A CHINESE EXPORT ALLEGORICAL TEAPOT AND A COVER circa 1740-45

emblematic of 'Earth,' and painted on one side with Ceres seated beside the naked Bacchus, Cybèle and Flora behind them in her chariot drawn by two lions on a tether held by Cupid waving a stick, and the reverse with five cupids filling baskets of flowers in a hilly landscape, the cover with a Chinese river landscape.  The handle repaired and the cover probably married.

Philip Suval, Inc., New York

Cover possibly married, minor wear to gilding and border, its knop with a pinprick chip to the tip; the top of the handle with a sealed crack through the firing hole and the left side of the handle with a restored chip.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

See the notes to lot 200 and to the preceding plate. 

It is interesting that the cover to this and the two teapots in lots 200 ('Air') and 205 ('Fire'), while seemingly not original, are at least contemporary, and the other two covers are identically decorated, prompting the question of whether they actually may be original.  It is possible that no instructions were provided for the decoration of the covers to these European-subject teapots, and the Chinese painter supplied a scene with which he was familiar, encircling it on the rim with the same grisaille, brown and gilt lines as encircle the neck of the teapot. 

An identical teapot, on which the cover appears to be similarly decorated to the present cover, is illustrated by Williamson, pl. XXIV (top, right).  Another was sold at Sotheby's in London on May 14, 1996, lot 125.