The shape of the Teapot is a crucial factor in determining the capacity of a purple clay teapot.
Some shapes are delicate and elegant, suitable for being made into medium or small size teapots, such as the West Lady, Horizontal Level, and Siting Pavilion shapes, etc.
If they were forcibly made into large or super-large sizes, would they retain their charm?
Some shapes are majestic and imposing, suitable for being made into large or super-large size teapots, such as the Han Dynasty Square, Quadrangular Jade Seal, and Han Dynasty Roof Tile shapes, etc.
If they were forcibly made into small teapots, would they still exude their presence?
It is precisely because of this inherent quality that we can see millions of different shapes, each with its unique characteristics.
Those who love purple clay teapots will certainly encounter this problem: having acquired large, medium, and small teapots, how should one pair and use large and small teapots in daily life to ensure they are all used equally?
Small teapots are convenient to carry and can be taken on business trips in your bag.
They can be brought to Tea houses for morning tea, hidden in office drawers for a quick tea break. They are easy to handle and perfect for individual brewing.
Some people believe that large teapots lack practicality and overlook the wonders of using them.
Regarding the use of large teapots, adhere to the principle of “one session, three teapots; two sessions, three brews.”
“One session, three teapots” means using three teapots each time you Brew tea: a small teapot for primary brewing, a medium-sized teapot for serving, and a large teapot for holding boiling water to rinse the teapots.
Although the large teapot plays a supporting role by holding boiling water for rinsing during tea brewing, after each brewing session, any leftover tea is stored in the large teapot for conditioning, which is cleaned and dried at night. If relatives and friends visit on holidays, the large teapot becomes the star. Additionally, large teapots can also be used for storing water, warming hands, and showing off.
Small teapots are practical, while large teapots have their special uses. If only small teapots are displayed on the shelf, it would seem lacking in visual impact. Just like in a family, having both large and small teapots together creates endless joy!
Some collectors have many teapots and struggle to care for them all. Good teapots need to be conditioned regularly, otherwise, they collect dust. Only teapots that have been conditioned can truly be considered good. Some collectors may hesitate to condition teapots made by famous artists, but that's another story. Having these three teapots on the tea table is just right, allowing them to be conditioned together while brewing tea.
The capacities of purple clay teapots are generally divided into five categories:
1. Teapots 100cc or less are classified as extra-small;
2. Teapots over 100cc but under 200cc can be called small;
3. Teapots over 200cc but under 350cc can be called medium;
4. Teapots over 350cc but under 600cc can be called large;
5. Teapots over 600cc can be classified as super-large.