Li Gua XIAO MEI YAO ZHUNI Teapot | Yixing Zisha
梨瓜 - 小煤窑朱泥 | 宜兴紫砂
Artist: Wang Jie, National Associate Master of Arts & Crafts
Clay: Xiao Mei Yao Zhuni
Capacity: 170ml
Pour Time: 8s
Made in Dingshan, Yixing
Unique Lot Numbers: 4051-2, 4051-3
A fully handmade piece in a gorgeous Zhuni from Xiao Mei Yao.
Artist Wang Jie has skillfully crafted this thin-walled piece in a high-fired Zhuni clay that rings crystalline clear and pure, and a textured skin with subtle wrinkling and a deep luster.
The body is full and abundant with a seductive curve. The handle is ultra-delicate and svelte, providing an easy grip for the fingers to control this full-bodied pot. The lid is reminiscent of the stalk of a ripe pear, while the spout gives a strong, clean flow. Artist Wang Jie has also hand crafted with great skill the inward-sunken (纳底 na di) base, an extremely difficult and time-consuming element, but which elevates the entire piece.
This teapot is a joy to use, sitting stable on the tea table, with an interior that easily accommodates the largest leaves and infuses beautifully well. The interior boasts a "pushed-in" style filter (内推孔), which although much more difficult to execute, ensures a smooth and even pour.
ABOUT THE CLAY
Zhuni clay is best known for its beautiful red luster and highly neutral properties when brewing tea. A high-quality Zhuni teapot should give a clean and bright, almost metallic sound when lid is lowered or raised, evidence of solid craftsmanship and thorough high-temperature firing. Zhuni has a high shrinkage rate when firing, which can result in low yields, so great skill is needed in working with this clay. Da Hong Pao is an informal designation given to the highest grades of Zhuni, typically exhibiting a rich but natural red coloration and a perfectly-formed, tactile "skin".
