In the long history of art, the birth of any art form is closely linked to nature and human daily activities. For farming ethnic groups, the land carries the hope of survival. With the cycle of seasons, from the cold winter to the hot summer, and the autumn harvest to the winter storage, the harvest of crops makes people deeply dependent on the land and the weather. This profound emotion has given birth to countless cultural achievements, which have naturally been integrated into various containers and artworks.
Among the shapes of ancient utensils, the melon-ridged pot holds a unique position. Its inspiration comes from the "golden melon", which is the small pumpkin we are familiar with. "Gold" symbolizes wealth and light, and the golden melon has many seeds. The Chinese character for "seeds" is a homophone for the character meaning "sons". In traditional Chinese culture, it is filled with the beautiful wishes of having many children and grandchildren, a large and prosperous family. The melon-ridged containers first appeared in the early Tang Dynasty. By the Song Dynasty, melon-ridged porcelain wares became widely popular and were integrated into all aspects of daily life. During the Tang and Five Dynasties periods, the melon-ridged utensils already demonstrated remarkable craftsmanship and decoration standards, forming a unique technique and style, leaving a significant mark in the history of Chinese ceramics and providing precious materials for later generations' research and study.
Now, Tongxinshe Teahouse presents a uniquely crafted "Small Vermilion Clay Melon-Ridged Pot/Gold-Wrapped (Limited Edition)". This pot perfectly combines the ancient charm with modern craftsmanship. It is 90mm high and has a capacity of 100cc, small, delicate, and extraordinary. The gold-wrapping technique used in its craftsmanship has a profound historical origin.
The gold-wrapping of purple clay pots was initially a repair method. When collectors' valuable and cherished pots were damaged, people came up with the method of gold-wrapping to repair and save them. For example, when there were cracks on the mouth of the pot, a strip of metal was wrapped around it; when the spout was broken, jade, gold, or silver was used to connect it; when the body of the pot was cracked, the whole pot was wrapped with tin. Gradually, it developed into a specialized decorative technique of wrapping metal, with representative works such as the "Tin-Wrapped Chufang Pot" and the "Tin-Wrapped Covered Pot". In the early 19th century, Yixing purple clay pots were exported to Southeast Asian markets such as Thailand and Malaysia. Chinese wealthy merchants in Thailand had a preference for gold-wrapping, copper-wrapping, and other techniques, such as the "Gold-Inlaid Round Pot" (Horizontal Pot) with gold inlaid on the double rims of the lip, the knob of the lid, the round bead tripod feet at the bottom of the pot, and the spout, and the "Single-Knob Yangtong Pot" with the body of the pot polished and copper sheets inlaid on the rim of the mouth, the bottom rim, the edge of the lid, and the spout. These factors further promoted the development of the gold-wrapping technique.
The gold-wrapping technique is commonly applied to the spout, the knob of the lid, the handle of the pot, and the edges of the mouth and the lid. After processing metals such as gold, silver, tin, and copper into thin sheets, they are used to wrap the purple clay pot. This not only protects the wrapped parts from being easily bumped or damaged but also adds a unique artistic and ornamental effect. This limited edition small vermilion clay melon-ridged pot, with its delicate vermilion clay as the base, presents the beautiful lines of the melon ridges. Paired with the exquisite gold-wrapping technique, it combines classic elegance with luxury. It is not only a practical tea-making utensil but also an art treasure worthy of collection. In Tongxinshe Teahouse, brewing a pot of fragrant tea and appreciating the charm of this pot allows one to feel the cultural charm that spans time and space.