Bad Yixing Teapots?

[hopeofdawn]

Speaking for myself, I would also have to say that even if I were given the chance to own a masterpiece yixing pot, and somehow magically had the hundreds/thousands of dollars to pay for it--I'm not sure I would, simply because I would be far too afraid of damaging it to actually use it! And as an artist, I just can't see owning such a beautiful teapot, only to have it collect dust and never be used for brewing tea ...

Of course, if I were a gazillionaire, I would probably not be nearly as worried about it ...

[JBaymore]

Exceptional objects can and often do make life events more special. It is a true shame to not have the opportuinity to experience the level of artistry and craftsmanship that such works posess and bestow upon human endeavors, simply because they are economically "valuable".

Such a view puts the yardstick of money ahead of the yardstick of quality of life. If you already have made a decision (and can afford) to own truly good works, it is kind of a shame not to experience them at what they are intended to accomplish.

I have pieces that are very valuable...... they do get used. They were meant to be used. They are only "complete" when being used. They get used with the great respect and care they deserve. Such attention to detail focuses the mind on the total experience and the moment. (A very "Zen" thing there.)

In some ways, nothing sadder than an exquiste Chawan sitting sealed in a glass museum case for all time.

I have some such Chawan in museums, and sometimes I have pangs of regret about them and their fate. They never will be what they were intended to be.

best,

..............john

[wyardley]

Exceptional objects can and often do make life events more special. It is a true shame to not have the opportuinity to experience the level of artistry and craftsmanship that such works posess and bestow upon human endeavors, simply because they are economically "valuable".

Such a view puts the yardstick of money ahead of the yardstick of quality of life. If you already have made a decision (and can afford) to own truly good works, it is kind of a shame not to experience them at what they are intended to accomplish.

I'm not disputing that teapots fully handmade by craftspeople at very high levels are worth owning if you have the means. But I think the current demand from wealthy Chinese is starting to increase both scarcity and price, so this kind of pot is a lot more out of reach of most people than, say, 5 years ago. Also, the increased scarcity and the prevalence of fakes in China means that most people, whether in China or overseas, whether in Yixing or not, cannot have a high degree of confidence that they're getting what they're paying for. And, I think someone buying this level of pot as their first or second teapot would be likely to make mistakes, so, I think there's some sense in paying some tuition with cheaper teapots before investing thousands of dollars in a single teapot.

I guess my point is, while there is a lot of bad stuff out there, there are teapots which are worth getting in the $80-200 range. And while used pots definitely have their own set of complexities (and while they're also increasing in value quite a bit), I think a lot of folks who value the clay quality first and foremost would choose a more pedestrian older pot over a modern pot.

[betta]

At a very high price point, I would consider these teawares the same as any other art work, which are meant to show their aesthetic value.

If the piece has a very high price, I will think more than twice to use that teaware for preparing tea.

To me drinking tea is the same as enjoying any food; it requires the right pieceful mind in order to enjoy the tea.
Like hopeofdawn mentioned above, not everyone can enjoy tea prepared using very expensive teaware, without having the fear of breaking it.
I am definitely one of them.

Yixing ware is porous material with high water absorption capacity. Normally material with high water absorption capacity (due to porous nature) have a lower durability than material with less absorption capacity under the same temperature change.
That's why glazed tile is recommended over normal ceramic tile for the application in wet/damp environment such as in bathroom, etc.
For countries with subzero winter temperature, porous material tile is normally not preferred for outdoor use.

Our yixing teaware undergoes even larger temperature swing than summer and winter temperature within a much shorter time.
This seems to inline with the findings, that without correct preheating, old yixing pots will definitely crack much easier.
Correct handling will only slow down the process, not using it might stop the process.
This is less obvious with old porcelain teaware.

[chrl42]

Older ones are almost always better. That's a Chinese rule.

Qianlong period's Zhuni is better than late-Qing Zhuni, 5~70's Shuipings are better than 7~90's Factory-1 SPs..8~90s master pots are way better than today's master pots (I guess Puerh is simiar, too?)



Masters have access to best clays, half true and half false.

Among Yixing masters, the one who have the best clays today, is the MASTERS from Factory-1 (not common apprentices from that Fac.), like Zhou Gui-zhen, Lv Yao-chen (the best clay owner even among them) etc - today's Grand Master and High Level Master. They shared the link and access to the secret of hand-making and clay-making...handed down from Factory-1 founders like Gu Jing-zhou, Wang Yin-chun..etc

Note, most of them pretty old by now..so many use 'best student (some of them even more skilled than teachers)' to make for them or the best best clays are always used up during early days.

If you are rich enough to buy master pots, select 8~90's pots, or passionate younger Factory-1 masters (Huajian, Ge Tao-zhong, Gao Xu-feng etc), even younger one than they (let's say born after 60s)...skills might be good but clay won't follow after...hope I can add some later (too busy)

[bagua7]

As JBaymore hinted it's all in the mind! You can have a tea brewing session while resting on this meadow using a cheap terracotta pot and the tea will taste like a heavenly nectar, trust me. Have tea served in a busy and polluted street of any modern megapolis and it won't taste the same even if it is served in a 400 yr old zhu ni (unless you are a walking 'Buddha').

[MEversbergII]

A terracotta pot. Quite attractive I must say!

I've been making all my teas in earthenware. Maximal? No. Enjoyable? Yes! As much as I like tea, I would rather spend the 1k, 2k, 5k etc on the SO and myself.

M.