Man Piao (满瓢) Zini Yixing Teapot

Man Piao Zini Gongfu Teapot | Yixing Zisha 
满瓢 紫泥 功夫小品 | 宜兴紫砂

Artist:  Qian Hong
Clay:   Zini
Capacity:    145ml
Pour Time:    7s
Made in Dingshan, Yixing

A traditional shape, done in a particularly excellent Zini clay from the artist's family collection. We are enamored with this specific Zini clay for its very rich reddish-purple overtones which lend it a regal appearance (it has been used in other Qian Hong and Xia Ming Jie pieces which we also offer). With use, it will continue to develop an even more lustrous purple hue!

This design is closely reminiscent of traditional Shi Piao pots, with its recognizable trapezoidal shape. In this piece, the sides are less sloped making the body fuller and the mouth wider, hence it has been named Man Piao (满 Man meaning "full"). It thus retains the classic character of Shi Piao designs, while vastly improving the usability of the pot with the wider mouth allowing for larger chunks or broad-leaved teas to be placed/removed easily.

Commissioned from a veteran Zisha house, the Xia family, whose legacy includes having headed the Zisha production department of a Tier One ceramics and tea-ware manufacturer in the ‘90s. The artist Qian Hong is daughter-in-law to the Xia patriarch and is herself an experience artisan specializing in traditional pieces with a strong sense of function.

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 hot water. Dry the exterior gently with a soft cloth if needed to remove any stains that remain.
4. Air dry in a well-ventilated area with the lid removed.

Other Tips:
- Never use detergent or any other cleaning agent on Zisha!
- Our Zisha is top 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.