Mystery Dragon Tea Pot / Twine-node pot

[SilentChaos]

I was given this pot....and as usually with no info. And I have no idea what it might be either...especially with the strange looking belt around the walls. Hope the teapot experts might shed some light? Much appreciated.

The writing is I think in old style so I don't fully recognize it....

[Poohblah]

Way cool! I like the use of different color clay for the eyes of the dragon. It has a ball filter and looks to be wheel thrown, both of which are unusual for Chinese pottery, from my understanding.

Yes, chops are almost always in the archaic script. They can be fun to try to decipher

[SilentChaos]

mmmm....looking closely inside...does now seem wheel thrown..but not seeing lines inside lid. Maybe need magnifying glasses
Think I figured out the top right and the left character....no idea about the bottom right character though.

[MarshalN]

Eehh.... Gu Jingzhou? I don't think so. This is one of those really cheap pots that are best not used for tea - I'm not sure what the clay is, but it doesn't look promising.

I'd avoid using this if possible.

[SilentChaos]

Eehh.... Gu Jingzhou? I don't think so. This is one of those really cheap pots that are best not used for tea - I'm not sure what the clay is, but it doesn't look promising.

I'd avoid using this if possible.

Is it because of something bad in the clay?
Ahhh...okay I see how the characters read Gu Jingzhou now. Gotta be a fake and a poor fake.

[teaisme]

I do enjoy the handle area of the pot, minus the white eyes

If you do end up not using it, it would make a very nice plant pot, especially cool if you could get something to grow into the spout and out of the head

[SilentChaos]

hehe...that's a way cool idea!

Still wondering though...I should avoid using it because it won't make good tea or is it that I should avoid using it because it might be...somewhat poisonous?
Btw, the water and the little tea bit stuck in the ball filter is from my trial brew with the pot.

[teaisme]

Did you clean it first? it still looks dirty

might be...somewhat poisonous?

I think that's the underlying fear of use here.

Tea taste ok?

[SilentChaos]

This is the weird thing. When I first got it, it was unused and clean clean. So I in my infinitely limited wisdom decided to boil it first in just water then in some pu. When everything dried, the outside of the pot had this white 'layer' over it as seen in pic

[fire_snake]

This is the weird thing. When I first got it, it was unused and clean clean. So I in my infinitely limited wisdom decided to boil it first in just water then in some pu. When everything dried, the outside of the pot had this white 'layer' over it as seen in pic

The white residue is probably just the leftover minerals from the water.

[TIM]

This is the weird thing. When I first got it, it was unused and clean clean. So I in my infinitely limited wisdom decided to boil it first in just water then in some pu. When everything dried, the outside of the pot had this white 'layer' over it as seen in pic

The white residue is probably just the leftover minerals from the water.

Or wax? For planting only, not for tea.

[SilentChaos]

hmmm...the result of wax being boiled or left over minerals. Wasn't really a shiny shiny pot to begin with though? hmmmm. The trial brew tea came out fine, but since it's a fake, possibly not good to use plus too big, don't think I'm even going to take it with me. Going to just leave on shelf somewhere and have it look cool here.

[chrl42]

hmm..looks like an imitation of lower kind..

[crazy_ducky]

This is the weird thing. When I first got it, it was unused and clean clean. So I in my infinitely limited wisdom decided to boil it first in just water then in some pu. When everything dried, the outside of the pot had this white 'layer' over it as seen in pic

Try clean it with used tea leaves. It bought life back to my teapot, try it.

[SilentChaos]

Great Idea. I shall try that. Much appreciated for all the helpful advice from everyone.