18th century|The first decorated with applied archaistic designs above reticulated panels decorated with the Three Friends of Winter, the spout coming out of the mouth of a dragon, the handle formed as a scaly dragon tail, with replacement metal lid; the second, of compressed globular, hexagonal form, also decorated with reticulated roundels of flowering prunus to each side, the lid with deer finial resting over a reticulated dome of pine and blossoming prunus, the handle and spout designed as elephants.|Each: 16cm (6 1/8in) wide. (4).|Provenance: the first, thought to have been purchased in 1970 in London; the second, from Lorenz John on 12 May 1988 (collector's notes).Similar teapots to the 'Three Friends' teapot were sold by Sotheby's Hong Kong, 01 June 2017 - 02 June 2017, lot 601; and Woolley and Wallis, 20 May 2015, lot 71. An almost identical teapot to the other teapot was offered in our Hong Kong rooms, 26 May 2014, lot 321.