YOKODE KYŪSU, Ko-Imari, blue-and-white porcelain with paulownia design, Edo Period（1603–1867 CE）

An Edo-period Ko-Imari side-handled teapot for sencha, exceptionally small enough to sit in the palm, decorated with underglaze-blue paulownia motifs on white porcelain. The well-proportioned body is fitted with a short spout and a side handle, and a perforated strainer is set inside. The paulownia motif, painted in soft cobalt on the white surface, continues onto the lid, giving the piece an elegant bearing that echoes the literati taste of early sencha culture. The interior of the footring is unglazed, with concentric turning marks remaining, revealing workmanship characteristic of Ko-Imari. There is a chip on the lid rest inside the rim and some tea staining in places, but overall the condition is good. Tea staining is partly a matter of preference; because it can become mottled on porcelain, a single light bleaching may be used to improve its appearance if desired.