purchasing a yixing teapot
where are a reputable places on the internet to purchase authentic yixing teapots at a reasonable price? thanks!
May 10th, '06, 23:57
Posts: 43
Joined: Sep 1st, '05, 14:27
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himthatwas
I don't think reasonable / authentic / internet really go hand in hand.
Oh, and I don't have an answer, sorry, but good luck none the less.
Oh, and I don't have an answer, sorry, but good luck none the less.
For tales of the utmost stupidity, the outright thirsty, and the obscenely fickle eccentricities of tea drinkers, transporters, and makers of tea visit:
http://teasire.blogspot.com
http://teasire.blogspot.com
Well, what's reasonable?
Anything you get on the internet's going to be marked up at least 3-4x the original price. That, and it is very difficult to tell whether something is authentic or not (clay wise) over the net. Something that looks like real zisha clay can turn out to be from, say, Taiwan and made with a different kind of clay.
Anything you get on the internet's going to be marked up at least 3-4x the original price. That, and it is very difficult to tell whether something is authentic or not (clay wise) over the net. Something that looks like real zisha clay can turn out to be from, say, Taiwan and made with a different kind of clay.
Generally speaking, I'd advise buying simple designs online. The fancier the design, the less certain you can be about the quality of the pot.
The ones on Yixing.com don't seem particularly good, quality wise. They are fancy, but...
I have never bought a yixing from these guys before, but try these guys
http://www.imperialtea.com/...
Especially the classic contemporary teapot, it looks pretty decent.
What do you want to use the pot for?
The ones on Yixing.com don't seem particularly good, quality wise. They are fancy, but...
I have never bought a yixing from these guys before, but try these guys
http://www.imperialtea.com/...
Especially the classic contemporary teapot, it looks pretty decent.
What do you want to use the pot for?
May 11th, '06, 14:32
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Marlene
I like funalliance. They are more expensive than yixing.com, but Kam is very helpful, and I like the quality. I've ordered a couple of gaiwans and one yixing pot from him and the yixing from funalliance is better than the one I got off of yixing.com. However, yixing.com isn't bad! If you are unable or unwilling to sink 60 bucks into a pot, yixing.com is a good place to start.
Never trust a man who, when left alone in a room with a tea cozy, dosn't try it on.
-Billy Connolly
-Billy Connolly
May 11th, '06, 23:25
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...also, traditionally, an artist or craftsman may design and or make only 1 pot or several. So even authentic yixing can vary greatly in quality and workmanship depending on the craftsman. Sometimes, I understand it is a family affair. So some collectors will get so picky as to only purcahse a particular craftsman's work.
I have seen some real crappy knock offs though. They lack the crispness of authentic yixing clay and actually appeared to be molded ceramic...really bogus. They did not appear to be porous either. A friend of mine did me a "favor" and bought one on ebay at a "real good price"...
Buyer beware.
Generally, if you are going to USE it...KISS...keep it simple stupid. If you want to collect, then beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
I have seen some real crappy knock offs though. They lack the crispness of authentic yixing clay and actually appeared to be molded ceramic...really bogus. They did not appear to be porous either. A friend of mine did me a "favor" and bought one on ebay at a "real good price"...
Buyer beware.
Generally, if you are going to USE it...KISS...keep it simple stupid. If you want to collect, then beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
blah blah blah SENCHA blah blah blah!!!