Information about a Yixing Teapot

[Sirwill]

I bought a Yixing (or so I think) at a local flea market for $4.00
I am trying to get some more information on the pot as far as how old it is, if it is yixing, etc..
I am not great at figuring these sorts of things out because I do not know enough about the pots.
The whole story is on this blog post:

sirwilliamoftheleaf dot blogspot dot com/2010/10/blog-post.html

Thank you in advance for the help!

[bagua7]

I am not expert on Yixings due to the way Chinese tamper with this sort of (almost extinct today) clay.

Yours looks a mixture of various clays but that doesn't mean that is not usable unless it contains lead and other toxic metals or chemicals added during the making of the teapot.

My personal advice: do at least a lead testing on it (you can purchase a test kit either online or at a local paint shop) and boil the teapot in filtered water then smell the water that's contaied within. If it smells like a hot rock it is fine otherwise use it for decoration. In addition taste the water boiled (it needs to be still warm) in the yixing, if it leaves your mouth very dry or with a funny taste then the pot is not recommended for brewing tea.

[Sirwill]

Thank you! I will definitely take that advice.
I have cleaned it out with boiling water and I did not smell anything too out of sorts, but I should be safe!