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Hi I hope someone may be able to help me find a date within the calligraphy on this teapot. I believe it dates between late 19th to early 20th Century and often there is a date within the calligraphy. I have looked for hours but struggle to make out the squiggles effectively, I wonder if someone more experienced may be able to spot something? Many thanks.

There is a cyclical date corresponding to 1899 that appears on the face that includes the spout, but I would be very surprised if this teapot was made at any time within 100 years of 1899. Unlike every other enameled teapot I've ever seen inscribed with a date, on yours the date is separated from the artist's signature and includes no mention of the character "year" which almost universally follows a cyclical date. Despite the chips, the gilding is not worn anywhere one might expect to see use (say on the tip of the spout or around easily touched areas of the top edge, but instead fades out precisely in a spot one would not expect to see use. The holes that are meant to receive the teapot's metal handles show no signs of wear from the handles' chafing. But these teapots were made for frequent if not daily use.

Hello Rat thank you for your reply. Yes I did think I saw 1899 to the front but its so difficult to read the script, its nothing like the chart I'm referring to, so nice to have another person confirm. I have no idea what it means if the date is not included within the Poem, I am assuming the Poem is on the back of the Teapot and the front is referring to the teapot itself, I think some of the characters (the first two top right front)refer to it being made and Very Special Item? I had hoped for an Artist name.

You seem to be implying this teapot may be new. Unfortunately I could only attach 3 photos to my post so you could not see the base or inside the teapot which confirm that this was made late 19th early 20th Century and perhaps even 1899. I could only attach 3 photos. I will attach 3 more now. There is plenty of wear on the teapot, the gilding is rubbed and even going black with age and the fritting to the edges is typical of this type of wear at the time suggested I believe. The spout is not chipped thankfully. The enamels are in excellent condition I'll attach a closeup. I don't expect to see daily wear on such a special Teapot it could have been brought back to the UK as a souvenir many years ago or rather treasured and admired by its previous owner. I wish they had never touched it as there are along with the frits and chip to lid some short hairlines to the neck too.
Kind regards,
Jo

true enough, you are holding it and I am only looking at pictures, thanks for posting the new ones. the tongzhi mark applied to the bottom is consistent with late 19th century, but I am still skeptical. there is an artist's name on the side, Yang somebody or other. A better cursive reader than me may recognize the given name. If so it may be possible to compare yours to other examples of this artist's work posted online.

Could it be this author 杨素卿?

yes, most definitely, and compares well with a few other objects posted on line by Yang. I should pay closer attention!

Yes thank you both for your input, I can now see that the three characters would appear to match other work with the same marks. A google translation is something like Yang Suqing? there appears to be zero information on this artist in English so an interesting find. Thanks again for your help really appreciate.

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