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After processing the Zisha ore, the resulting Zisha clay features a naturally porous structure and very importantly naturally free from lead except for extremely low trace elements well below the most stringent EU/Japanese standards. Yixing teapots are generally smaller than regular teapots with sizes ranging from just 60ml to 400ml. Teapots below 200ml are great for 1-2 person use, while above 200ml are suitable for larger groups. You may wonder: "How can such a small teapot be practical?" The fact is, Chinese tea is mostly brewed in a traditional 'gongfu' manner. When preparing tea in such a way, more tea is brewed with less water, applying very short infusions. The sames leaves can be resteeped for up to 14 times. To match such practice, smaller teapots and cups are used for traditional tea ceremonies. Yixing Teapot Shapes The ‘Pottery Capital’ produces dragon jars of all sizes, vessels, roof tiles, porcelains, and most important of all, the zisha or ‘purple sand’ teapots and objects for the scholar’s table. The term ‘Yixing ware’ generally refers to the latter — teapots and vessels of rustic elegance long sought after by tea drinkers and scholars of China. After the ore gone through the stone mill it has to be sieved to ensure uniform particle size of the ore dust. At this step, the Potter has to decide what kind of texture he’d like to give to the teapot. The size of the particles is generally referred to as the mesh size (目). A smaller mesh number (30目) gives the pot a rougher look and feels, more texture, while a larger mesh number (80目) results in a smooth surface. There are a few original locations of Yixing clay: Ben Shan, Huang Long Shan, Zhao Zhuang, and Xiao Mei Yao. In 2005, due to the growing popularity of Yixing teapots and to avoid depleting this unique clay, the Chinese government limited the excavation of clay from these prime locations.
Yixing, also known as zisha, is a type of clay from Jiangsu province in China, commonly used to produce teaware such as: teapots, gaiwans, cups, mugs, tumblers and tea pets. Yixing zisha is written as 宜兴紫砂 in Chinese. The Chinese pin yin it’s written as: yíxìng zǐshā. How to pronounce Yixing? We think this is the closest we can get: ‘e-hsin’ What does Yixing/Zisha mean? The unique mineral composition, the heat retaining properties, and air permeability that allows the clay to "breathe" enable this clay to interact with tea, transforming its taste beneficially (when used correctly). Beggars did not say anything and insisted to go. The rich man became anxious, said: "I give you all the possessions. Would you like to exchange?" After the beggar heard, he just smiled and said: "If I could give up this pot, I would not beg to live any longer." CUSTOMS CHARGES: All commercial goods arriving from the UK are subject to VAT, Import Duty and a handling fee in the country receiving the goods.Lao Zini is not an exact term. Some people think, that since Lao (老) means Old, then Lao Zini means Zini, that has been aged for a long time, like 20-30 years or more. However Yixing potters use the term Lao (老) with different meanings, so if you buy a teapot directly from the Artist, make sure to ask what they mean by Lao (老). Usually there’s two things that Lao (老) could mean. Compared to other Zini it contains more sand like particles. After firing it has a grayish-brown color and has the following attributes:
By itself, " fully handmade" means precisely that: made entirely by hands. But what if the maker is not well experienced? What if his (or her) craftsmanship is not on the level yet? On the other hand, when it comes to yixing teapots, half-handmade means that the teapot was made with the help of a mold. And if the mold is well-made, so is the teapot that comes out of it. Not to mention that it takes skills to finish the model that comes out of a mold. Even distinguished artists make half-handmade teapots alongside fully-handmade ones. Here is our article on the subject. Porosity: Unknown, but it can be assumed that it’s in range with other kinds of Zini, and I’d assume it to be similar to Qinghuini. The purple clay teapot originally is Chinese first hand-made clay handicrafts, and its raw materials' origin is in Yixing of Jiangsu Province. So it is also called Yixing purple clay teapot. The purple clay teapot is of function and ornamental.
Since it’s an ancient type of Zini, there are lots of conflicting materials about this clay. It adds to the confusion that no one lives who was able to see the real raw ore from Dashuitan, so there are various kinds of Zini on the market labeled as Tianqingni (Even chemically colored blue teapots). The natural shape generally takes plants and animals as the prototype. Some of these works are directly made with the shape of a variety of items, such as pumpkin pot, persimmon flat pot and so on, and some pots are carved on the body, such as ivy pot, pot of primrose.
Do not use sandpaper or washing cloth to wipe the pot body. A very special tea towel should be used to wipe valuable pot body. The mineral and metal content of Zisha includes iron oxide, kaolinite, quartz and mica, making teapots very strong when fired and resistant to damage compared to more delicate Western pottery. High quality Yixing clay is 3-6 times less absorbent than other clays which helps teapots to retain the fragrance of teas. Yixing pottery is a craft, and women work in every type of craft in China. Unlike other crafts, Yixing ware bears the names of its makers, which means there is evidence of the number of women working in this field. In Yixing, many people know how to make teapots — farmers and their entire families make teapots in winter, although their work cannot be compared to those of the artist potters. 8. What are the qualities new collectors should look for in a Yixing teapot? There should be a good balance between the body and its spout and handle, and the surface should have a pleasing finish. If you intend to use it, test the teapot to make sure it does not leak, and that the water comes out in a stream. However, these teapots are made by master potters and although they may be used for tea, they are also collectors’ items. 9. How should these pieces be displayed and cared for? During the Ming and Qing Dynasties the main source of Zhuni was Zhauzhuangshan and later Hongwei (红卫) Village Mine. There was really few Huanglongshan Zhuni teapots during this time, because Huanglongshan Zhuni comes from the deeper ore layers and therefore it was difficult to mine. However Huanglongshan Zhuni became more common during the 20th Century with the advancement of technology. The Zhuni at Huanglongshan has a smaller shrinkage ratio which allows it to be made into bigger teapots.
How rare is ZiSha clay? Is Yixing clay extinct?
The finished Zhuni teapot has a very dense structure, and is therefore the least porous of all Zisha, almost like porcelain in nature. The color of the teapot after firing spans a range of reds: brownish, bright, orange and dark. Lüni — 绿泥 — Green Clay Tianqingni (天青泥) is a Legendary Zisha. It was the most prized clay of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and was already rare during those times. Many potters dream is, to work with it in their life. This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sourcesin this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( January 2013) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message) Generally speaking, the more porous clays pair well with darker teas that should have a more rounded taste, and lesser absorbent clays pair better with lighter teas. Please note that to test the pour speed properly, you must use hot water and ensure that the pot is pre-heated and wet (including the lid).
To use the Yixing teapot, add loose tea leaves to the teapot, then fill it with hot water. Let the tea steep for the desired time, then pour it into cups. Repeat the brewing process until the tea has reached the desired strength. It is essential to use a separate Yixing teapot for each type of tea to preserve its unique flavor and aroma. Clean the teapot after each use, and store in a dry place. How to clean Yixing teapot First, the pot may be full of strange odors, so you have to throw away the residue out of it and pour hot water to wash the inner side of the pot. Then, pour out the hot water and dip the pot in the cool water. As a result of it, this odor is gone. Earth-clay” is typically used to make mid-grade quality teapots which are widely available in many designs at affordable prices. The superior “stone-clay” is known as Zisha or “Purple Clay” (even though the colour of the clay may not necessarily be purple).
What are the main types of Yixing clay?
Tea is essentially a sacred practice in Britain, and so it’s no surprise that we have a fascination with all things tea. Today then, we’ll be taking a look at the five most valuable teapotsin the world. Image courtesy of 4537668 on pixabaythrough the pixabay license 1. The Egoist
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