Favourite Yixing teapot shape

[bagua7]

There are countless shapes, I have listed some of the main ones including classic shapes like shui ping/biao zhun (water level), xi shi (female breast), duo qiu (drop ball), shi piao (stone scoop) and li xing (pear shape).

My favourite is biao zhun, the standard form of Factory 1 mass-produced of the original shui ping shape in Early R.O.C.:

[fdrx]

I couldn't find it in the list, so...

[tingjunkie]

^ Nice!

It might help if you post examples or translations for each. Even a western Yixing geek like me doesn't know a third of those you listed.

[tea_love]

+ 1 shuiping shape. For some unknown reasons I especially love the shape...

[brandon]

The well proportioned Si Ting is like a dream...

[debunix]

It might help if you post examples or translations for each. Even a western Yixing geek like me doesn't know a third of those you listed.

+1. I've followed threads here enough to have an opinion but only know most of them by photos of examples.

[bagua7]

Not a problem at all, I was hoping other users would provide the corresponding pics. Here are some:



De Zhong



Han Bian



Liu Fang (it belongs to the geometrical category; I know someone who love this sort of pot but they are not my cup of tea, unfortunately)



Li Xing (one my favourite types but not easy to find one with a perfect symmetry).



Qing Quan



Rou Bian & Tai Jian



Rong Tian



Tseng Lan



Wen Dan

[tingjunkie]

Hard to pick just one, so I won't. The classic Shui Ping is an obvious choice of course. I happen to be a sucker for a nicely proportioned Duo Qiu too.

For some reason I seem to be in the minority on this one, but I really love the old school export to Japan pots like these (no idea what the name of the shape is)...


I just love the simple rustic country charm.

[wyardley]

For some reason I seem to be in the minority on this one, but I really love the old school export to Japan pots like these (no idea what the name of the shape is)...

I think jù lún zhū (巨輪珠) refers to this general style (round pot with a cannon spout -- short, wide, and straight). There's an Art of Tea article about it (issue 9, p 64). This refers to all of them, and not just the ones with the disk shaped button, which, as I understand it, is more common on later examples.

[tingjunkie]

Great info wyardley! Thanks.

[debunix]

I voted for the flying saucer Tia Jian, strictlymn aesthetic grounds. The little "yixing" that I have are virtually all shui ping, however,as those were the right size and cheap when I was at my local teashop.

[bagua7]

The well proportioned Si Ting is like a dream...

+1

Particularly in reference to real old zhu ni:

http://www.penchant.com.sg/teapot006.htm



I missed that shape on my poll.

[Alex]

Female breast shape for me.

My first pot was a Xi Shi and that pot was my favourite. I've never felt so connected to a pot as I did that one.

[tkellyd]

Ha ha, Alex. Very funny . . .

[Tead Off]

Here's my version of Bagua's Tseng Lan shape (well railing).

80's Zisha.
90ml
Tseng Lan form.
Purchased in late 80's in HK.
Can we call it 'true' zisha, both purple and sand?
Actual color a bit darker.
Currently nude without the leash (no photo).

Tseng Lan .jpg (50.41 KiB) Viewed 7175 times