Yixing Teapots

As the birthplace of tea culture, in recent years, the revival of tea culture in China has extended to the world of collecting, leading to an increasing public recognition of Yixing clay teapots and tea leaves. Particularly, Yixing teapots have shown a strong upward trend at auctions. Worthy of note is that in this wave of collecting enthusiasm, vintage Japanese iron kettles have become sought-after items among some collectors. The Japanese tea ceremony originates from China, and in the past two years, Japanese iron kettles have become new favorites among Chinese collectors, especially those that are over a century old, which have become increasingly rare. Auction records show that in 2009, China Guardian offered several Japanese iron kettles at its "Guardian Seasons 20th Auction" in the "Celestial Celebrations - Timeless Classics: Aged Pu'er and Tea Utensils" session. One of these was a Japanese "Shunkodo-made Treasure Ship Birthday Wishing Iron Kettle," standing 23.5 cm tall, weighing 1,705 g, and with a capacity of 1.5 L. The kettle's design conveys the message of "Inheriting the Eight Treasures, Longevity and Birthday Wishes," showcasing the high level of casting craftsmanship of the Shunkodo period. This kettle is considered one of the classic works of…

We often come across various Yixing teapots but may not know their names. Here, we will introduce some of the most common Yixing teapot shapes.  Source: Chinese Tea Culture Knowledge

A high-quality Yixing purple clay teapot is unforgettable, and it should possess four characteristics: first, it must be beautiful, captivating at first sight; second, it must be appealing upon repeated viewing, never tiring the eye; third, it must have a certain charm, evoking a sense of wonder; and fourth, there must be a connection, making you think about it constantly. Beauty means that it is visually pleasing and stands out, transcending the ordinary in a sea of Yixing teapots, leaving an indelible impression and captivating one’s heart at first glance. It’s important to note that being visually pleasing doesn’t mean being overly flashy, and standing out doesn’t equate to being outlandish. Those artifacts that attempt to grab attention through bizarre shapes or grotesque decorations may have a visual allure, but due to their excessive flamboyance, they fail to be enduringly pleasing to the eye. Being appealing upon repeated viewing means that the teapot can withstand close and repeated inspection, always revealing something new and never becoming tiresome. Some teapots might initially shock with their impact, but further examination reveals poor craftsmanship; what appears alluring today becomes dull tomorrow. Fine Yixing art has spirit and soul. Capturing this elusive essence of…