Wine pot or teapot decorated in doucai style with the Three Friends of Winter

In terms of their shape and decorative patterns, tea wares of outstanding quality were made during the reign of Kangxi, Yongzheng and Qianlong. During the period of Kangxi (1662-1722), the court devoted much effort to reform the porcelain industry. In the Yongzheng period (1723 – 1735), fencai enamel represented a new breakthrough in overglaze decoration. In addition to pink as the main palette, a series of colours in different tones was applied on the themes of figures, flowers and landscapes. This fine porcelain is an oviform ewer with rounded top, large loop handle and curving spout, the infitting lid having a flattened loop handle. It has a somewhat greenish-toned glaze. Delicately outlined in underglaze blue and completed in overglaze enamels of green, light and deep red and aubergine (enamels) on either side are the decorations consisting of branches of growing pine, bamboo and pink–flowering prunus, representing "The Three Friends of Winter", symbols of courage and integrity. The mark "period of Yongzheng" is written in archaic seal characters on the recessed base. The pair to this piece is now on permanent display at the ceramics gallery of the Percival David Foundation in the British Museum.