These entry level Yixing pots look good to me!

[stevorama]

I asked the seller and he said, "The grey matter is silicon carbide, a material used to polish the mouth of the teapot to make it smooth and the lid and the body of teapot fit better. Occasionally, the particles may fall inside the teapot, the maker didn't find and not clean it and put the teapot in the kiln for second time firing. Please rub it with a piece of coarse cloth or a fine sand paper, it will come off easily."

Indeed rubbing has removed most of the grit and the clay color is more uniform. I still need to rub it more to get it all.

The inside is otherwise ok. The filter holes are somewhat coarse, but functionally not a problem.

I'll consider asking for a refund, replacement, or discount. But if it all comes off maybe not. The seller didn't offer anything.

My main take-away is that you get what you pay for. This was a $65 pot and not as well finished as the other 2 pots I got from this seller which were $80 and $90.

[stevorama]

Hmmmm that makes me wonder if these pots are coated with better clay, with cheaper clay underneath, and fine sand applied under the top coating to provide texture...

The clay looks fine to me. Appears uniform and consistent. It's listed as di cao qing, a clay I haven't used before. The clay is probably my favorite thing about the pot as well as the shape.

[jayinhk]

Ok, good to know it's just dust from polishing! That should come right off.

[stevorama]

Ok, good to know it's just dust from polishing! That should come right off.

Yep! Took a little work, but all good now.

[bagua7]

"The grey matter is silicon carbide, a material used to polish the mouth of the teapot to make it smooth and the lid and the body of teapot fit better. Occasionally, the particles may fall inside the teapot, the maker didn't find and not clean it and put the teapot in the kiln for second time firing. Please rub it with a piece of coarse cloth or a fine sand paper, it will come off easily."

Something new I learnt about the intricate world of Yixing pottery.

Good to hear that residue came off.

Cheers!

[kyarazen]

Hmmmm that makes me wonder if these pots are coated with better clay, with cheaper clay underneath, and fine sand applied under the top coating to provide texture...

nop..

actually..

many yixings are singly fired, and the lid is fired on with the pot. the traditional F1 used quartz powder for higher end items, some other workshops may use aluminum filings etc.. depending on the budget and preference they use a whole range of different powders. if sloppily applied, there will be staining, which can be removed.

[jayinhk]

Interesting. Was the quartz/aluminum used for polishing or mixed in the clay?

[tingjunkie]

Interesting. Was the quartz/aluminum used for polishing or mixed in the clay?

It's used to make sure the lid does not fuse to the pot permanently during firing. I believe it might also be used to grind down the lid for a better fit as well, but maybe that's a different process?

[kyarazen]

Interesting. Was the quartz/aluminum used for polishing or mixed in the clay?

for the older pots, neither, they dont want it to incorporate or mix into the clay. it is just dusted around the mouth of the pot (dry).

grinding/polishing is a different matter, if the pot has been ground, you will see that the "skin" is broken, this is not desirable many times

[jayinhk]

Ah, that makes perfect sense. I had to think about the 'broken skin' comment for a few, but I get it now! Polishing/grinding would break the continuity that would otherwise be inherent in the lid to pot fit, right?

[kyarazen]

Ah, that makes perfect sense. I had to think about the 'broken skin' comment for a few, but I get it now! Polishing/grinding would break the continuity that would otherwise be inherent in the lid to pot fit, right?

noo!.. if you see the interior of the pot.. and the exterior.. you will realize that they look different, outside is smooth, glossier, inside is rough. so if the skin is broken by grinding you will see patchyness.. not even color~

[jayinhk]

OK, I get it now, if it looks polished where it shouldn't, we know polishing has occurred.

[theredbaron]

OK, I get it now, if it looks polished where it shouldn't, we know polishing has occurred.

It really depends. In late Qing and ROC China imported many Yixing pots to Thailand, which were by craftsmen polished to a high sheen in Thailand. Real pots, especially the smaller ones are extremely expensive nowadays.

[BioHorn]

OK, I get it now, if it looks polished where it shouldn't, we know polishing has occurred.

It really depends. In late Qing and ROC China imported many Yixing pots to Thailand, which were by craftsmen polished to a high sheen in Thailand. Real pots, especially the smaller ones are extremely expensive nowadays.

Any photos or links to them would be greatly appreciated. Thank you very much for your input.

[theredbaron]

OK, I get it now, if it looks polished where it shouldn't, we know polishing has occurred.

It really depends. In late Qing and ROC China imported many Yixing pots to Thailand, which were by craftsmen polished to a high sheen in Thailand. Real pots, especially the smaller ones are extremely expensive nowadays.

Any photos or links to them would be greatly appreciated. Thank you very much for your input.

Just googling briefly i found three links of that style of pots:

http://alansmuseum.blogspot.com/2013/07 ... ixing.html

http://www.lookeastmagazine.com/wp-cont ... tion-3.jpg

http://www.the-saleroom.com/fr-fr/aucti ... 3a01085bf9