{"product_id":"hubei-agate-double-stacked-teapot","title":"Hubei Agate Teapot With Bird Lid | Tea For Two","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHubei Agate is an expressive carving material known for its considerable natural variation in colour, translucency and pattern. This unusual Chinese Agate carving displays smoky lavender, mauve, grey, plum, deep brown and red-orange areas, with the changing character of the stone incorporated directly into its botanical details and sculptural form.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe design features two individually carved Hubei Agate teapots stacked together as one composition. The smaller upper teapot can be completely removed to reveal the opening beneath, while its separately carved lid is topped with a miniature bird. Flowers, leaves, handles and spouts have been carefully worked throughout the piece, creating detail from almost every viewing angle. An especially unusual example for collectors of Hubei Agate, Chinese stone carving, decorative teapots and intricate lapidary work. 🫖🫖🐦✨\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e⚖️ Weight: 533gms\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e📏 Size: 8.6cm x 11.1cm x 9cm\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e🌎 Source: Hubei, China\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e🔮 \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAgate: The Tapestry Stone of Universal Harmony \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e🤍 All Chakras\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eApparently one crystal teapot wasn’t enough. Now we have two teapots in one. 🤣\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis extraordinary piece came from the same vendor as our other Hubei Agate teapots, and if you’ve read their story, you’ll know this was the little table where Niome and I somehow spent hours. There wasn’t an enormous amount of stock to work through, but what was there was beautifully carved. It really was one of those wonderful quality-over-quantity finds.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAnd this piece takes the teapot carving to another level.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHand carved from Hubei Agate, the design features two individual teapots stacked together to create one complete composition. The larger lower teapot forms the base, decorated with beautifully carved flowers, leaves and botanical details. Sitting directly above it is a second, smaller teapot, complete with its own handle, spout, floral carving and removable lid.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAnd sitting right at the top of that lid is the sweetest little carved bird. 🐦\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhat makes the construction so clever is that the smaller teapot can actually be removed, revealing the opening of the larger teapot beneath. The little bird lid can then be removed separately from the upper teapot. There are essentially multiple layers to discover, and you really appreciate the work involved once you begin taking the piece apart.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe natural Hubei Agate is just as interesting as the carving itself. The lower section moves through smoky lavender, mauve, grey and earthy translucent areas, while the upper teapot becomes considerably darker, with deep plum, brown and rich red-orange running through the stone. In sunlight, some of those warmer sections become beautifully translucent.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRather than working against those natural changes, the carver has used them. Flowers emerge from contrasting sections of Agate, the upper spout picks up a fiery orange-red area, and even the little bird has its own variation within the stone. Turn the piece around and there is something different to notice from almost every angle.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTeapots hold a lovely place within Chinese culture, closely associated with hospitality, gathering, conversation and the sharing of tea. Birds also appear extensively throughout Chinese decorative arts, where different species and compositions can carry their own symbolism. While we can’t identify the little bird here with certainty, its inclusion adds another traditional decorative element to an already wonderfully detailed carving.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFor us though, this one really comes back to craftsmanship.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe had already spent far too long questioning whether we were actually crystal teapot people. Finding a teapot sitting on top of another teapot apparently answered the question for us. 😂\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTurns out we are. 🫖🫖🐦\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Divine Crystal Heart","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67697133224160,"sku":null,"price":670.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0566\/0871\/9000\/files\/HubeiAgateTeapotWithBirdLidTeaForTwo1.jpg?v=1790919345","url":"https:\/\/divinecrystalheart.com.au\/products\/hubei-agate-double-stacked-teapot","provider":"Divine Crystal Heart","version":"1.0","type":"link"}