Yixing ID (x5)

[Brockodile]

These are my first Yixing, bought in Thailand. Always wanted one but knew very little about them (now feel the obsession taking hold of me). I bought three that looked completely different in design, material, and workmanship so I would learn by trial and error.



I intend to use them so I mainly want to make sure they are real and not full of chemicals, but any details are greatly appreciated.

-artists & age
-the story or legend behind the three monks
-what the words say
-what types of clay & styles
-what types of tea are good to use in each dufferent style.

Teapot #1












Teapot #2









Teapot #3













I'm new to Yixing so any info is appreciated.

PS - I am interested in buying two more for the main 5 teas I drink, but if I've learned anything so far it's that there are so many fakes so I need to be very skeptical. Any advice is helpful on these two, and which one might be better. I realize it's difficult online, but I live in Canada so it's hard to get this stuff in person.

Candidate #1







Candidate #2





Thanks for your time, I really really appreciate the expertise from everyone here.

[chrl42]

I think they are done with chemicals (manganese and..)

But I don't have much information with chemicals..normally those chemical oxides are okay for using..problem is these pots don't look so normally chemical-doped teapots...these pots are usually sold on streets in China, not roomed Yixing stores....just my opinion

[steanze]

+1, they don't look right...

[Brockodile]

Okay thank you. I had very little confidence in #2 and #3.

#1 (the three monks) seems to meet most of the criteria of a Yixing. It is very well balanced, pours nicely, the clay seems excellent. It has a wonderful earthy smell when wet. The handle, rim, and spout are all perfectly level with each other, and it has a nice sound when I rub the lid against the pot.

Also #1 was used by the tea producer to pour tea for guests. This made me think it was the only legitimate Yixing I bought.

With this information, does #1 seem real or does it still not look right.

[kyarazen]

＃1 reminds me of 钦州坭兴浮雕工艺. how is the tea pot filter like?

＃2 the seal is wang yin xian.. but the workmanship does not resemble her work

#3 strangely, this seems most normal to me, just commercial pots, pin-zi

new candidate 1 - clay texture looks like a material that F2-F5 had used before.

new candidate 2 - from a modern yixing workshop

[Brockodile]

#1 the filter is 7 small holes.

[theredbaron]

#1 (the three monks) seems to meet most of the criteria of a Yixing. It is very well balanced, pours nicely, the clay seems excellent. It has a wonderful earthy smell when wet.

There should not be any earthy smell.

[Brockodile]

So the smell is just from whatever tea may have been used in it previously or something else?

Here I thought I was being so mystical, smelling the aroma of clay..

[theredbaron]

So the smell is just from whatever tea may have been used in it previously or something else?

Here I thought I was being so mystical, smelling the aroma of clay..

Yixing pots should have no smell at all, and in used pots maybe a whiff of the tea used in the pot. Earthy smell means mostly either badly under fired, bad clay, or no Yixing clay at all.
I am sorry to say this, but those three are tuition pots

[Brockodile]

Tuition pots they are then. On the bright side, at least they can be relegated to souvenirs with a story.

Thank you for the replies, keep them coming if anything was missed or overlooked.

I suppose the next trip will involve Yixing.

[bagua7]

This pot is real Yixing.

Yixing pots smell like hot rocks when poured hot water in or on them.

Enjoy!

[kyarazen]

Yixing pots smell like hot rocks when poured hot water in or on them.

Enjoy!

all yixing? ～～～

[bagua7]

No, not all . Zhuni have a different smell, something more metallic to them due to their high iron content, hard to describe with words. Maybe some one can but I don't, lol.