Export teapot of globular shape with gold mounting

Yixing wares were exported to Thailand since the Ming dynasty. In the Qing dynasty, many small teapots were commissioned by overseas Chinese for brewing gongfu tea.This teapot is made of refined red clay. Its globular body is supported by three boss legs. The highest point of the small spout and the handle rest in the same horizontal plane as the mouth of the teapot to form one of the typical elements of a gongfu teapot. The knob, rim of the lid and the mouth, the tip of the spout and legs are mounted in gold both for decorative and protective purposes. Both in Thai characters, the seal marks "125" and "Thailand" are located on the flange and the base of the teapot, respectively. This item is an outstanding example taken from a group of teapots commissioned by King Rama V of Thailand in 1907.