I once saw a so-called “expert” on TV imparting his experience, saying that if you remove the lid of a purple Clay Teapot and place it upside down on the table, and the spout, rim, and handle are in line, then it's a good teapot (this has misled many enthusiasts; this is related to the height of the spout and handle, not directly related to the quality of the teapot). If we were to select purple clay teapots based on this criterion, many national-level artisans and masters would be out of work. Don't be misled by such so-called experts!
Misguided Tip Two
Regarding the alignment of the three points. Some people strictly adhere to this standard and use a ruler to measure, deeming the teapot faulty if there's even a half-millimeter difference. This is overly nitpicky and would drive the artisans making purple clay teapots to the brink of madness.
Misguided Tip Three
Believing that when Pouring tea, not a single drop should flow down along the spout. A severe drip is unacceptable, but being too extreme is also nitpicking. Many teapots cannot prevent dripping due to their overall shape (for example, the Shipiao or Hengshui styles), so a comprehensive evaluation is necessary. Don't dismiss the value of a piece just because of a slight drip, as that would mean all Purple Clay Teapot makers would have to change professions.
Misguided Tip Four
When pouring tea, the tea should not flow from the rim. In reality, many purple clay teapots can't meet this requirement. Meeting this standard doesn't necessarily make it a good teapot, and a slight drip doesn't automatically make it a poor one. Apart from personal usage habits (some people tilt the teapot to 90 degrees when pouring, which forces all the water towards the lid, making it unlikely for the lid to remain dry), the different shapes of the teapot also play a direct role.
Misguided Tip Five
Some people are very concerned about the gap between the lid's rim and the teapot's mouth, and they always shake the lid side-to-side when selecting a purple clay teapot. If the lid can move even a tiny bit, they immediately dismiss the teapot's value, hoping that the lid will not budge at all. Consider what would happen if there was no gap between the lid's rim and the teapot's mouth—wouldn't it be troublesome if even a tiny bit of tea leaf blocked the mouth, making it impossible to close the lid or take it off?
Misguided Tip Six
Believing that pressing the air hole to control the flow and stop of the tea is an indicator of a good teapot. While this is something many enthusiasts strive for, in actual use, few people control the flow of tea by pressing the air hole. It is quite inconvenient, and many teapots don't have an accessible air hole, like the Shipiao style, which doesn't allow for the air hole to be pressed.
Misguided Tip Seven
Believing that if water poured over the teapot dries quickly, it must be made of high-quality material. The coarseness or fineness of the clay also plays a role. Good material becomes lustrous after being nourished with tea water, a fact that long-time enthusiasts should understand!
Misguided Tip Eight
Believing that fully handmade purple clay teapots are better than semi-handmade ones. Fully handmade production is a traditional technique that greatly tests the artisan's skills, while semi-handmade purple clay teapots also produce many fine works. Due to the shape of many teapots, molds are often used, followed by hand finishing! A beautiful teapot requires not only exquisite craftsmanship but also a sense of spirit and essence!