Hello, TeaChat members!
I am relatively new (one year now) to the world of loose leaf tea. I've been drinking lots of black in the morning, young pu'erh in the afternoon, and usually finish the day out with some good milk oolong in the evening. Anyway, I've been collecting some pots from various sources and have found some pieces that have been very artistic and neat to me.
Now, my disclaimer: I've been very bad at handling teapots in recent weeks. I've been doing this for the last year now and I've not broken a single tea ware. However, recently, I've dropped two lids of two very beautiful teapots which have left them chipped around their inner rim. Not a big deal, but these were extremely well crafted pots. And I really enjoyed them more when they were whole. It has been a huge learning experience. My lover actually started the trend. She dropped my young pu'erh teapot's lid once and chipped it. And then she did the same to my glass teapot and broke the knob off the top. I gave her a little bit of grief, so now she can give it right back! Anyway, through this, I've learned that I need to have a more proper setup to where I can be less rushed and more meditative about the process in order to take better care of my current and future teapots. *giggle*
I've seen some posts where some teapots have had their entire lids crack all the way across. So I feel blessed in not having that experience...yet!
Anyway, this post isn't so much about tea, and me, as much as it is about asking for help identifying possibly through a photo, the type of material that was used in this particular teapot:
http://i603.photobucket.com/albums/tt11 ... kpot01.jpg
http://i603.photobucket.com/albums/tt11 ... kpot03.jpg
May not be everyone's ideal teapot, but I really like it, and am trying to get a better idea since this is my first "red clay" teapot. Happy tea'ing!
Aaron
Re: A new Yixing journey! And ID help on clay?
Hi Aaron,
A mix of various clays, most likely not Yixing.
Personally, I'd test that pot for any traces of lead:
http://www.leadinspector.com/product/index.html
And discharge it for tea consumption if lead is present.
Best of luck,
Gerard.
A mix of various clays, most likely not Yixing.
Personally, I'd test that pot for any traces of lead:
http://www.leadinspector.com/product/index.html
And discharge it for tea consumption if lead is present.
Best of luck,
Gerard.
Re: A new Yixing journey! And ID help on clay?
Great idea, Gerard! I just ordered the kit and will test out all of my teapot acquisitions from now on regardless of the source. I'll report back on this particular teapot when the kit arrives. And thank you!
Aaron
Aaron
Re: A new Yixing journey! And ID help on clay?
May I also state that this teapot was acquired in Suzhou, China in 2001. That's why I was asking. The source of the teapot was close enough to Yixing that I thought it possibly had a chance at being a true Yixing teapot.
Re: A new Yixing journey! And ID help on clay?
There are many counterfeits in China whether it is Inner Mongolia or Jiangsu.
http://eat.gd.sina.com.cn/news/2010-06-02/4388.html
http://itools.com/tool/google-translate ... translator
http://eat.gd.sina.com.cn/news/2010-06-02/4388.html
http://itools.com/tool/google-translate ... translator
Re: A new Yixing journey! And ID help on clay?
Okay, since I apparently have been fooled by some clay types, curious if maybe this looks like zisha? And can anyone ID the mark?
Re: A new Yixing journey! And ID help on clay?
I am almost embarrassed by my start to yixing. I want you to all know, I spent some dollars on some really cool looking pieces of artwork that were not real yixing and tested for lead. And I followed bagua7's lead testing advice. I am so glad that I did.
I only own three teapots now. And they all make a mean cup of tea. I recently ordered a zhu ni teapot from sample tea and a "factory 1" teapot from one of our own teachat members who purchased it previously from sample tea. Anyway, I am coughing up more money for some teapots that are made from older mud and I look forward to partaking in some tea discussions here again.
The new teapots are 60ml and 85ml respectively. I do not have any teapots below the 100ml range in my current possession. Hopefully, they'll arrive by the end of the week.
Glad to be back! Cheers!
I only own three teapots now. And they all make a mean cup of tea. I recently ordered a zhu ni teapot from sample tea and a "factory 1" teapot from one of our own teachat members who purchased it previously from sample tea. Anyway, I am coughing up more money for some teapots that are made from older mud and I look forward to partaking in some tea discussions here again.
The new teapots are 60ml and 85ml respectively. I do not have any teapots below the 100ml range in my current possession. Hopefully, they'll arrive by the end of the week.
Glad to be back! Cheers!
Re: A new Yixing journey! And ID help on clay?
The Jin Zhong or golden bell teapot currently listed.
Aaron
Aaron
Re: A new Yixing journey! And ID help on clay?
I got the same zhuni teapot from sample tea 2 weeks ago.heliospace wrote:The Jin Zhong or golden bell teapot currently listed.
Aaron
My oolongs turn out fantastic from it.
I prewarm the teapot under the faucet....letting the running water turn hot over the teapot......then do your normal steeping routine.
I hate to crack this teapot like the others.
Re: A new Yixing journey! And ID help on clay?
nice shape/craftsmanshipheliospace wrote:The Jin Zhong or golden bell teapot currently listed.
Aaron
Re: A new Yixing journey! And ID help on clay?
Make sure you run the hot water inside the teapot as well or you risk cracking it if the weather is cold, i.e. wintertime...and especially if it is a thin-walled one.olateone wrote:I prewarm the teapot under the faucet....letting the running water turn hot over the teapot......