Description (Physical description)
Square teapot ‘in the shape of a bell’, with the stamps giving the name of the maker on the base of the pot, under the lid and at the base of the handle. Teapot made of dark brown clay.
Event Date
Author: Eleanor Wilkinson

Context (Acquisition Details)
Made by Yao Zhiyuan, born in 1971, has the title of arts and crafts master. He is the son of much renowned master Wang Yinxian, and his style is reminiscent of hers, characterised by rounded and full shapes, and mastery in the imitation of natural shapes.
Event Date 2004
Author: rachel hand

Context (Field collection)
Collected in 2004 by Geoffey Gowlland during PhD fieldwork
Event Date 2004
Author: rachel hand

Context (Found together / assemblage)
The object is accompanied by: a card with a photograph of a teapot on one side and details of artist Pan Tao on the other; a note on a scrap of white paper with six Chinese characters written on it in black ink, giving the name of the artist and the name of the pot.
Event Date 2004
Author: Eleanor Wilkinson

Context (Production / use)
Dingshu town is known in China as the "pottery capital". Such teapots have been produced in the area at least since the 16th century. They are known as "zisha" or "purple sand" ware, referring to the peculiar hue of one of the types of clay used. Teapots made from the clay found in the region are said to make the best vessels for brewing tea, due to the properties of the clay, in particular its exceptional porosity. This has insured their popularity over the Chinese territory and overseas, in particular in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Japan. They are very rarely glazed, as this would impair the properties of the clay. These tea vessels were the first type of Chinese ceramics to be exported to Europe, during the 17th century, and historically were exported to Thailand and Japan.Zisha teapots are made from sheets of leather-hard clay. In the case of round teapots, the sheet of clay is wrapped around a round base, and "patted" into shape using a round disk or hand-turned wheel. 

A peculiarity of the zisha tradition is that, since the 16th century, craftsmen stamp their name on the pot, usually on the base, under the lid and sometimes under the handle. This practice was interrupted during the time of the Cultural Revolution, where only the stamps of work units could be applied to pots. There are four main designs in Yixing pottery, round, square, ribbed, and naturalistic (made to resemble trees, fruit, vegetables or animals). Basic criteria for evaluating a pot are: balance, in particular the handle and spout should aesthetically balance each other out; harmony of the different elements (body, lid, handle and spout); technique, for instance spout and handle should be exactly aligned, and the lid should fit perfectly; quality of the clay.
Event Date 2004
Author: maa

Description (Physical description)
Square teapot ‘in the shape of a bell’, with the stamps giving the name of the maker on the base of the pot, under the lid and at the base of the handle. “A: Teapot made of dark brown clay.B: Lid.C-E: Box and packaging. The teapot is packed in its own wooden box (C) with a separate slide-in lid (D). Inside the box, the teapot is supported by a polystyrene stand. The box is lined with purple synthetic velvet. Under the lid is a pad (E), covered with purle synthetic velvet on one side and bright yellow synthetic silk on the other, with a red silk ribbon for removal. T.Cadbury, 7/6/2004.”
Event Date 2004
Author: maa