Where to buy Yixings made out of REAL yixing clay

[chrl42]

Pre-communist China was one of the greatest, most innovative nations in history. When free and independent thinking is punished and suppressed, as it was when Mao took over and still is with CPC in power, the current situation is what we get.

Indeed. Here's what Mao's China done to Chinese tea industry.
1. Cut off most of ancient wild trees in Yunnan, China thinking it will help none in sastifying their pocket.
2. Putting Yixing artists into a factory opening name of Yixing Factory no.1 and started on mass production that did eventually drive a Yixing clay scarce.
3. For the goal of 'less effort and more profit' helped in inventing unsanitized, sterilizing Shu cake...

But capitalism didn't seem to get along too well either,
It was capitalistic Taiwanese & Cantonese who misunderstood the standard way of appreciation of yixing teapot that developed 'mixing water to filter none yixing clays' method for exhibition looking that eventually made yixing market more messed up. Operated fake yixing factories and fake Puerh factories to satisfy the boom caused by rich Taiwanese & Cantonese capitalists.

[britt]

But capitalism didn't seem to get along too well either,

The two systems of capitalism and communism seem to be merging into the same thing. Wealth concentrates more and more at the top level, the inherent rights of anyone below are diminished and eventually removed, and corruption abounds at all levels of government and private business.

[betta]

But capitalism didn't seem to get along too well either,

The two systems of capitalism and communism seem to be merging into the same thing. Wealth concentrates more and more at the top level, the inherent rights of anyone below are diminished and eventually removed, and corruption abounds at all levels of government and private business.

It's off the topic but to be precise, capitalism benefits those at the top of the food chain and communism for those at the top of the political power. Socialism-capitalism is somewhere in between. I think their applications are good dependent on the condition. However I prefer capitalism, because who wants to have his income short by 45% just to live people out there who don't even want to work to live themselves?

I agree with Chrl42 that it's very difficult to differentiate real from fake yixing and price just doesn't reflect the true quality. I remembered the cost of one yixing clay pot in the official state own's shop (which means their pots should be genuine) in Wuxi, Jiangsu is more than 20€ ~30$ after bargaining for the local customer (not mentioning for foreigner). Out of the shop, local people can sell pots starting from 1€ ~1.5$, which are of questionable clay.
I just know it a bit too late since I have already inferior pots with the purchase price far below it. And people said that the inferior pots could be made of either yixing stone which was mined by exploding it, mixed clay, thio chiu clay, etc. Added to that also the possibility to add other harmful material for aesthetic purpose.
So sometimes it's better not to buy rather than buying the wrong pots.

[britt]

So sometimes it's better not to buy rather than buying the wrong pots.

I agree. The first couple of Yixings I purchased were given away strictly for display. I made sure the people I gave them to promised to never drink tea from them. After buying some real ones from a trusted source, the difference in quality was very apparent. The price is much higher as well, but I expect that in most cases.

[Bert]

I was wondering if anyone knew how to order from Teamasters - it's a blog- that does not show a store. Maybe someone could point me in the right direction. Are his teapots made by an artist, quality clay, and reasonable?

Appreciate any help.

david

Hi David,

just write Stéphane an e-mail and he will send you a price list. You can question him about the origin of the pots, I think he will give you information. But of course he's a vendor.
I like the pots I got from him very much. I don't have the knowledge and experience to give a good judge, but the clay is good in my opinion and they are worked real nice.

His goods arent' cheap, but I think the quality is good and he gives some little gifts with each order.

[Salsero]

His goods arent' cheap, but I think the quality is good ...

Stéphane has a sterling reputation.

[Salsero]

I ordered a yixing from Stephane.

OK, now you are on the hook to show us photos when it comes in! I have been wanting to order a teapot from Stéphane for a couple of years, but so far haven't gotten my act and his teapots together enough to do so! Also, I can hardly justify getting another teapot ... but that never stopped me before!

[Salsero]

What did you think of the pots from 5000 friends. They feel good, but something about the smell - smells like chemicals or something on the older pots -the inside.

I only bought one pot from 5000 friend, a 70 ml cutie, sold as a new pot. Its price, even with shipping was modest ... maybe $26 a year or two ago. To my inexpert eye, it is perfect in every way.

I believe Hop_Goblin (Bill of Ancient Tea Horse Road blog) bought a fine old pot from 5000 friend. He is very approachable and I'm sure he would be happy to respond to a PM, if he is not too busy with his grad school studies.

I personally like to boil all new pots for any hour. Just be sure it is padded or elevated from the bottom of the boiling pan so it doen't bounce around and break.

[betta]

Hi Salsero,
What did you think of the pots from 5000 friends. They feel good, but something about the smell - smells like chemicals or something on the older pots -the inside.

I've acquired two pots from them as well. They smell more or less the same like what you described before, undescribeable.
The seller is nice and friendly but ask as many questions as you need BEFORE YOU BUY. Mine turned out to be not what I expected, but it's hard to tell the real condition of the pot before cleaning it. So I consider it's my own fault.
I see the seller put cleaned pot pictures along with those before cleaning, so it might be better.
Like I said before, I quit adding my pot collection after acquiring couple of old zhuni pots. I put more emphasize now to enjoy the tea brewed with the pot. I think that would be the most important essence of enjoying chinese tea world.

BTW, I still have a pot to be sold at original purchase price. It's acquired from Houde and I posted it before at teaswap but no one response.
Hereby, shamelessly, just in case anyone still interested, I'd like to offer it once again.

[britt]

I have noticed cheap teapots with a high gloss on the outside and when using close inspection, the inside is dull and poorer quality clay on the inside.

The inside has minor scuff marks and again reaks.

I am going to boil the sucker.

A high gloss on the outside with dull inside is normal even on some expensive Yixings. The outside is sometimes polished very smooth for better looks. It's also possible to find shiny ones that have had dyes, chemicals, or even shoe polish applied to give a shiny or seasoned look.

Many, if not all of my Yixings have some marks inside from when the were made. I on't think this is necessarily a problem, unless the marks are chips or cracks.

The smell is another story; I would boil it, and if it still smells bad afterwards, I wouldn't use it.