YAYEQ (Yet Another Yixing-eBay Question)

[Drax]

So, I was watching this teapot on eBay recently... mostly because it had started at $200, and I wanted to see how it turned out!

If you've ever watched this vendor's methods, if an item doesn't sell on the first cycle, it usually comes back at a reduced price. This one went through 4 or 5 cycles until it eventually started at the much lower price or $9.99. And you can see, it sold for about $20.

There were a lot of oddities about this piece that I wanted to understand better, which is why I'm posting about it.

From a classic style standpoint, this teapot looks terrible... bad balance, shape, etc. I would have also almost said that the black coloring was to help the dragons stand out more (rather than an attempt to make it look old).

All in all, it makes more sense to me as a purposeful modern piece -- that is, it's not trying to be something else -- or is it?

The teapot doesn't really fit with my tastes, but I was just curious about it on a number of other fronts, that I wanted to try to learn more about it. If it's as simple as "really bad knockoff" then so be it...!

[Tead Off]

For me, it's horrible.
I would give it to bagua7 for destruction.

[Tobias]

Yes, I also saw that auction . I've bought quite a few items from that seller and I consider him trustworthy but that looks like a typical shoe polish pot.

[Chip]

I saw that on auction as well. Over and over.

All I thought was "shoe polish" and poor person who buys that and attempts to use it.

But what do I know about "Yixing?"

[In search of truth]

An internet aquaintance bought a pot at a fleamarket in America for $8 and listed it on Ebay.

It sold for $16,600 so keep looking.

[Drax]

This vendor usually lists Chinese-origin items with very little information, apparently due to lack of experience or expertise. I wonder, though, if part of it is also hoping others will put more value into the items...!

Still a conundrum for me... was it supposed to look like that?

[MarshalN]

This is a poor fake of unknown origin, but $20 is already overpriced.

[TomVerlain]

you can see it was cast. terrible details. might make a nice flower pot if you had an unasuming flower.

[chrl42]

Seller should wash/clean the pot first

[MrMang]

Seller should wash/clean the pot first

I bought this particular teapot actually. So, I will be washing vigorously as soon as it arrives in one week, which I am very excited about.

I'm thinking High-Fired Tie Guan Yin, to go with the absolutely gorgeous dragon theme. Subtle yet bold and striking at the same time.

I am of course, just kidding...

This is a definite WuYi oolong pot.

Mr. M

[Ludwig-1954]

Good afternoon Mr Mang

Most interesting item. The Dragons seem very archaic and show very little detail. The pots body seems to be created from two pieces, molded
from a form. This leads me to the following question: Is that faint line
just above the spout a seam? Other photos seem to indicate that this
line has been covered by a very faint extra chop mark.

I have rarely, actually never seen such rough work in YiXing. This raises further questions on age and provenience. Why should a copyist create such an unlikely piece?
To me, it looks more like the work of an amateur potter. Is it, in fact,
YiXing?

A mystery pot - in fact, I rather like it.

best regards
Patrick B. Ludwig

[TIM]

Seller should wash/clean the pot first

I bought this particular teapot actually. So, I will be washing vigorously as soon as it arrives in one week, which I am very excited about.

I'm thinking High-Fired Tie Guan Yin, to go with the absolutely gorgeous dragon theme. Subtle yet bold and striking at the same time.

I am of course, just kidding...

This is a definite WuYi oolong pot.

Mr. M

I would highly recommend not to use this for brewing tea. Seriously.

[tkellyd]

Hello Drax:

Yup. I've bought stuff from that vendor also, mostly project tetsubin. But I can say that for what it's worth, there aren't too many things that he offers that go around more than once; he does a booming business.

I wasn't watching that pot but I did go into the listing via the link that you supplied. He never says that it was Yixing, so who knows what it is (other than an ugly old pot). May the buyer beware.

My question is this: why would anyone allow anything that they use for food or drink to become as filthy as that pot? Another question: When does dirty ever equate to old, vintage or antique?

- tkellyd

[TIM]

...Another question: When does dirty ever equate to old, vintage or antique?
- tkellyd

Cant agree more. Welcome to TC

[tkellyd]

Hi Tim:

Thank you. Good to be here!

- tkellyd