Just thought I would share my Grandma's teapots

[ethan]

So, what can be said of exceptions? Some pots were made pre-Cultural Revolution w/ decorative work that had been done 100 years before. Thus, the pot today would like a pot that is >160 years old while being about 100 years younger than that. So, looking at characteristics of design & decoration could lead one astray. Can one test clay?

I usually stay out of these threads because of lack of expertise & the notion that it very much a matter of luck. One might buy authenticity, I imagine, & still not get the best tasting tea coming out his authentic pot. Correct?

[Tead Off]

Characteristics of design just tell you from what period the teapot is supposed to look like. Many pots made today are copies of earlier period pots. Testing clay is done with thermoluminescence. It is expensive and intrusive as they need to drill sample from the item. Generally, teapots are not tested this way. It takes a trained eye to discern a clay from a certain period and a copy. It can be done, but 100% certainty would be just taking someone's word. Some words are better than others, though.

Plus, there is no guarantee that you will see any difference in your tea making.

[heliospace]

The best way for an amateur to identify an old pot, I say, is simply by the reduction that occurs during firing and SOME pots become, internally, a metal color.

You can view my zhuni pot Dr. Lu posted about here:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/teapot2 ... ef=message

[kyarazen]

in my limited knowledge, these look unusual for 1970s shui ping... I don't remember 5 color SPs being made in the 1970s, and the shape/seal also seem a bit off for the period. But it might be just something that I do not know.

A lot of imitations of Qing zhuni were made after the '80s, so I recommend that you try to familiarize yourself with some examples of Qing zhuni and perhaps ask some advice here on the forum Good luck!

spot on sir.. your discerning skills are.. quite up to the mark

[kyarazen]

Im sure if ol' Kyarazen would chime in he could help me out. Another collector has refered me to him as well. But hes harder to get to than a AT&T customer support line.

HAHAHA!

of course it is harder to get to me.. only when I'm busy.. you know..work.. businesses.. hobbies.. giving classes.. babysitting.. and god knows what

but of course i have replied to your pm, and hope the information helps a little. i should be a little more "free" from next week onwards so do bear with me if i'm unable to catch up with replying any of your further questions

[steanze]

spot on sir.. your discerning skills are.. quite up to the mark

I was lucky to find a good teacher

[Darth_Chris]

Yay! Have no fear Kyara is here

Thanks guy for all the info. I got off the phone with my aunt last night in Taiwan. She said Agarwood is tricky but they have some old potters here that still have Zhuni clay from back in the day, expensive though. Might even cost me $2000 to persuade them to sell me one.

[steanze]

Do you have other Yixings besides the ones from your grandma? If not, I would suggest getting a 1970s F1 hongni shui ping around 60-90ml to start rather than buying a Qing zhuni right away

[Darth_Chris]

I have some others but they are quite big. =/ not really for kung fu tea. I will look into that, steanze any recommendations?