This Chinese export porcelain teapot, decorated in grisaille with a Juno and peacock motif, is a refined example of 18th-century export wares made for the European market. The grisaille (black and white) enamel painting, accented with gilding, was a popular decorative style influenced by European engravings, which were frequently sent to China as design templates.
The central Juno and peacock scene reflects classical mythology, as Juno (the Roman goddess of marriage and queen of the gods) was often depicted with a peacock, her sacred animal. Such imagery appealed to European tastes, blending neoclassical themes with the exquisite craftsmanship of Chinese porcelain.
