Size: Approximately 400ml
We are very excited to be able to offer these teapots made of original ore TianQingNi 天青泥. The legendary TianQingNi 天青泥 was believed to be the finest purple clay (zini) in Yixing, and was prized above other kinds of zini for making teapots during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The clay is a dark liver colour and has faint flecks of yellow on the surface, which are traces of lipini, the yellow clay found alongside TianQingNi ore.
You can read more about the processing of TianQingNi from raw ore to finished teapot here.
You can read more about the history of this legendary clay here.
This teapot shape is known as Sangbian 桑扁. This teapot is known as "half-handmade" as the sculptor uses a molding tool to shape the body, and uses his hands for the handle, spout, holes, and smoothing out the body. In fact, no machine was used in it's shaping as the use of the tool is entirely manual.
You can read more about half handmade teapots in our blog entry here.
This teapot was made by Lin Hanpeng and Chen Chunhong Studio.
Preparation Before Use
Yixing Teapots should be prepared before using the first time. This is called "opening the pot". It removes the dust from firing the teapot. We recommend rinsing the teapot under warm water two or three times, then filling the teapot with boiling water and emptying it out two to three times. After this the teapot is ready for use.