture, belief, and, yes, even dreams.