80's Pin Zi Ni from Dragon Tea House

[dangert]

Has anyone purchased one of DTH 80's Lao Pin Zi Ni teapots (like this: http://cgi.ebay.com/80s-Yixing-Zisha-No ... 33595d1fe1) and can comment? Is this really 80's clay from Factory #1? How is the workmanship?

[cupioneer]

There's a post here regarding one of these pots:
http://www.teadrunk.org/viewtopic.php?pid=365#p365

[dangert]

There's a post here regarding one of these pots:
http://www.teadrunk.org/viewtopic.php?pid=365#p365

Thanks. I've seen this already, but I was asking about different series of pots. Even on teadrunk there is no opinion about clay .

[Tead Off]

There's a post here regarding one of these pots:
http://www.teadrunk.org/viewtopic.php?pid=365#p365

Thanks. I've seen this already, but I was asking about different series of pots. Even on teadrunk there is no opinion about clay .

If it is Factory #1 clay, it should be no problem. Clay will be good. But, we don't know what the present day artist will do further to this clay, whether add other clays, oxides, etc. We also don't know if the clay has been stored raw or processed already. Can the vendor answer any of these questions? $99 isn't a bad price for a new pot with good clay that is well made.

[wyardley]

Well also, we don't know whether the claim is true in the first place. It's easier to claim that a modern pot is "made with old clay" than that the pot itself is from the 80s, and I think it's very hard to definitively prove one way or another. While I'm sure there may be some of these caches of old clay, it seems unlikely that there are enough to support the number of pots sold with this sort of claim. In other words, if I were the OP, I would take any such claims with a very large grain of salt. Buy the pot if you like it, and think it's worth the asking cost whether or not the clay is old.

If not, perhaps I could interest you in some waterfront property in NY....?

[dangert]

Well also, we don't know whether the claim is true in the first place. ... While I'm sure there may be some of these caches of old clay, it seems unlikely that there are enough to support the number of pots sold with this sort of claim... Buy the pot if you like it, and think it's worth the asking cost whether or not the clay is old.

Thank you. The same arguments could be also true for Chen's pots I guess.

[TIM]

Well also, we don't know whether the claim is true in the first place. ... While I'm sure there may be some of these caches of old clay, it seems unlikely that there are enough to support the number of pots sold with this sort of claim... Buy the pot if you like it, and think it's worth the asking cost whether or not the clay is old.

Thank you. The same arguments could be also true for Chen's pots I guess.

IMO there is no argument here. Buying from a vendor, ebay or merchant is very different than buying direct from the artist. At least 80% of these online tea vendor has ever touches the raw clay themselves, nor they have the knowledge to know what's a real 80's pin zini should be.

[betta]

Well also, we don't know whether the claim is true in the first place. ... While I'm sure there may be some of these caches of old clay, it seems unlikely that there are enough to support the number of pots sold with this sort of claim... Buy the pot if you like it, and think it's worth the asking cost whether or not the clay is old.

Thank you. The same arguments could be also true for Chen's pots I guess.

Yes, and therefore when I acquired a pot from her, I kept in mind that the price is paid for ensuring that the stuff is made of real zisha, from her father/family, while putting his reputation at stake. As the result her clay really do different than others, at least it take on patina very fast and do very absorptive, which is a properties I rarely come across these days.
The rest stuffs, such as the age of the clay is something I won't spend much to get. Because to my inexperienced eyes, I see no difference between clay from this decade to that two decades back, especially if the pot is made in the current century.

[dangert]

Well also, we don't know whether the claim is true in the first place. ... While I'm sure there may be some of these caches of old clay, it seems unlikely that there are enough to support the number of pots sold with this sort of claim... Buy the pot if you like it, and think it's worth the asking cost whether or not the clay is old.

Thank you. The same arguments could be also true for Chen's pots I guess.

Yes, and therefore when I acquired a pot from her, I kept in mind that the price is paid for ensuring that the stuff is made of real zisha, from her father/family, while putting his reputation at stake. As the result her clay really do different than others, at least it take on patina very fast and do very absorptive, which is a properties I rarely come across these days.
The rest stuffs, such as the age of the clay is something I won't spend much to get. Because to my inexperienced eyes, I see no difference between clay from this decade to that two decades back, especially if the pot is made in the current century.

Thanks for sharing! The only pot from Chen that I have doesn't see a lot of tea and I can't comment on patina, but it brews better TGY than my other (cheaper) pot from Huajun studio. It is an interesting comment on patina, since an yixing gaiwan from another source refuses to take any patina at all, despite the fact it is dedicated to reds (Yunnan Gold mostly). The surface is spotless, like on the day I bought it. I think I will replace it with one from Chen.

[Tead Off]

Well also, we don't know whether the claim is true in the first place. ... While I'm sure there may be some of these caches of old clay, it seems unlikely that there are enough to support the number of pots sold with this sort of claim... Buy the pot if you like it, and think it's worth the asking cost whether or not the clay is old.

Thank you. The same arguments could be also true for Chen's pots I guess.

Yes, and therefore when I acquired a pot from her, I kept in mind that the price is paid for ensuring that the stuff is made of real zisha, from her father/family, while putting his reputation at stake. As the result her clay really do different than others, at least it take on patina very fast and do very absorptive, which is a properties I rarely come across these days.
The rest stuffs, such as the age of the clay is something I won't spend much to get. Because to my inexperienced eyes, I see no difference between clay from this decade to that two decades back, especially if the pot is made in the current century.

Thanks for sharing! The only pot from Chen that I have doesn't see a lot of tea and I can't comment on patina, but it brews better TGY than my other (cheaper) pot from Huajun studio. It is an interesting comment on patina, since an yixing gaiwan from another source refuses to take any patina at all, despite the fact it is dedicated to reds (Yunnan Gold mostly). The surface is spotless, like on the day I bought it. I think I will replace it with one from Chen.

There is a lot of false information floating around about porosity, absorbtion, patina, etc., relating to yixing clays. While I don't own many different types of clay pots, the pots I have develop a tea stain differently. Some hardly stain at all like burnished zhuni.

The type of tea ones uses will also affect the stain that a pot gets. Wuyi and darker roasted teas will leave much more residue than say greener Taiwan oolongs.

Personally, I clean my pots after every use, rubbing the exterior with a towel after a rinse with very hot water.

[steanze]

Hi! I have one of those pots, and I use it to brew aged sheng. The pot is made very well, the lid fits perfectly, the spout pours well and closing the hole on the lid immediately stops the tea flow.
I think the quality of the clay is very good, but I am not an expert so I could not tell whether it is really from the Yixing factory no. 1

stefano

[dangert]

Hi! I have one of those pots, and I use it to brew aged sheng. The pot is made very well, the lid fits perfectly, the spout pours well and closing the hole on the lid immediately stops the tea flow.
I think the quality of the clay is very good, but I am not an expert so I could not tell whether it is really from the Yixing factory no. 1

stefano

Thanks, Stefano!

[steanze]

You are welcome! Glad to share information. When I have some time I will post some pictures...
stefano

[chrl42]

Too expensive....

[dangert]

Too expensive....

Thanks Charlie!