Capacity: Approximately 140ml
This teapot was reduction fired in a gas kiln (fired in a reduced oxygen environment) as opposed to the typical oxidation firing used for Yixing Teapots. Unlike wuhui reduction firing (see article here) this environment was at a higher temperature and did not involve the use of hay.
This Yixing Teapot is made from Original Ore Huangjin Duan 原矿黄金段. The clay has a rich golden colour when oxidation fired in the kiln, giving it the name "Huangjin," meaning gold in Chinese. Like all of our Yixing clay, this is made of original ore, meaning the Yixing clay was processed without adding other clays or pigments. Huangjin duan is a rarer type of duanni. Like other duanni, huangjin duan is favoured for rounding out the harsher notes of some teas. It is very porous compared to other zisha and is better at retaining heat.
You can read more about Huangjin Duan and the other types of duanni in our article here.
This pot is known as "half-handmade" as the sculptor shapes the main body by hand using a moulding tool. The handle, spout, holes, and the finishing touches are done by hand. 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.
A sample of this clay was sent for testing by an independent lab using Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry (EDXRF). EDXRF is a preferred method for testing, as it is non-destructive, and provides immediate data on the elemental composition of the material. The results (testing sheet photo included below) show no chemical additives. For more information on the testing and what the results mean, please see this article.
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.