Greetings everyone!
I have been lurking on this wonderful site and have learned a lot. I did not know much when I first went shopping for teapots so I was only looking for what I think looks and feels right, aesthetically.
Unfortunately, I believe I purchased three pots that have been coated with something. I poured hot water in and on them and when I wiped away the water, for 2 of the 3, a bit of the colour was left on the cloth. I purchased them for quite cheap so I was not expecting anything (300NT each) but I do want it to be healthy for use. I am afraid that this coating will leech into the tea and there is a possibility of ingesting small doses of whatever it is over time.
useable? or should i exchange them?
teapot outer surface different than inside. *pics added
Last edited by sunday on Apr 2nd, '09, 01:48, edited 2 times in total.
sorry, i am currently uploading images from my phone and converting. it is very slow going... images to come.
i believe they are made of a fine clay, unglazed.
EDIT:
this one is 6oz
the colour comes off very noticeably. from the image you can see the lines made from me trying to rub off the colour. it could be an entire coat of shoe polish... i have no idea. the colour is obviously different from inside. i never considered when buying that it could be "painted".
this one is 5oz
the colour barely is noticed on the cloth but it still comes off. from the image and in person it is very hard to tell a difference between the inside and the outside. it only looks like it is a bit shinier outside.
this one is 3oz
the colour on the outside is different than the inside. though on this one, no matter how hard i scrub the colour does not come off. what i expect from buying any kind of pottery. though because of the difference in colour i am wondering if this one is no good too...
i believe they are made of a fine clay, unglazed.
EDIT:
this one is 6oz
the colour comes off very noticeably. from the image you can see the lines made from me trying to rub off the colour. it could be an entire coat of shoe polish... i have no idea. the colour is obviously different from inside. i never considered when buying that it could be "painted".
this one is 5oz
the colour barely is noticed on the cloth but it still comes off. from the image and in person it is very hard to tell a difference between the inside and the outside. it only looks like it is a bit shinier outside.
this one is 3oz
the colour on the outside is different than the inside. though on this one, no matter how hard i scrub the colour does not come off. what i expect from buying any kind of pottery. though because of the difference in colour i am wondering if this one is no good too...
Apr 2nd, '09, 01:53
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nada
Apr 2nd, '09, 02:05
Posts: 1574
Joined: Dec 30th, '08, 21:16
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The question of health risk is one that should be asked concerning any clay that is used in teapot production. There are many contaminants in the water and soil all over China and in other countries that do not test the clay for these pollutants. This is a fact. You know nothing about the clay of your pots or the source. Only that the exterior color is different and comes off a bit. The exterior could have been polished to give a richer color. Not sure. But the bigger question still remains about the clay in general.sunday wrote:the thing is, i actually really like them all. i was wondering if it is a health risk to have this coating or not.
with the yellow one the colour does not come off. would that be okay even if the colour is different inside than out?
^^ yes, there was a dust in them which i had rinsed out but i never wiped because the surface is slightly rougher than outside.
^ the shopkeeper said that they were made in taiwan, i have no idea how to tell a good clay from bad. these pots are of good construction and pour well with no leaks. basically all i can really examine with my little experience.
here are stamps for two of them (though i do not know if of any use they could be)
brown pot
red pot
the yellow pot has the same stamp as the red one.
^ the shopkeeper said that they were made in taiwan, i have no idea how to tell a good clay from bad. these pots are of good construction and pour well with no leaks. basically all i can really examine with my little experience.
here are stamps for two of them (though i do not know if of any use they could be)
brown pot
red pot
the yellow pot has the same stamp as the red one.
I am told that the clay in Taiwan is often of good quality and not polluted. Maybe you can ask the shop you bought them from for more information about the clay and why the color is coming off the exterior. They are both attractive pots.sunday wrote:^^ yes, there was a dust in them which i had rinsed out but i never wiped because the surface is slightly rougher than outside.
