Although its unusual shape is probably copied from Middle Eastern water pipes, or kendi, and they are sometimes described as nursing bottles, colorful porcelains, like this one, may have been bought by Europeans merely as decorative objects. 

In the late 17th century, aristocratic European taste moved away from imported blue and white porcelains, and people were willing to pay more for the polychrome enamels exported to Jingdezhen.

Introduced into Europe during the 17th century, tea drinking was a popular custom by the middle of the 18th century. Tea, spices, silks, and porcelain made up most of the cargoes of the sailing ships of the Dutch, English, Danish, Swedish, and Portugese East India Companies. Wealthy Europeans demanded more varied and colorful tea wares than the familiar blue and white Canton.

In the late 17th century, aristocratic European taste moved away from imported blue and white porcelains, and people were willing to pay more for the polychrome enamels exported to Jingdezhen.

In the late 17th century, aristocratic European taste moved away from imported blue and white porcelains, and people were willing to pay more for the polychrome enamels exported to Jingdezhen.

Introduced into Europe during the 17th century, tea drinking was a popular custom by the middle of the 18th century. Tea, spices, silks, and porcelain made up most of the cargoes of the sailing ships of the Dutch, English, Danish, Swedish, and Portugese East India Companies. Wealthy Europeans demanded more varied and colorful tea wares than the familiar blue and white Canton.

In the late 17th century, aristocratic European taste moved away from imported blue and white porcelains, and people were willing to pay more for the polychrome enamels exported to Jingdezhen.

In the late 17th century, aristocratic European taste moved away from imported blue and white porcelains, and people were willing to pay more for the polychrome enamels exported to Jingdezhen.

In the late 17th century, aristocratic European taste moved away from imported blue and white porcelains, and people were willing to pay more for the polychrome enamels exported to Jingdezhen.

In the late 17th century, aristocratic European taste moved away from imported blue and white porcelains, and people were willing to pay more for the polychrome enamels exported to Jingdezhen.