In recent years, the Zisha auction market has been thriving with record-breaking prices, and many people are purchasing Zisha Teapots as investments. Due to the existence of a professional title system, even contemporary teapots have potential for appreciation in value.
For example, if I buy a Teapot made by an artisan, and two years later they gain a higher professional title, the value of the teapot naturally increases. However, this has also led to a chaotic market filled with teapots made by proxy.
Many of those who produce teapots by proxy have multiple sets of seals, and their works can be found in all shapes and forms on the market: floral, square, ribbed, odd-shaped teapots, as well as various types of Clay and craftsmanship.
If we think about it carefully, is this possible? Those who know more about Zisha teapots understand that each artisan specializes in their own craft. Apart from exceptional talents like Gu Jingzhou, most artisans only make teapot shapes they are skilled at.
In the proxy circle, everyone becomes a Gu Jingzhou, capable of producing any type of teapot. They claim their clays are original mine, but what you end up buying is often left to fate.
A Zisha teapot is a Tea utensil, ultimately meant for use! It's not bad to appreciate the artisan's professional titles, and there are many artisans who genuinely focus on making fine teapots. However, when enjoying a teapot, one should not overly pursue professional titles or hope for appreciation in value. The focus should be on the teapot itself and the process of enjoying it.
Newcomers should not skip levels when enjoying teapots.
As the saying goes, “You cannot become fat by eating just one meal.” Some enthusiasts have just paid their “tuition,” and they haven't yet fully grasped the intricacies of practical teapots, but then they start thinking about acquiring an antique teapot.
Antique doesn't necessarily mean high-quality, and nowadays, counterfeiting techniques are so advanced that non-professionals cannot tell the difference. Not everyone can achieve professionalism, which involves having the ability to authenticate antiques.
Even experienced artisans who have been making teapots for decades do not claim to be able to authenticate antique teapots. Often, scientific technology is used to assist in authentication, which is difficult for the average person to achieve.
Another group of enthusiasts, after buying a few teapots, start thinking about collecting teapots made by highly-titled artisans or masters. Without the ability to discern authenticity, they can easily fall into traps, becoming representatives of “rich fools.”
Therefore, newcomers should not try to leapfrog ahead; instead, they should proceed step-by-step, ensuring a solid foundation.
Create a file for your teapots
Many enthusiasts continue to buy more and more teapots, filling their shelves with a dazzling array of fine and precious teapots. When guests come over, they enjoy tea and conversation, and they might look at the teapots and exchange insights on enjoying them.
However, our memories of things tend to fade over time, making it difficult to remember the origin and price of each cherished teapot in detail.
Therefore, it is recommended to create a file for each cherished teapot, including basic information such as name, capacity, clay type, professional title, and price. More detailed files could include personal thoughts and reviews of the teapot.