SIGNED CHEN MINGYUAN, KANGXI PERIOD (1662-1722)

This water dropper was formerly in the collection of Chen Keli, a major collector of Yixing wares in the early 20th century. In the preface of his catalogue in which this water dropper is illustrated, Chen recalled that he first developed his passion for Yixing wares from the inspiration of his relative, the pre-eminent late-Qing scholar and collector Gong Xinzhao (1870-1949), and that he acquired the bulk of his collection through the dealership of Rongbaozhai.
This vessel bears the seal of Chen Mingyuan, who was active during the Kangxi and Yongzheng reigns (mid-17th to early 18th century). Chen Mingyuan was a very highly regarded ceramic artist, and indeed is generally regarded as one of the finest of all the Yixing potters, and viewed by many as second only to Shi Dabin.