Please help identify and value this zhuni pot

[kongle]

Hi, I am new to zhuni and zisha collecting and really need as much help as possible please and I just started my collection.

I am currently in Guangzhou China and one of my relative's friends has given me an old small pot that I really like. I am guessing it is zhuni by the sound of it. I have a youtube link http://youtu.be/2TrJFL0YHO0 for the sound test


Can anyone confirm whether it is or any other clay? Whether it has any value? Since I got it as a gift if it has any value I'd like to give a similar value gift back to the person who gifted it to me. Unfortunately the previous owner was given it as well and he knows nothing about it since he was not into tea at all.

Here are the photos. Thanks for all your expertise and help on this.

[bagua7]

I am by no means an expert in the field but the sound and colour indicates a modern zhuni pot, probably early 90s.

Monetary value? No idea sorry.

Wait for others' opinions on this though.

[kongle]

Thanks, I think I got similar suggestions. Do you think modern zhu ni are much different than the extinct zhu ni in terms of performance? Do they add artificial chemicals into the modern zhu ni ?? Is it harmful to use modern zhu ni ? Any idea how it compares to the extinct zhu ni?

[bagua7]

I have drank very old puerh from an old zhuni (pre-communist China) and then from a gaiwan and I couldn't really tell the difference as I was thrilled by the tea itself. Probably a tea master or someone highly experienced and sensitive to subtle tea taste changes would be able to pick up the difference, but I am not, and honestly don't care. To me it would be more of a visual experience, old zhuni pots are very pleasing to the eye.

Modern zhu ni made by a reputable potter is achieved by mixing clays, no chemicals are added as far as I know, but there are potters who do add them though as they are allowed to do it without legally exceeding the established limits; of course there are some who ignore that but this practice is not limited to the copying of zhuni but of any kind of yixing teapot.

This whole Yixing pottery business is far too complicated, not even the Chinese now how things are messed up.

In the meantime have a read through the following article if you are interested in how this works:

http://www.terebess.hu/english/yixing1a.html

One last thing, zhu ni clay is not extinct per se, it is from the existing mines but new ones could be open and more zhu ni clay would be available.

Check this out as well:

http://www.teachat.com/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=15208

[Oni]

http://www.yunnansourcing.com/store/pro ... oduct=1183
It is very similar to this product.

[the_economist]

http://www.floatingleavestea.com/index. ... 94a0bf250d

found your pot Kongle, looks strikingly similar.

[kongle]

Yeah, that must be it, .. do you think its safe for everyday use?? Do you think ( i guess will never know ) if they add the addictive in the clay ?? I read they say the Pb(lead) and Cd (Cadmium) in the new clays can be toxic ?? What are you guy's view on this ?? ... and if mine stamping is different to the one on the above website, does that mean mine one could be a fake?

[the_economist]

Nope, stamps are a dime a dozen. I think you can go ahead and use it. If there are strange smells or tastes when you put hot water in it, then you could check back here but otherwise it should be fine.

You might want to prepare the pot first, I generally put all 'new' pots in water and bring it to a simmer/light boil for a good halfhour or so before using them.