Best Sources for Yixing Teapots

[betta]

The Chinese have thousands of years of experience as master forgers (and I mean that mostly as a compliment).

and the craftmanship of good forgery products sometimes exceed that of original one.
I've been into jadeite collection as well and it's simply so true.

Concerning the piece of clay, normally we can know the content of the clay and hopefully based on special chemical character of the clay mined in particular time we will know the age. However it is a very elaborate and complicated work. The tea stain itself has more than 5 different proteins colliding in a GC graph. The archaelogist has a special technology to judge the age of "preserved living organism" by carbon tracing, but not sure about inorganic substances such as yixing clay.
The cost for doing this work scientifically is in the range of 500 Euros + (might be + 1000 )

[hop_goblin]

The Chinese have thousands of years of experience as master forgers (and I mean that mostly as a compliment).

and the craftmanship of good forgery products sometimes exceed that of original

Betta, I think it is just a hard concept for some to understand.

[Vulture]

The Chinese have thousands of years of experience as master forgers (and I mean that mostly as a compliment).

and the craftmanship of good forgery products sometimes exceed that of original

Betta, I think it is just a hard concept for some to understand.

Not true. Sometimes the only way to make something better is to improve the origonal (if that doesn't sound contradictory). Its more like taking a masterpiece of a pot and improving it even more with modern knowledge/tech/craftsmanship. Or like getting Peanut butter cup Ice cream and adding in fresh peanut butter on top....

Well maybe not so much like the ice cream but still...

[hop_goblin]

The Chinese have thousands of years of experience as master forgers (and I mean that mostly as a compliment).

and the craftmanship of good forgery products sometimes exceed that of original

Betta, I think it is just a hard concept for some to understand.

Not true. Sometimes the only way to make something better is to improve the origonal (if that doesn't sound contradictory). Its more like taking a masterpiece of a pot and improving it even more with modern knowledge/tech/craftsmanship. Or like getting Peanut butter cup Ice cream and adding in fresh peanut butter on top....

Well maybe not so much like the ice cream but still...

HAHA! Nice analogy.

[Maitre_Tea]

The Chinese have thousands of years of experience as master forgers (and I mean that mostly as a compliment).

and the craftmanship of good forgery products sometimes exceed that of original

Betta, I think it is just a hard concept for some to understand.

Not true. Sometimes the only way to make something better is to improve the origonal (if that doesn't sound contradictory). Its more like taking a masterpiece of a pot and improving it even more with modern knowledge/tech/craftsmanship. Or like getting Peanut butter cup Ice cream and adding in fresh peanut butter on top....

Well maybe not so much like the ice cream but still...

Just continuing on that I think it has to do with the tradition/history of Chinese art. In the ancient times students would "copy" their master's work, and just do that. The greatest honor was to copy the master's art perfectly. It was seen as a honor to simply copy someone's art the best you can. Maybe this can be applied to yixing teapots

[TeaCompulsion]

That's just it -- I really don't care how "genuine" anything a teapot is; I care how good it is at making tea the way I want it.

[orguz]

Ebay Taiwan or 5000friend on Ebay as well.

Hi Hop,

I noticed you mentioned ebay Taiwan, I have been visiting yahoo sites from taiwan, they have nice pots especially shui pins. I wanted to ask whether you ordered from any taiwanese vendors? I tried emailing one but he doesn't want to ship overseas, for insurance reasons.

Thanks

[t4texas]

I think in most arts and crafts that students and apprentices learn by copying and that it does apply to young potters learning the craft. Where else would they start? It is not surprising that many Yixing pots in the lower and middle price range are copies of pots by historic masters.

So far in looking at lots of these pots, the ones that come closest to imitating the shape and proportions of the traditional shapes are usually the most pleasing to the eye and to hold. Just a little bit off can make a subtle (sometimes not so subtle), but noticeable difference.

[hop_goblin]

Ebay Taiwan or 5000friend on Ebay as well.

Hi Hop,

I noticed you mentioned ebay Taiwan, I have been visiting yahoo sites from taiwan, they have nice pots especially shui pins. I wanted to ask whether you ordered from any taiwanese vendors? I tried emailing one but he doesn't want to ship overseas, for insurance reasons.

Thanks

Hey Orguz, bummer about the vendor not wanting to sell to you.. doesn't sound right IMHO. Yes, Ebay does have some nice pots. Marshaln is the one that turned me on to Taiwan Ebay. I have only ordered once but everything went off without a hitch. You should give it a try.

[square]

Hello everyone. First off I want to say that you guys have a really great forum. I'm new to tea and yixing teapots. Didn't get much sleep last night because I was reading through the past posts =D

Unfortunately, I have to admit that I am one of those naive people who believed that 5000Friend was selling a true Qing at 100USD and bought one =(

They are not mean't to be sold as true Qing and if you did, than you did not do your homework. The majority of his stock are "inspired" Qing.

My point of view is that to a newbie he IS selling it as a true Qing. He doesn't advertise it as otherwise. It even comes with a cert that says it's from the Qing era. And yes I didn't do my homework =(

So can someone tell me then what would be a rough price estimate for a piece of late Qing? I'm not looking for a work of a master, just a commercial piece (if there is such a thing) from that period.

Also, he is also advertising some pots made of extinct XioaMeiYao zhu ni. Should I take this to be 'inspired' as well? How much would such a pot costs?

Anyway I do have to agree with Hop that the pot seems to be pretty well made (dunno how to tell if the clay is good tho) and am happy with it despite it probably not being a Qing piece =/

Will continue reading all the other posts and drink some tea to make up for my lack of sleep later =)

[TIM]

Late Qing's zhuni should be around $900US to start. With good clay will be doubling and, triple and up with good craftsmen.

[sp1key]

nice pots TIM

[square]

Yes, very nice teapots TIM

Can anyone tell me what's the starting range for a late Qing non-ZhuNi non-master pot and if there is any reliable online source to get one? Much appreciated. Thanks.

[Tead Off]

Late Qing's zhuni should be around $900US to start. With good clay will be doubling and, triple and up with good craftsmen.

This is treacherous territory. Take it from someone who has been an antiquities dealer for many years. I don't deal in teapots or dynasty pottery or ceramics at all, but, much earlier things. There is a simple test (TL) Thermoluminescence Test that determines when the clay was last fired. If a pot is Qing, you can test it. Of course, the care in taking the sample is very important but most collectors don't want any drill marks in their teapots. The test is about $500 through Oxford in London.

Aside from doing this test for certainty, there are experts who will tell you whether something is genuine or not. Whether you trust them or not, they will give an opinion. An opinion can change. Then there is the problem of an industry of fake makers who often remain one step ahead of the 'experts'. Take the case of all the fake blue and white that is made, some of which have cost millions of bucks and have fooled most 'experts'. We're not talking about millions with Yixing but we're talking about an industry that is full of copies both good and bad. Who are you going to trust?

On the issue of price, I was offered a small, modern Zhu Ni Yixing pot last week for $1800. Lovely, simple, real Zhu Ni clay (I think). Am I a collector. No. But, I do want a good pot of tea. But, for $1800? Hmm. This begins to become relative to how much money one has. How do I know this is a real one? I trust the seller. Can he be wrong, possibly? Do I want to risk it? No.

What is my point? I'm not sure.