Here are a couple of photos of my new little teeny, tiny gaiwan set from Yunnan Sourcing.
I know it's not the highest quality, but I like the plum blossoms on the cups. The pattern on the gaiwan is neat because the saucer has the bottom of the tree, which matches up on the gaiwan itself for the middle, and the lid has the top. I tried to photograph it, but I was too lazy to get out my tripod so I could get better shots.
I know it's not the highest quality, but I like the plum blossoms on the cups. The pattern on the gaiwan is neat because the saucer has the bottom of the tree, which matches up on the gaiwan itself for the middle, and the lid has the top. I tried to photograph it, but I was too lazy to get out my tripod so I could get better shots.
Dec 4th, '08, 03:26
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I got a new sutra teapot (front right) but figured I'd post the whole family 
(Especially since my web space's server seems to be down atm.) The other stuff is new. Unfortunately I chipped the edge of the lid on the flat-sided black one (bottom left), but it still works just fine. Actually "chipped" is an understatement - the entire edge of about a quarter of the circumference is gone, but as long as it's turned out of view you can't see it. My other favorite pot is the upper right - an exceptional pot that I use for aged oolongs. I haven't had a chance to try the brand new one yet, and the 2nd newest (the round black one on the upper left) unfortunately absorbs too much aroma. The local shop has one more sutra one (the perfectly round one with the flush top and super short spout, with dark red clay) that I'm hoping to pick up with my next check if they still have it. They might have had one more as well, but I can't recall. They also have neat carved wood stands that look like little trees with about 5 little platforms for teapots that I might have to get
The black gaiwan came with more cups and a teaboat as well, but the boat is bigger than what I wanted to fit in this pic and it's just a plain black ceramic covered bowl anyway. It's actually a really cheap set - I had to fill in some white spots around the knob on the top of the gaiwan lid - but it's 2.5oz and I like the pattern I might not pull it out when I have company, but I like it well enough for my own purposes... and did I mention that it's 2.5oz?
I've had the blue cup for a while, but neglected to post it - it's my favorite cup. It's actually lightly speckled, which doesn't really turn out in the photo. Strangely enough it seems to allow me to smell the aroma better than other cups of the same capacity (especially when preheated). I only bought one, but I might have to go back and pick up another if they still have them. It also holds 3.5oz of tea (the capacity of my yixing gaiwan and my favorite teapots) just about perfectly.
I was thrilled to find the strainer locally. I originally found it on Yunnan Colorful and loved it, but didn't want to buy from them because of the stories I've heard about their shipping. I like buying locally whenever possible anyway. The strainer part is a fine mesh polyester which seems to filter better than the standard fine wire mesh funnel-shaped yixing strainers. It's also nice and big so it will comfortably fit any cup that you might use with gongfu teaware or the competition sets. I do wish they'd come in slightly darker clay, but it's not really a big deal. Maybe it will get a patina with use.
Click the pic for full res with details.
(Especially since my web space's server seems to be down atm.) The other stuff is new. Unfortunately I chipped the edge of the lid on the flat-sided black one (bottom left), but it still works just fine. Actually "chipped" is an understatement - the entire edge of about a quarter of the circumference is gone, but as long as it's turned out of view you can't see it. My other favorite pot is the upper right - an exceptional pot that I use for aged oolongs. I haven't had a chance to try the brand new one yet, and the 2nd newest (the round black one on the upper left) unfortunately absorbs too much aroma. The local shop has one more sutra one (the perfectly round one with the flush top and super short spout, with dark red clay) that I'm hoping to pick up with my next check if they still have it. They might have had one more as well, but I can't recall. They also have neat carved wood stands that look like little trees with about 5 little platforms for teapots that I might have to get The black gaiwan came with more cups and a teaboat as well, but the boat is bigger than what I wanted to fit in this pic and it's just a plain black ceramic covered bowl anyway. It's actually a really cheap set - I had to fill in some white spots around the knob on the top of the gaiwan lid - but it's 2.5oz and I like the pattern
I might not pull it out when I have company, but I like it well enough for my own purposes... and did I mention that it's 2.5oz?I've had the blue cup for a while, but neglected to post it - it's my favorite cup. It's actually lightly speckled, which doesn't really turn out in the photo. Strangely enough it seems to allow me to smell the aroma better than other cups of the same capacity (especially when preheated). I only bought one, but I might have to go back and pick up another if they still have them. It also holds 3.5oz of tea (the capacity of my yixing gaiwan and my favorite teapots) just about perfectly.
I was thrilled to find the strainer locally. I originally found it on Yunnan Colorful and loved it, but didn't want to buy from them because of the stories I've heard about their shipping. I like buying locally whenever possible anyway. The strainer part is a fine mesh polyester which seems to filter better than the standard fine wire mesh funnel-shaped yixing strainers. It's also nice and big so it will comfortably fit any cup that you might use with gongfu teaware or the competition sets. I do wish they'd come in slightly darker clay, but it's not really a big deal. Maybe it will get a patina with use.
Click the pic for full res with details.
Last edited by ABx on Dec 4th, '08, 04:14, edited 1 time in total.
Dec 4th, '08, 13:06
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Thanksxuancheng wrote:ABx:
Do you know which sutras are on your pots? are they all the same one, or are they different? I like them a lot, they look especially nice all set up together.
I'm a sucker for the sutra pots - every time I see one I have to grab it. I hope to have one of every shape, but then I keep seeing shapes I never really knew existed.I don't know which sutras they are. The saucer shape one (topmost) is a conversation between Kwan Yin and Buddha(?) about material possessions not being important, but the others I got locally and didn't try to ask because of the language barrier (such questions usually get responses of "umm.. nnn.. nnnoooh ....?" unless they're not at all tired, which is generally not the case)
Dec 4th, '08, 19:33
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Your picture is clickable! I click it and got a new window with a very size big picture. Then I think I can tell all the 5 sutra teapots have heart sutra. I actually have never seen any other sutra longer than 1 sentence being used for teapot.ABx wrote: I don't know which sutras they are. The saucer shape one (topmost) is a conversation between Kwan Yin and Buddha(?) about material possessions not being important, but the others I got locally and didn't try to ask because of the language barrier (such questions usually get responses of "umm.. nnn.. nnnoooh ....?" unless they're not at all tired, which is generally not the case)
Nice pots and nice little blue bowl!
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Dec 5th, '08, 02:05
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Thank you very much, ginko! After looking it up, it sounds like the heart sutra is probably the only one that would fit.
Reine: Yup, the sutra is the gold writing. It's a Buddhist story to convey a spritual lesson. I don't really know much about them but wikipedia has an entry about it and there's lots of info on the internet. Also the grey thing is actually a strainer with a matching base. The top part lifts off; you put it on a cup or fair cup and pour tea through to catch the little bits that slip out of the teapot or gaiwan.
I'll have to take a better pic of the blue cup at some point. It's darker, deeper, and very slightly more greenish (like a dark blue teal) than what the picture shows. I have etched slate coasters with kanji characters on them, and the blue cup looks outstanding sitting on them
Reine: Yup, the sutra is the gold writing. It's a Buddhist story to convey a spritual lesson. I don't really know much about them but wikipedia has an entry about it and there's lots of info on the internet. Also the grey thing is actually a strainer with a matching base. The top part lifts off; you put it on a cup or fair cup and pour tea through to catch the little bits that slip out of the teapot or gaiwan.
I'll have to take a better pic of the blue cup at some point. It's darker, deeper, and very slightly more greenish (like a dark blue teal) than what the picture shows. I have etched slate coasters with kanji characters on them, and the blue cup looks outstanding sitting on them
