He Huan Golden Duanni Teapot | Yixing Zisha
合欢 黄金段泥 | 宜兴紫砂
Artist: Wu Hong Fang, ranked "Arts & Crafts Master"
Clay: Golden Duanni
Capacity: 160ml
Made in artist's studio in the old Factory 1 grounds, Dingshan, Yixing
ABOUT THE TEAPOT
A traditional, challenging shape executed beautifully by Master Wu Hong Fang, in an excellent Golden Duanni clay.
He Huan can be translated as "Joyous Harmony". It is attributed to the legendary Qing-era Literati figure Chen Man Sheng (陈曼生), who is renowned for designing 18 of the most enduring forms in Yixing history (曼生十八式), of which the He Huan is one. The rounded, symmetrical top-and-bottom halves have been said to symbolize a set of cymbals played in festivity, or a pair of wedding cups. In essence, the He Huan shape is undoubtedly a celebration of happiness, wholeness and spiritual harmony.
Technically, this is a shape that is difficult to execute -- achieving perfect proportion and balance between the two halves is critical, echoed by the lid and then again by the lid knob. Master Wu's grasp of the form here is impeccable, abundant and full without being overly heavy, while the spout curves forward and ends briskly, lending grace and upward motion. The joining and finishing (明针) work on this shape is critical given the multiple inflection points, with many mass-produced pieces falling short -- here, Master Wu's work is spectacular.
The creator of this piece is Master Wu Hong Fang, a senior Zisha artist who started her career as Zisha apprentice in factory 1 in the 80s. She works wonders with her signature clays of Zini, Di Cao Qing and Jiang Po Ni, each piece retaining the glazed iron color and stone-textured finish.
CARE OF YOUR ZISHA:
1. To clean your new teapot, first rinse well inside and out with lukewarm water. Then fill with hot water just off the boil, steep for 30s and pour out. Repeat the hot water rinse 2-3 times as needed.
2. Brew your favorite tea!
3. After the session, empty the spent leaf and rinse out well with lukewarm water. Dry the exterior gently with a soft cloth if needed to remove any stains that remain.
4. Air dry in a well-ventilated are with the lid removed.
other tips:
- Never use detergent or any other cleaning agent on Zisha!
- Our Zisha is to quality; boiling with tea leaves (or tofu) before use is not needed.
- Your teapot will develop a patina through regular use and care. Avoid pouring tea over the exterior of the pot to hasten the process, this will quickly result in a “dirty” looking pot.
