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 Yixing in a work is the ultimate test for a Yixing artisan. To meet the standard of being appealing upon repeated viewing, the creator not only needs depth and originality in their design philosophy but also must ensure that every detail is impeccable and every step of the process is executed flawlessly.
Having a certain charm means that the work embodies thoughtfulness, philosophy, subtlety, and wit. High-level ideas, philosophies, subtleties, and wits often share a characteristic of being difficult to articulate. Laozi's “The Dao that can be spoken is not the eternal Dao; the name that can be named is not the eternal name” reveals this characteristic. Tao Yuanming's “Herein lies the true meaning, yet words fail when I try to express it” describes this phenomenon as well. For those thoughts, philosophies, subtleties, and wits that are hard to articulate, people often use the term “wonderful” in a broad sense. Wonder is a realm, a natural charm, an aesthetic experience that makes one feel its inexhaustible beauty and richness. Therefore, if a Yixing teapot can evoke a sense of wonder, it is undoubtedly a masterpiece, an exquisite example of Yixing artistry.
Having a connection means that when you are away from it, you constantly think about it. Its appearance and shadow linger before your eyes. This point is particularly important and represents my latest insight. That teapot you can't stop thinking about is usually a good choice to buy. If you don't buy it, you will likely remain uncomfortable and unhappy. By the time you finally decide to purchase it, someone else may have already bought it.