Context (CMS Context)
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.The seal used to stamp the base of the teapot originally belonged to Gu Jingzhou.(bio): Zhao Jianghua, born in 1950, was the personal doctor of master Gu Jingzhou before he became his last student. This teapot reproduces a design by Gu Jingzhou, perfected from a traditional shape. (bio): Geoffrey Gowlland.
Event Date 25/4/2005
Author: maa

Description (CMS Description)
Round teapot ‘in the shape of a drum’, made from dark brown clay. A: Teapot. Stamp on base of teapot is a line of poetry. Stamp at base of handle gives maker’s name. B: Lid. Stamp inside lid gives maker’s name.
Event Date 25/4/2005
Author: maa