In the historical galaxy of Chinese purple clay teapots, there are a wide variety of purple clay materials. Among them, the old pit Golden Duan clay stands out with its unique charm and has become a shining star. Its color is as golden as dazzling gold, and its texture is as warm and smooth as jade, which is highly sought after by collectors of purple clay teapots and tea art enthusiasts. Tongxin She Teahouse has always been committed to seeking high-quality purple clay tea sets to bring tea lovers an ultimate tea-tasting experience. With enthusiasm and perseverance for purple clay art, the team of the teahouse set foot on the holy land of purple clay, Yixing. We were fortunate to visit the outstanding female purple clay artist in the purple clay world, Ms. Hao Mingyue, and successfully collected her meticulously crafted Niu Gai teapot made of old pit Golden Duan clay. Now, we sincerely recommend it to all tea lovers.
The old pit Golden Duan clay has a profound historical origin and a unique formation environment. Its ore source comes from the mines left over from the Republic of China period and has only been rediscovered by the world in recent years. The production area is concentrated in Well No. 2 of the old pit area in the current Baoshan Mining Area in Yixing. The unique symbiotic ore deposit here has given birth to rich layers of clay materials: the upper layer is red clay like fire, the middle layer is Taohua clay like rosy clouds, and the bottom layer of Golden Duan clay is particularly precious. The Golden Duan clay has a strong sandy texture, with fine sand grains evenly distributed on its surface, as if it were a work of art meticulously carved by nature, and is known as the best among clay materials.
Firing the old pit Golden Duan clay can be described as a precise control of temperature. The suitable firing range is between 1150°C and 1200°C. If the temperature is too low, the color and texture of the finished product will be greatly reduced, and the vivid beauty of the sand grains will be difficult to show. If the temperature is too high, the teapot body is likely to blister, deform, or even burst, and the original golden luster will fade. However, the Golden Duan clay fired at the precise temperature has a warm and smooth touch like jade, has a wide adaptability to different types of tea, and can greatly enhance the charm of the tea soup, making tea tasting a kind of enjoyment. Precisely because of this, the old pit Golden Duan clay is classified as a high-end purple clay material, and its market value is quite high.
The Niu Gai teapot collected by Tongxin She Teahouse was created by Ms. Hao Mingyue herself, and every detail showcases her exquisite craftsmanship and unique ingenuity. The teapot body is made of old pit Golden Duan clay, with a golden and dazzling color, just like being coated with a layer of brilliance by the sun, shining brightly under the light. When you touch it, the teapot body is delicate, warm, and smooth, as if you can feel the precipitation of time and temperature. The capacity of 180cc is ingeniously designed, which is suitable for enjoying the fragrance of tea alone in a quiet time and also meets the need of sharing the fragrant tea with friends when they gather together.
The spout of the teapot is slightly pressed down, with a full shape, extending naturally from the teapot body, and the lines are smooth. When making tea, the water flows out like a jet, swiftly and smoothly, and the water cut-off is clean and decisive, bringing a seamless and pleasant experience. The handle of the teapot gradually changes from thick to thin, from square to round, and it is comfortable to hold, echoing the spout and adding a sense of agility and elegance to the teapot body.
The teapot lid is the biggest highlight of this Niu Gai teapot. Different from the conventional Niu Gai, Ms. Hao Mingyue designed it to be relatively flat. This innovation not only balances the overall momentum of the teapot body, making it look more stable and imposing, but also endows the teapot with a unique artistic beauty. However, the flat design of the teapot lid greatly increases the difficulty of production and requires extremely high craftsmanship. But relying on her profound technical skills, Ms. Hao Mingyue successfully overcame this challenge. The raised edges of the teapot lid frame and the bushing line of the teapot mouth fit tightly, not only improving the tightness but also adding a unique sense of fun to the teapot.
Ms. Hao Mingyue has a unique style in the purple clay world. She studied under the master purple clay teapot maker, Dai Yaojun, and laid a solid foundation in craftsmanship. Different from many purple clay artists, she loves originality, and each new teapot shape is the crystallization of her inspiration and creativity. For her, making teapots is not just a job but a career born out of her inner love. She immerses herself in the creative process, expressing her love and understanding of life by making interesting teapots. With a unique perspective and sincere emotion, she continuously carves out works full of personality and fun in the field of purple clay art.
During this trip to Yixing, Tongxin She Teahouse successfully collected Ms. Hao Mingyue's Niu Gai teapot made of old pit Golden Duan clay, hoping to share this precious art piece with all tea lovers. It is not only a practical tea-making utensil but also a work of art containing profound cultural heritage, carrying the inheritance and innovation of traditional craftsmanship by purple clay artists. We believe it will surely add a unique charm to your tea-tasting time.