Please help evaluate/identify an yixing teapot!

[dangert]

I have this teapot on loan from a local importer of high-end Chinese teas and teaware. I trust his claim that this is an upscale pot from a good potter, but would like to know more about it, if possible (clay, workmanship etc.). The price stands at $600. It is a bit expensive for me and the pot itself is a bit large for me (200ml), that's why I am not sure whether I want it. I only drink Tie Guan Yin.

This photo is not altered in order to show both details and true color of the clay.

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The bottom mark, enhanced to give more contrast (that's why it is has different clay color).

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The accompanying certificate.

The certificate

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Thanks in advance!

[tingjunkie]

I'm no Yixing expert by any means, though I have been trying to learn as much as I can. However, the first thing I thought of is that for $600 you could get 2-3 sweet vintage pots from Hou De who are known to have an excellent reputation.

But I'm just a yixing newb, so take my advice for what it's worth.

[Tead Off]

I have this teapot on loan from a local importer of high-end Chinese teas and teaware. I trust his claim that this is an upscale pot from a good potter, but would like to know more about it, if possible (clay, workmanship etc.). The price stands at $600. It is a bit expensive for me and the pot itself is a bit large for me (200ml), that's why I am not sure whether I want it. I only drink Tie Guan Yin.

Unless this pot is made by some Master, it seems expensive to me. I would suggest you try to get a smaller, older, pot, about 100-120ml, zhu ni if possible, 70's 80's. No sand but lusterous surface. You can find for about $200. But, you have to be patient.

[oldmanteapot]

I have this teapot on loan from a local importer of high-end Chinese teas and teaware. I trust his claim that this is an upscale pot from a good potter, but would like to know more about it, if possible (clay, workmanship etc.). The price stands at $600. It is a bit expensive for me and the pot itself is a bit large for me (200ml), that's why I am not sure whether I want it. I only drink Tie Guan Yin.

Unless this pot is made by some Master, it seems expensive to me. I would suggest you try to get a smaller, older, pot, about 100-120ml, zhu ni if possible, 70's 80's. No sand but lusterous surface. You can find for about $200. But, you have to be patient.

+1

Yeah... $600 is way too much to pay, unless it is the work of a Master.

Cheers!

[Maitre_Tea]

I have this teapot on loan from a local importer of high-end Chinese teas and teaware. I trust his claim that this is an upscale pot from a good potter, but would like to know more about it, if possible (clay, workmanship etc.). The price stands at $600. It is a bit expensive for me and the pot itself is a bit large for me (200ml), that's why I am not sure whether I want it. I only drink Tie Guan Yin.

Unless this pot is made by some Master, it seems expensive to me. I would suggest you try to get a smaller, older, pot, about 100-120ml, zhu ni if possible, 70's 80's. No sand but lusterous surface. You can find for about $200. But, you have to be patient.

+1

Yeah... $600 is way too much to pay, unless it is the work of a Master.

Cheers!

+2
Also, what does the vendor say about the clay, maker, vintage, etc. If it is Zhu Ni of some sort, it looks like it was blended with sand or something, which will influence the porosity slightly, which may not make it the best pot for TGY (IMO). BTW, trust is the last thing you want to rely on, unless you have the support of people who have dealt favorable business with this person

[dangert]

Unless this pot is made by some Master, it seems expensive to me. I would suggest you try to get a smaller, older, pot, about 100-120ml, zhu ni if possible, 70's 80's. No sand but lusterous surface. You can find for about $200. But, you have to be patient.

+1

Yeah... $600 is way too much to pay, unless it is the work of a Master.

Cheers!

+2
Also, what does the vendor say about the clay, maker, vintage, etc. If it is Zhu Ni of some sort, it looks like it was blended with sand or something, which will influence the porosity slightly, which may not make it the best pot for TGY (IMO). BTW, trust is the last thing you want to rely on, unless you have the support of people who have dealt favorable business with this person

Thank you all for your suggestions. The dealer is actually a friend of mine, who has excellent taste in teas, but not very much knowledge in clay types. He likes and collects yixing pots, but he looks at them more as an object of functional art.

