When the Purple Clay Teapot body has been formed and still has a certain degree of moisture, finely ground, raw or fired, differently colored purple Clay particles are laid or scattered on the wet body surface. Then, using tools, these particles are pressed into the surface layer of the body. This process is called the “laying sand decoration” of a purple clay Teapot.
Laying sand only affects the surface of the teapot and primarily serves as an embellishment to create a striking contrast between the sand points and the color of the body after firing. It does not increase the strength of the body, alter its shrinkage rate, reduce deformation, or improve the success rate of finished products.
The quality of the purple clay used for laying sand is generally higher than or equal to that of the clay used for the body. If it is too soft, it can cause “dragging tails” during production and, due to greater shrinkage upon firing, may not integrate well with the body material.