^ the shopkeeper said that they were made in taiwan, i have no idea how to tell a good clay from bad. these pots are of good construction and pour well with no leaks. basically all i can really examine with my little experience.
The black pot does look like a Taiwanese pot in its construction and overall look.
Have you cleaned the pots at all? Do keep in mind that when you wipe off dirt/grime, it can be dark and look like you're wiping off colour, especially the black one. Clays do have different colour inside/outside though. That's not uncommon. Same for the shine.
Without better pictures (and maybe the dirty cloth?) it's hard to tell what's going on.
Have you cleaned the pots at all? Do keep in mind that when you wipe off dirt/grime, it can be dark and look like you're wiping off colour, especially the black one. Clays do have different colour inside/outside though. That's not uncommon. Same for the shine.
Without better pictures (and maybe the dirty cloth?) it's hard to tell what's going on.
tead off - i think i will go tomorrow and ask. though really what should i expect to hear? she can say anything really and i will not know any better.
odarwin - that is disconcerting to hear about the clay.
i do not really care if they are fake, but i do care if they are a health risk.
yes, nada's point is good, but i have yet to find a pot that i like with similar colour. there are expensive brown ones and blue ones that i like, but maybe these colours are achieved by chemicals too since blue is most likely not a natural colour for clay... i still find it hard to plunk down 4000NT for a pot even though many are works of art and are worth it.
marshalN - i just rinsed them and wiped them with a cloth. initially the brown one had more colour come off. i just heated the pots and wiped again for a picture and there is very little coming off now.
sorry about the pictures. all i have is a camera phone and those were all using the "close-up" feature so that is as close as i can get with my phone.
*edit - oops i had the images resized. i will crop close ups and provide links.
here is the picture of a rag:
top left is the brown 1st pot.
bottom right is the red 2nd pot.
the third yellow pot never had any colour come off on the cloth.
odarwin - that is disconcerting to hear about the clay.
i do not really care if they are fake, but i do care if they are a health risk.yes, nada's point is good, but i have yet to find a pot that i like with similar colour. there are expensive brown ones and blue ones that i like, but maybe these colours are achieved by chemicals too since blue is most likely not a natural colour for clay... i still find it hard to plunk down 4000NT for a pot even though many are works of art and are worth it.
marshalN - i just rinsed them and wiped them with a cloth. initially the brown one had more colour come off. i just heated the pots and wiped again for a picture and there is very little coming off now.
sorry about the pictures. all i have is a camera phone and those were all using the "close-up" feature so that is as close as i can get with my phone.
*edit - oops i had the images resized. i will crop close ups and provide links.
here is the picture of a rag:
top left is the brown 1st pot.
bottom right is the red 2nd pot.
the third yellow pot never had any colour come off on the cloth.
Last edited by sunday on Apr 2nd, '09, 11:02, edited 1 time in total.
Seeing how the colour is not coming off now -- are you absolutely sure it's not just dirt/stains that you were rubbing off?
I ask because I've been to many tea stores where the pots languish on the shelves for years before getting sold. Not all of them are in exactly clean condition, and it's not uncommon to have a pot that has some grime on it when you take it home. That stuff will come off easily.
If it's paint/pigment that will wipe off, then the paint should continue to wipe off until it's all gone.
I ask because I've been to many tea stores where the pots languish on the shelves for years before getting sold. Not all of them are in exactly clean condition, and it's not uncommon to have a pot that has some grime on it when you take it home. That stuff will come off easily.
If it's paint/pigment that will wipe off, then the paint should continue to wipe off until it's all gone.
the colour still comes off only it is slight. if it were dirt and grime it would not be the colour of the pot. it is only the yellow pot that never had colour come off.
here are links of the original images not resized.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v177/ ... 2903-1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v177/ ... 2907-1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v177/ ... 2913-1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v177/ ... 2920-1.jpg
here are links of the original images not resized.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v177/ ... 2903-1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v177/ ... 2907-1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v177/ ... 2913-1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v177/ ... 2920-1.jpg