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Known as the “Pottery capital of China”, Yixing (pronounced ee-shing) is famous for its Zisha (Purple) clay teapots which is also know as Yixing teapots
First appeared during the Bei Song Dynasty (960 - 1127 AD) Yixing teapot has to this date over one thousand years of history in China. However it was largely unknown for hundreds of years and not until the late Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644 AD) that when their use and production began to flourish in China. Later high demand from Europe and throughout China fueled the teapot industry in Yixing where many craftsmen developed and mastered their own unique techniques over generations. For the following hundreds of years, Yixing teapot gradually attained reputation throughout China and Europe.
Yixing teapots are made from a special type of clay called Zisha (purple clay) found only in the region of Yixing - hence the name Yixing teapot. If measured by rarity and scarcity, the value of pure purple clay is even more expensive than gold! Comparing to other clays, the purple clay has higher concentration of iron and most importantly it is free from lead and other health damaging substances.
The unique sandy textured purple clay together with the unglazed inside finish gives the teapot an excellent property of retaining heat and thus allowing the teapot to enhance the taste, color, and aroma of the teas. The purple clay occurs naturally in five different colors namely purple, red, buff yellow, green and black, which can be used independently or mixed together to achieve the desired colors and texture. Other colors are also possible by adding minerals to the clay.
If you are new to Yixing teapots you will be surprised by their small size (usually between 4.5oz and 13.5oz) which was traditionally intended for individual use and drinking directly from the spout. Today high quality Yixing teapots are prized not just by tea connoisseurs in the Asian countries but also increasingly by art collectors around the world - Yixing teapots made by senior masters are highly collectible and can have price tags of many, many thousands of dollars.
However, not all Yixing teapots are made the same and possess high artistic and investment value. For those new and inexperienced the only differences between different Yixing teapots are simply their shapes, colors and prices. (To learn more click on the image on the left) In fact there are big price differences for Yixing teapots and one can easily purchase a teapot for just a few dollars or less in an open market. However these low cost teapots are mass produced using moulds or imitations made by factory potters who have very little knowledge of Zisha or by very junior trainee artisans who are still learning about the art of Zisha. Also, these teapots are likely to use low cost clays probably from unknown origin, which may not be suitable for use as drinking utensils. Generally speaking, a Yixing teapot is judged and priced based on five basic factors namely the quality of the clay, the artistic appeal, the craftsmanship, functional performance and finally the achievement (grade and level of skills) of the artist. Among all of these factors, the achievement and the name (reputation) of the artists have perhaps the biggest influence on the prices for the teapots.
For the collectors every Yixing teapot has an unspeakable appeal and beauty, and for those who are new to Zisha, holding a beautifully handcrafted Yixing teapot in their hands for the first time will quickly make them appreciate that their teapot is more than just a teapot - it’s a work of art and it’s an investment.
Here at deeho, we have gathered a selection of some of the best Yixing teapots for you to choose from, all handmade by highly regarded teapot artists in Yixing and most of them have received national awards for their works and named in books and journals. To ensure authenticity, every Yixing teapot we sell carries a stamped certificate issued by the artist and sometimes with a photograph showing the teapot and the artist together. Also each teapot is marked with the artist’s seal to authenticates the teapot.
Please note that our Yixing teapots are handmade by the named artists and as they don’t mass produce their teapots (usually only one or two available at a time) so in case a teapot you ordered is out of stock it will takes the artists 7 to 20 days to produce another one.
The stated capacity is approximation only.
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