Tea drinking became increasingly popular in Europe at the end of the 17th Century, and this traditionally Chinese ewer was used to serve two different varieties of tea. For further discussion and examples see C.J.A. Jorg, Chinese Export Porcelain, Catalogue, pp.54-55, no.4, and the Flagstaff Museum of Tea-ware, a branch museum of the Hong Kong Museum of Art, Catalogue, p.54