Plum Blossom Breeze (梅风•沁心) Golden Duan Ni Yixing Teapot

Plum Blossom Breeze Golden Duan Ni Teapot | Yixing Zisha 
沁心•梅风 - 黄金段泥|宜兴紫砂

Artist:    Zhong Ze Liang, Associate Master of Arts and Crafts
Clay:    Golden Duan Ni 黄金段泥
Capacity:    130ml
Pour Time:    5s
Made in artist's studio in old Factory 1 grounds, Dingshan, Yixing 

This is an original creation from the young artisan and prodigy Zhong Ze Liang, a highly gifted craftsman and designer working in the studio of National Master Shi Yin Zhi.
An elegant piece in high grade Golden Duan Ni (黄金段泥) from HuangLong Shan Mountain. The form is brilliantly executed, with a balance between lightness and breadth. The name of this pot in Chinese roughly means "a plum blossom breeze refreshes the heart".

Plum Blossoms, heralding spring, are exquisitely carved across the both sides of the body and lid with continuity. In contrast to its delicate appearance, the pour of this teapot is strong and quick. Very few pieces available -- our highest recommendation.

ABOUT THE CLAY
This superb clay was purchased from the collection of Li Hong Yuan* (李洪元). This is a superb example of pure HuangLong Shan Golden Duan Ni, named for its radiant glow after firing especially viewed under sunlight. Unlike many other duan ni clays, this does not have a dark/dull undertone, but rather an internal radiance enhanced by the interspersion of darker and lighter colored specks adding texture. 

Master Li is a renowned artisan, educator and collector of Yixing zisha, best known for publishing what has become the modern bible on zisha clay, a comprehensive 1000+page pictorial encyclopedia on clay ores and firing results. While not a major clay factory, his hand-selected clays are exceptional in quality and stand apart from those purchased on the broader market.

Click here to learn more about this studio: The House of Shi

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.