The beauty of silverware is like the bright moon, moon frost, and white snow, simple and elegant, strong and pliable; the beauty of bronzeware is like a majestic bell, a pot, a goblet, a halberd, and a sword, which are majestic, solemn, and powerful. If the softness of silverware is combined with the fortitude of bronzeware, what kind of artistic masterpiece can be produced?
Today, Tongxinshe Teahouse shares a handmade "rectangular Heart Sutra copper-clad silver teapot" made by Hongji Treasures
Copper-clad silver kettle, as the name suggests, is a silver kettle made of a copper plate, wrapped with a silver plate and hammered into shape, achieving the artistic effect of "silver as the core and copper as the coat". Copper and silver may seem very different, but they are close in terms of softness and ductility. They also have a similar effect on improving the taste of tea soup. They are a pair made in heaven. The pot obtained in this way not only has the characteristics of silver, but also has improved durability and heat preservation due to the addition of copper. It has good collection and practical value.
Today's pot comes from the "Hongji Treasures" located in Heqing, Yunnan. It started during the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty and has been passed down for five generations. They still insist on using traditional pot-making techniques.
• Dimensions: Width 10.5 x Height 13cm
• Capacity: 330ml
• Weight: 385g
• Material: sterling silver 999.9 red copper
• Craftsmanship: Purely handmade
Although the copper-clad silver kettle is good, the craftsmanship is very complex and delicate. First, a pair of semi-finished silver and copper pots must be hammered, and the proportions of the two pots must be very precise; then the semi-finished copper pot is placed on the semi-finished silver pot and then beaten and quenched.
And relying on the ductility of silver and copper, it knocks out the air between the gaps between the two metals, making them fit tightly. In addition, the spout of the copper-clad silver pot also needs to be punched out at the same time, which is even more of a problem and tests the craftsmanship of the master. If the birth of a silver pot requires 100,000 beatings, then a copper-clad silver pot will take twice as much effort. When hammering two different gold pots, you must not only ensure the shape and charm of the pot, but also make the two fit together without leaving any gaps. You must control the thickness of the silver and copper pieces, as well as the strength of the hammering, so that there is no slight difference. Shen breaks easily. This difficult copper-clad silver kettle is itself a masterpiece of craftsmanship. Due to its complex workmanship and low output, there are only a few master metalworkers who master this craft. It is impossible to master it without a certain level, so the fine products that are released are often worth a lot of money. .