A Dutch Delft silver-mounted yixing style red earthenware teapot and cover, 1st quarter 18th C. H.: 9 cm - L.: 15 cm  Marked on the base for Ary de Milde, the "De Gecroonde Theepot" workshop, Delft, 1678-1724.  Ary de Milde was one of three Delft potters experimenting with fine red stonewares in imitation of contemporary Chinese teapots imported from Yixing. The other two were Lambertus Cleffius of the 'Metal Pot' pottery and Samuel van Eenhoorn, owner of the 'Greek A' factory. While all three were given permission to sell their own marked red stonewares, nothing is known for certain of the products of these last two, while more is known about the wares of Ary de Milde as they are usually marked with his name and symbol of a running fox in an oval medallion. Unlike the Chinese redwares which were built out of slabs of clay and hand-modelled, de Milde's teapots were thrown on a wheel. The prunus blossom sprigs were moulded and applied separately, closely imitating the Chinese originals. De Milde died in 1708, his son-in-law in 1717, and his daughter Elisabeth closed the pottery in January 1724.