The four types of pots—Lotus Seed, Drum Imitation, Duetsphere, and Duet—are very similar and often confused. Let's clarify these four pot styles:
As shown above, the Drum Imitation is generally the shortest among these four pots, with a handle that may have an inverted ear (a small ear-like protrusion at the end). The Lotus seed pot is slightly taller than the Drum Imitation and also has an inverted ear on its handle.
The Duetsphere pot is the tallest of the four, and its handle does not have an ear-like protrusion. The bottoms of the first three pots—Drum Imitation, Lotus Seed, and Duetsphere—are all fitted with a false bottom; looking straight down, there is no visible “foot,” as the body curves directly to the bottom.
The last style, the Duet pot, easily reveals its bottom, which features a “line” or “foot.” This makes it relatively easy to distinguish. Its handle also lacks an ear-like protrusion.
Lotus Seed
The “Lotus Seed” pot shape consists of circles stacked from small to large, symbolizing the Chinese traditional meaning of “successive generations of noble offspring.” Ancestral customs often use homophones for auspiciousness.
The basic characteristics of the Lotus Seed pot are: overall fullness, broad shoulders and neck, balanced proportions, a slightly larger lid, and an arched lid top that echoes the plump body, creating a unified whole. The spout and handle transition smoothly like flowing clouds, giving a harmonious appearance. The base of the handle has a “tail,” or an inverted ear, which allows the ring finger to rest against it when using the pot to avoid burns.
This handle design is crucial for distinguishing between Lotus Seed and Duetsphere pots in the future. However, the overall silhouette of the Lotus Seed pot is not limited to a pure circle and can be slightly taller or shorter.
Drum Imitation
The overall silhouette of the Lotus Seed pot is not strictly confined to a perfect circle, allowing for variations in height. By the mid-Qing dynasty, the ancient-style pot appeared, largely following the handle design of the Lotus Seed but with a flattened round body, incorporating the concept of a “drum” into the overall form.
Later, some changes were made to the ancient-style pot, removing the handle design. According to online sources, this was likely due to the fact that for pots larger than 400cc, only one finger could fit inside the handle when filled with water, making it difficult to grip. Removing the handle design allowed for more space inside the handle, accommodating two or more fingers and improving the grip. This modification also harmonized the flow of lines between the handle and the body, enhancing both the balance and aesthetic appeal.
Duetsphere
“Duetsphere,” meaning “stacked spheres.” The Duetsphere pot was created by Shao Daheng. It relies on the arrangement of parts and the overall contour to express a combination of multiple spheres, appearing as if drawn with a compass. The body and the knob are spherical, while the lid, spout, and handle are semi-spherical. The lid serves as a transition between the two. The overall design, though simple and static, conveys a sense of dynamic movement and strength. It is full and solid, simple yet profound.
The Duetsphere pot is a typical geometric traditional round pot and one of the most outstanding representative styles of purple clay pots. Its basic shape consists of the knob, lid, and body arranged in small, medium, and large spheres, with the body being the largest sphere and the lid the smallest, resembling a smaller sphere stacked atop a larger one, hence the name “Duetsphere Pot.”
In the Celebrity Works Exhibition Hall of the Yixing Ceramic Museum, there are three Duetsphere pots on display: Daheng Duetsphere, You Ting Duetsphere, and Shouzhen Duetsphere. These three differently styled “Duetsphere” pots were crafted by three renowned potters in the history of purple clay, representing different periods and styles.
Duet
The Duet pot is a taller version derived from the Lotus Seed. Whether the Duet or Duetsphere came first is unknown. The evolution of the Duet pot is diverse, with different expressions. Most Duet pots focus on presenting a tall and upright shape, not restricted to a perfect circle, allowing for a more natural expression. Duet pots rarely feature a handle design.