Context (Field collection)
Collected in 2004-5 by Geoffey Gowlland during PhD fieldwork
Event Date 2005
Author: rachel hand

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, due 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 "constructed" out of shapes cut out of 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 exactly; quality of the clay.A note on the technique used: the body of the pot is at first shaped in a round mould. The ribbing effect is achieved by pushing the clay with a hand-held tool made of buffalo horn.
Event Date 25/4/2005
Author: maa

Description (CMS Description)
Teapot and lid made from a pale yellow-brown clay with a ribbed design, named ‘eight petal chrysanthemum teapot’.A: Teapot standing on four small feet. Stamp on base gives maker’s name.B: Lid. Two stamps on the inside give the maker’s name.
Event Date 25/4/2005
Author: maa