A PARCEL-GILT AND SILVER-APPLIED BRASS RITUAL TEAPOTTibet, late 18th to early 19th century. The body tapering towards the base, surmounted by a short cylindrical neck and domed cover with bud finial, flanked by an incised dragon handle and an outward-curving spout issuing from the jaws of a makara, finely worked with gilt and silver details, the cover attached to the body by a chain.Provenance: From an old private collection in Rhineland, Germany, assembled between the 1960s and 2007. Austrian private collection, acquired from the above. A label to the base ‘Ausguß: F. d. Wasser-Elefanten (Makara) Henkel: Drachen M.’Condition: Good condition with traces of use and old wear, small losses and dents here and there, few small nicks, and light scratches.Weight: 1,386 gDimensions: Height 31.3 cmElaborate teapots with handles in the form of dragons and spouts issuing from the jaws of mythological water monsters ('makara') were found throughout the Tibetan cultural area in slightly differing styles. They were used only on special occasions such as weddings or other ceremonies or for an important visitor.Literatureparison:Compare a related brass and silver teapot, 30.2 cm, Tibet, 19th century, in the Victoria and Albert Museum, accession number IM.113-1927.pare a related brass and silver teapot with dragon handle and makara spout, 34.8 cm, Tibet, 19th century, in the Victoria and Albert Museum, accession number IM.154-1921.Auction resultparison:Type: RelatedAuction: London, 10 May 2022, lot 466Price: GBP 8,925 or approx.EUR 11,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writingDescription: A fine silver and bronze teapot and cover, Tibet, 18th centuryExpert remark:pare the closely related form of the handle and spout, and size (33 cm). Note the fine decoration to the body and cover.Auction resultparison:Type: RelatedAuction: Christie’s Amsterdam, 23 March 2011, lot 159Price: EUR 6,000 or approx.EUR 8,100 adjusted for inflation at the time of writingDescription: A Tibetan silver and gilt copper tea vessel, 19th centuryExpert remark:pare the related form and spout. Note the slightly larger size (36.5 cm).西藏局部鎏金銀銅茶壺西藏，十八世紀末至十九世紀初。壺直頸弦唇，豐肩，弧腹，平底，寶塔形圓頂蓋，蓮花蓋鈕，雕龍執柄，摩迦儸形流，精美的鎏金和銀色細節，壺蓋用鉸鏈固定。