History of Purple Clay Pots

According to the Chinese history and archaeologists, purple clay had been used by Chinese people since Song dynasty around 1000 years ago.  Based on the broken pieces archaeologists found, the purple clay was used for basic pots for boiling water, etc...

Only until Ming dynasty, we found the first craftsman in purple clay teapots in our history book.  His name was Gong Chun (供春).  We cannot find his work anymore but there are some replications.

Replica of Gong Chun teapot

However, the beginning of "modern" way of crafting purple clay teapots started with Shi Daibin (時大彬).  His father together with many craftsmen and himself during that period of time developed unique craftsmanship which left us many great teapots...   

By Shi Daibin around 1616

By Shi Daibin around 1610

Purple Clay with Carved Lacquer Teapot by Shi

Since then, the purple clay teapots are very popular, not only for drinking tea, but for art collection by kings, government officials, and rich people...

In particular during the Qing dynasty, many famous masters are found and these teapots are kept by museums and collectors all over the world today...

Pumpkin Teapot by Chen Mingyuan (陳鳴遠) during Qing dynasty

Half Moon Tile Teapot by Chen Mansheng (陳曼生), a very famous master in Qing

Most Popular Material for Teapots

During the 60's in Hong Kong, most of the teapots we used at home were basic chinaware, not expensive at all.  Its just part of our daily lives...

Only in the early 80's when I bought my first teapot in China, I learned that teapots could be made by different type of materials.  These are some of my collections...

In Japan, iron teapots are very popular.  We can use this to boil water or tea.

Iron teapot from Japan

Teapots can be carved by stone...  

Tree shape teapot by stone

Teapot by 'makfan' stone

This little green teapot is made by a special type of stone called 'makfan' stone from Taiwan.  This 'makfan' stone can help to purify water.

 

Pottery is very popular for teapots as well...

Teapot from Nova Scotia, Canada

I bought this teapot during a trip to Nova Scotia in early 90's...  I picked up the stones in the store as well to set it up!

Self made teapot during 90's

This was my classwork in my pottery class in Hong Kong...  

Chinaware is still popular today... 

Porcelain teapot from Jingdezhen, China

Lu Yu Teapot

Modern teapot set

Handmade teapot from Taiwan in 2000

Of course, the most popular material for teapot is Yixing purple clay...  

I felt in love with this type of teapots, not too much on its usage, but more on their different shapes, their history and their relationship with Chinese culture.

Will talk about this a bit more in my next post... Stay tune!

Usage of Teapots

Most people use teapot to make tea and yes I do...  However, when I first felt in love with teapots, I like their shapes...  

Bamboo Basket

I like this bamboo basket teapot very much... The workmanship is very fine. My friend bought this from China in the late 80's.

Luggage and Umbrella

This little teapot was also a gift from our friend.  My husband started a company in Toronto selling handbags, luggage, and umbrella...:)

       

Three Little Pigs (福禄壽)

Fish

I bought these three piggy teapots in the year of Pig in Taipei...  The three pigs represent Fortune (福), Wealth (祿), and Longevity (壽)...

I cannot remember where I bought the fish, might also be in Taipei as well.  

We've never used these teapots.  They are great decorative items in my home for years...

My First Teapot

I love to drink tea...  I fell in love with tea just because I fell in love with teapot...

During the early 80's, we started to travel to the Mainland China...  In one of those trips, I bought my first Chinese teapot...

The first teapot I bought in China

Its other side

I bought this teapot not for drinking tea...  I bought this just because of its design.  It has dragons flying around the cloud on the pot, one on each side and one on the lid.  The one on the lid is movable.  The tongue will stick out when you pour the tea out from the pot...  It was so cute...

Not until twenty plus years later when I worked in Beijing that I've found out the origin of this teapot...

The real one was done by Shao Daheng (邵大亨) in Qing dynasty.  The theme is not just the dragons...  Its the design of a fish transforming into dragon holding a pearl in the mouth and is characterized by a lively resonance, with a movable dragon's head on the lid and the handle with the dragon's tail...

Shao Daheng (邵大亨) was a famous potter and his work is known for innovative type-forms and refined craftsmanship.  Unfortunately, Shao Daheng seldom made teapots and his extant works are very rare. The teapot in the shape of a fish transforming into a dragon is one of his master-pieces and this teapot is the only one with this distinctive form known to be made by him.

Teapot in the shape of a fish transforming into a dragon by Shao Daheng