Jan 20th, '19, 17:25
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Please help figure out if it is a yixing teapot

by ebanipshada » Jan 20th, '19, 17:25

Hello!
Very recently, I bought a teapot from ebay. It was listed as a fully handmade zhuni. I don't have much real experience with zisha teapots, besides the information I could find online. Therefore, I'd like to ask for your help identifying this particular teapot.
Inside the teapot there are some Chinese characters hand written on the side of the pot. A couple of them lead to small cracks and the funny thing is that the color of the clay inside the crack is different from the surface. So I decided to sand just a little bit on the bottom of the teapot with a diamond abrasive file and you can see that indeed the surface color is different. I also remembered, that when I was boiling the teapot, like everyone advises, the water slightly, but noticeably enough, changed its color, when I changed water and boiled the teapot again the water remained clear. So my main concern is it zisha? is it dyed? is it even safe to use (I've been using it for about a week now)? Also I'm curious if it is really fully handmade and if it is made by embryo pulling like the seller claims.
The craftsmanship to my understanding is fine, the lid fits perfect, there is no leaking, the pour stops when I close the hole and to my eye it just looks so good!
Attachments
side.jpg
inside1.jpg
bottom_closeup1.jpg

Jan 22nd, '19, 09:08
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Re: Please help figure out if it is a yixing teapot

by 12Tea » Jan 22nd, '19, 09:08

The last picture looks a bit suspicious. I would first do a session of seasoning the teapot first.

Jan 22nd, '19, 15:11
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Re: Please help figure out if it is a yixing teapot

by ebanipshada » Jan 22nd, '19, 15:11

12Tea wrote: The last picture looks a bit suspicious. I would first do a session of seasoning the teapot first.
I know, very suspicious indeed! I boiled the pot two times when I just got it, for an hour each time and second time I added some red tea. That was the first thing that I did. Would that count as seasoning? Or do you mean I'd have to season it now after I've sanded the bottom?

Jan 22nd, '19, 15:19
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Re: Please help figure out if it is a yixing teapot

by ebanipshada » Jan 22nd, '19, 15:19

I'll add more pictures, if I may. Hope that helps.
Attachments
IMG_20190118_134516.jpg
inside2.jpg
bottom_closeup2.jpg

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Jan 22nd, '19, 17:57
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Re: Please help figure out if it is a yixing teapot

by bagua7 » Jan 22nd, '19, 17:57

Dodgy indeed! It has been heavily coloured hence when you sanded it the real thing popped out.

Remember that China is the forgery capital of the world.

If you didn't pay much for the pot then you shouldn't worry to much. Lesson you learnt...if you shelled out, well once bitten twice shy.

Cheers.

Jan 26th, '19, 00:17
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Re: Please help figure out if it is a yixing teapot

by carmeloneo » Jan 26th, '19, 00:17

Full handmade teapot. there's another possibility, fault has color difference after firing at high temperature. but you just sand the surface... No similar experiments have been done.
Where did you buy it?

Jan 26th, '19, 15:22
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Re: Please help figure out if it is a yixing teapot

by ebanipshada » Jan 26th, '19, 15:22

carmeloneo wrote: Full handmade teapot. there's another possibility, fault has color difference after firing at high temperature. but you just sand the surface... No similar experiments have been done.
Where did you buy it?
Sorry, I'm not sure what you are trying to say. Could you please clarify?
I bought this pot on eBay.

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Jul 11th, '19, 12:29
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Re: Please help figure out if it is a yixing teapot

by TEAMOOD » Jul 11th, '19, 12:29

As a local, very hard to say just seeing the last picture. how much did it costed you?
Usually the zhuni won't have such shinning reddish, maybe they put the kiln temperature a little lower.
once dried for few days, click the lid against the body, listen if any metalic sound?
if not so clear and melodic heard, then very likely the clay is not good(can't tell 100% it is not zisha).

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