Is this hand made Zhu Ni teapot?

[bum486]

konv1.4.JPG (30.45 KiB) Viewed 3283 times

Hello tea lovers,
I have been drinking tea for some time now, I have got almost everything I need to prepare a good cup of chinese tea. But there is one thing I long the most for. An authentic Zhu Ni clay teapot. I got an offer from some tealover for one teapot. He says it is authentic hand made Zhu Ni teapot from 1970-1980. The price is 100 USD. My question is: Is this really the hand made Zhu Ni clay teapot best used for Sheng Puerh I have been looking for?

Thank you for answer. )

[MarshalN]

Clay looks a little funny. Any shots of the pot that doesn't involve flash and, also, can we see the interior?

[bryan_drinks_tea]

I'm thinking it's slip cast, and it looks like the handle was trimmed by hand, but I can't tell you for sure about the rest of the pot.

[spinmail]

Zhu Ni ware has a clear, ringing tone when the lid and pot are struck - not unlike a bell. Check out this video for a demo:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_OoIxP5zYE

[TuoChaTea]

It's hard to say without seeing the inside, but it doesn't feel hand made to me. Actually, it doesn't look like zhu ni either, probably it's hong ni, red clay. I have a hong ni pot from 80's, the clay looks very similar.

[MarshalN]

Zhu Ni ware has a clear, ringing tone when the lid and pot are struck - not unlike a bell. Check out this video for a demo:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_OoIxP5zYE

I wouldn't use the ring tone as a guide - there's a lot of false positives if you go by that.

[bum486]

As you told me, I asked the seller for some additional photos. He also says the ringbell sound is not unlike the youtube video posted above. Hope the photos will be helpful.

[chrl42]

mere 孟臣 two letters are late-Qing~ROC Pot style. Reportedly, almost half of antique Zhuni have mengchen-related seal or carving.

The bottom looks it's pressed with a wood stamp, though the looking is weird.

Quick opinion, I'd give 60% of credibility for authenticity, but I'm no expert y'all know...


Is there a pic of inner-lid?

IMO, pic of lid-inside, carving style are most important from online-checking

of course, clay quality and firing condition are most important, but online has a limitation for it

[MarshalN]

These stamps are faked en masse in the 80s by Taiwanese, so using stamps to check is almost pointless.

The non-flash pics look a bit better. For $100 it might not be too bad.

[bum486]

So you are saying guys that I should take it? It should be good for sheng puerh right?:)

[chrl42]

These stamps are faked en masse in the 80s by Taiwanese, so using stamps to check is almost pointless.

The non-flash pics look a bit better. For $100 it might not be too bad.

end of 80's to 90's, there were many Zhunis ordered by the Taiwanese. Most of them were poetry-carved ones.

There was also 60's Zhuni which is harder to check the originality, during 60's Factory-1 and some still used Dragon Kiln as well.

[tst]

So you are saying guys that I should take it? It should be good for sheng puerh right?:)

From what I've read around here and elsewhere, pot-tea pairing is a tricky thing, and just because a pot is a certain clay doesn't guarantee it will pair well with a certain type of tea.

Most recommend trial and error, though for what it's worth, I've read many say zini (qing shui ni or possibly pin zi ni) pairs best with puerh.

Good luck.

[bum486]

This particular teapot was used to brew sheng puerh for a couple of years, so I think it might be all right.

[TIM]

This particular teapot was used to brew sheng puerh for a couple of years, so I think it might be all right.

Its that important if its handmade or half handmade? Just curious of why that matters?

[bum486]

I am just curious what I am paying for, you know. And I guess hand made teapots are usually more expensive and rare than a half hand made.