According to him it is a work of a Master (I hoped that Chinese speaking members will read the certificate). He doesn't know the clay type, the make (I guess) is modern, i.e. it is not a vintage pot. The pitch when I tap the pot with the cover is high and metallic.

I also think the price is a bit steep and the size is too large for me.

My previous purchase was a 120ml dicao qing xi shi from Chen (zishateapot.co.uk) which sounds much more muted and doesn't have a pronounced metallic pitch. I have compared it to this teapot with no clear conclusion. Unfortunately I didn't read enough about clay types and didn't order zhu ni one.

I also have an offer from chinacraftwork.com:

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, but nobody seems had any experience with this vendor, since my question wasn't answered. It is made of 7 years old zhu ni from zhao zhuang.

I have also seen the pots at Nada and Jing Tea Shop, but there is nothing I like at the moment.

[chrl42]

Everytime I get to understand Yixing teapot, the more I want to save my word and become modest.

Sorry, the seal looks little rough on me but certificate seems to say 团砂清水泥, sort of Duanni, Tiao Sha (clay mixed in) Duanni to be exact. Also it seems to be say it's Chun Shou Gong (hand-made), a good close-up of picture of pot inside might be more helpful for investigation. But rough hand-writing of cheap water-based pen doesn't seem to be too convincing to be anywhere near 600-dollar (certificate, just my thinking)

Secondly, knowing a quality of Zhuni clay online can be very harsh, 'specially the picture isn't too clear. It says it 7-year-old Zhaozhuang Zhuni, but Zhaozhuang mountain stopped mining roughly about 2~30 years ago, so most of Zhaozhuang Zhuni today is actually already mined and stored over 20 years and is very hard to get. I've noticed Zhaozhuang Zhuni tends to weigh a lot heavier than other Zhuni (Xiao Mei Yao, Huanglong, Hufu)

And high-pitching sound only apears on Zhuni and other crytallized clays, for Di Cao Qing it's normal to sound dull

Sorry if my words were a bit aggressive, Yixing teapot is a whole jungle so don't take it too seriously (I don't know much)

[dangert]

Sorry if my words were a bit aggressive, Yixing teapot is a whole jungle so don't take it too seriously (I don't know much)

Thank you so much for giving the details on the certificate, it is a great help! I have also written the second vendor (chinacratfwork) about zhao zhuang went extinct, but he claims that there people are still mining (and I also found something about it online). I still hope that Marshal will be kind enough to comment .

The greatest problem is which vendor to believe. Chinese tea culture is virtually nonexistent in the country I live in (Israel) and my only option for yixing is online vendors.

[chrl42]

I have also written the second vendor (chinacratfwork) about zhao zhuang went extinct, but he claims that there people are still mining (and I also found something about it online)

Zhaozhuang Zhuni had been used since Ming dynasty, also known as Shi Huang Ni, it is treated Zhuni of Zhuni, recently it is called Lao Zhuni.

Zhaozhuang Zhuni has the strongest color tone, lots of quartz mineral, back in Guangdong/Fujian, it was preferred as the best choice to perform 'Gong Fu Cha', mostly under 160ml.

It is true Zhaozhuang mountain is still mined, but only secretly, by law it is forbidden to mine (it was a comment by my acquaintance who visited Zhaozhuang mountain and clay-making old man), but a punishment is very weak.

Not to say Zhaozhuang Zhuni rules other Zhuni, and the reason back then it was so prefered (my interpretation) was because it has lesser shrinkage (easy to treat), but I do believe its brewing quality, a cup out of it tends to be a lot smoother.

[dangert]

Not to say Zhaozhuang Zhuni rules other Zhuni, and the reason back then it was so prefered (my interpretation) was because it has lesser shrinkage (easy to treat), but I do believe its brewing quality, a cup out of it tends to be a lot smoother.

Do I have your blessing then to go for a teapot from chinacraftwork ? Thank you again for all your help!