Zisha is an important utensil in traditional Chinese tea culture.
Old tea drinkers who love tea will have a purple clay teapot in their hands. Because of its unique "breathable but not water-permeable" characteristics, it can be used to make tea and "bring out the color, aroma and taste of real tea." The main method of molding purple sand ware is manual kneading. Fine scraping and correction can make the shape structure of the vessel more rigorous, the outlines clear and decent, and achieve the effect of being round, smooth and integrated. Truly handmade purple clay ware means that the entire process from clay to molding is done entirely by hand without the aid of any moulds. Making pots using traditional hand-made molding techniques is a great test for the skills of the craftsmen. In addition, the production cycle is long, and the yield of finished products is very low. A good handmade purple clay is rare but hard to come by.
Today, Tongxinshe Tea House, together with Mr. Xu Linfeng, a national arts and crafts artist, brings you 3 fully handmade Zhou Pi Zhu Ni small purple clay teapots with a capacity of 110ml.
These three Zhu Ni Xiaopin teapots use carefully selected mud materials. We all know that the mud material is the most important part of purple sand. They use Zhaozhuang Zhu Ni, which we call rare player-grade Zhu Ni. It is produced in the same place as ordinary Zhu Ni. Different from the tender mud layer on the surface, which is in the shape of small lumps, this Zhaozhuang Zhu Ni is produced under the yellow stone layer. It is a hard ore, in the shape of large blocks, and is very rare. Here we focus on the shrinkage rate, the shrinkage rate of ordinary Zhu Ni. It is 10%, while Zhaozhuang Zhu Ni reaches about 25% or even 30%. It can be said that it has reached the limit of Zhu Ni. When you look at the body of the pot, you will find obvious large vertical strips of wrinkles. This is the legendary "wrinkle-free" "No more vermilion". At the same time, the body of the pot has a strong sandy feel, which is very different from ordinary vermilion mud. It is very oily. If you look closely, there are many small black spots on the body of the pot. This is caused by the iron rich in the vermilion mud ore precipitating on the surface of the pot at high temperatures. Caused.
Lotus seed pot, well-proportioned and plump
The lotus seed pot came out in the Ming Dynasty. One theory is that its name comes from a pictogram, and another theory is that it evolved from the lotus seed pots used to cook lotus seed porridge in the south in ancient times. The shapes of the pots are round and round, from small to large, with the beautiful meaning of "heart to heart". This lotus seed pot, The shape is called "tycoon style lotus seed pot". The wide mouth hangs over the shoulders, the bulging belly is straight, the curved cover echoes the plump body shape, the spout is on one side of the pot body, the shape is round and short, the water flows smoothly, and the water is cut off neatly. The handle on the other side comes from the shoulder, and the lower part is with the abdomen. The lower ends are connected, and the tail has another outward-turned corner, showing a soft and elegant look.
Imitation of ancient utensils, Junde, simplicity and generosity
"Junde" is a compliment to a person of noble conduct, and a Junde teapot contains humanistic virtues and noble character. This Junde teapot has only minor changes based on the prototype, retaining its simple and generous old taste and The rhythmic beauty of the lines achieves "evenness, straightness, roundness, and justice" in the processing of the lines. It is both practical and beautiful, and is suitable for playing. The overall shape of the pot is dignified and stable, with graceful and smooth curves and lively charm. The body barrel is in the shape of a short pear with a bulging belly, sitting upright like a pear, as steady as a mountain, full and smooth. The bead button is cute and playful, and the ring handle is generous and natural, making it easy to carry the pot. The three-bend flow is upward, the water flows smoothly, and the water is cut off neatly. The capacity is about 110ml. It will not be too heavy when filled with water. It is light to hold, suitable for one or two People drink.
The combination of Junde pot and Zhuni makes the flesh and bones even, which can better enhance the aroma. The waist of the teapot is large, leaving suitable space for the tea leaves to stretch, which is conducive to the release of tea quality. It is especially suitable for brewing highly aromatic teas such as Dancong and Wuyi Rock Tea.
Dabin circle button pot
In the history of purple clay pottery, Shi Dabin is the first milestone figure in the history of purple clay pottery art and is a unanimously praised master of pot art. Shi Dabin's attitude towards making pots was extremely serious and rigorous, and he would destroy them if he was even slightly dissatisfied. Therefore, only a handful of pots made by Shi Dabin have been handed down, and they are very precious. This hoop-button pot is a classic pot type created by Shi Dabin, also known as "Dabin hoop-button". The body of the ring-button teapot is round and full, giving people a sense of leisure and calmness. The overall shape of the teapot has a major highlight: the button on the lid is special, shaped like a button, with a ring well in the middle and a direct air hole. It is integrated with the whole body and is easy to use. Shi Dabin's early works were mainly large pots. Taking into account the practicality of modern people's utensils, teacher Xu Linfeng kept the original shape of Dabin's ring-button pot and simplified it to make it more suitable for daily life. The small teapot used. Regarding the capacity of the pot, the pot is specially designed to have a golden capacity of 110cc, which is very suitable for daily brewing by 1-2 people.
Teacher Xu Linfeng was born in 1970. For more than 30 years, he has continued to learn and innovate, and is deeply loved by collectors. He has become a well-known young potter in the purple sand and cinnabar field. A handful of purple sand works, from clay selection, production to molding, are all done personally and meticulously. Because Zhu Ni is prone to deformation, cracking and many other factors during production, the craftsmanship requirements for pot makers are also particularly high.