Please identify this Yixing pot

[fire_snake]

Well it's allegedly Yixing. I received it as a gift a couple of years ago. I've only brewed some long-forgotten pu in it a couple of times long time ago, so if necessary I think I can re-dedicate it, if it's even worth it.

It was purchased from Teaopia, I think. A domestic vendor known as the Starbucks of tea. A place where they think Sencha comes from china. So lord only knows what the quality of the pot is like. It did come in a nice box, though I doubt it was expensive.

What kind of clay is it (looks brownish-purple)? Who is the maker? What tea might it be suitable for?

Please note, the interior of the pot is wet. I had just rinsed it.

Photos are here:

http://img831.imageshack.us/g/img2619t.jpg/

Thank you,

Christian

[MarshalN]

What's that black stuff at the bottom? Is it wash-off able? Does it feel sticky?

What about the stains inside?

[fire_snake]

What's that black stuff at the bottom? Is it wash-off able? Does it feel sticky?

What about the stains inside?

Thanks for the reply.

That stuff on the bottom is ash, put there by me in order to make the stamp stand out a little better.

The stains inside are just a part of the clay, I suppose. Natural?

Christian

[MarshalN]

Ok, if it was already there (the black stuff) I'd worry about shoe polish. Since you put it on, I presume it's ok.

The pot isn't made by any well known maker, I believe. At least, the name doesn't ring a bell.

The stains inside might be tea stains, hard to say for sure.

[edkrueger]

It appears to me to be a slip cast mud pot. The animal on the top seems pretty clearly to be formed in a mold, probably with the rest of the pot. Hard to tell from the picture though.

[fire_snake]

It appears to me to be a slip cast mud pot. The animal on the top seems pretty clearly to be formed in a mold, probably with the rest of the pot. Hard to tell from the picture though.

Thanks for the reply.

Yes, it might be from a mold. On the inside (when dry) I can see what appear to be characteristic tool/scraping marks, especially pronounced around the filter, but I see some flaking as well, including some very noticeable discolouration.

So this might be a "mud" pot? How much different is that from clay? Pots made of mud sound like they're much lower quality. Hehe . . . "mudpot."

Christian