Ancient Zhuni teapots from the Qing Dynasty, with their unique charm and exquisite craftsmanship, have long been cherished by countless tea enthusiasts. These delicate and compact tea utensils not only carry the weight of history but also shine with new radiance through inheritance and innovation.
Among Qing Dynasty ancient Zhuni teapots, inscribed marks such as Mengchen, Yigong, Junde, and Siting have added a touch of legend to the art of teapot-making during this period.
Today, Tongxinshe Teahouse presents a premium Xishi purple clay teapot crafted by Qin Xin—the first masterpiece of 2026, with only one piece available! Boasting a capacity of 140cc, this teapot follows the classic purple clay design pioneered by Xu Youquan in the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty and widely popularized in the Qing Dynasty.
Qin Xin’s Xishi teapot embodies a perfect harmony of extreme softness and hardness, perfectly aligning with my inner aesthetic and expectation for an ideal Xishi teapot. Its bold and vigorous lines, combined with a simple and unadorned structure, exude a romantic charm that balances rigidity and flexibility, leaving a profound impression on viewers. In terms of shape, the Xishi features a broad, plump belly and a small, cherry-like spout slightly raised as if about to speak. Its distinctive inverted handle perfectly captures the shy and graceful charm of a lady. Yet, the teapot also emanates a powerful and imposing aura. This unique characteristic is derived from the artistic philosophy of Chinese literati: tenderness resides in balance and proportion; elegance shines through grandeur; simplicity permeates beauty; individuality emerges from regularity; calmness prevails over passion; and restraint is maintained amid boldness. This combination renders the entire teapot full of vitality and tension, as if gathering momentum, perfectly embodying the artistic essence of purple clay.
Qin Xin’s Xishi takes "extreme softness" and "extreme hardness" as the aesthetic and artistic cornerstones of her work. She seeks an extraordinary balance and stability between the two, much like a master strategist playing chess—calm, composed, and fully in control, with not a hint of impetuosity. Achieving such an ideal state of harmony between rigidity and flexibility requires not only personal dedication but also a profound spiritual realm. It is a high-level artistic attainment achieved by those with courage, vision, and refinement through long-term practice, reflecting the maturity of one’s wisdom and insight. Such a work that integrates the beauty of both softness and hardness, showcasing profound artistic skill and mature wisdom, is truly invaluable.
The raw material of this teapot is black-bodied Zhuni, which is sourced from the deeper layers of Zhuni ore deposits and is exceptionally rare. To further enhance its antique charm, Qin Xin employs traditional stone-milling techniques for manual clay preparation without any iron-removal treatment. As a result, the teapot body naturally features tiny black iron particles. The firing process strictly adheres to ancient methods to replicate the texture of vintage teapots. After firing, the teapot boasts a bright vermilion hue with naturally formed flowing shrinkage lines, presenting a unique pattern of black specks scattered across the red surface, with a distinct texture of interwoven fine and coarse particles.
Qin Xin, a female purple clay artisan and tea master born in Yixing, Jiangsu Province, has been engaged in the purple clay industry since 2009. She comes from a family with a profound heritage of ceramic art and studied under renowned masters. Her uncle once served as the director of the former Jiangsu Ceramic Research Institute, and her uncle-in-law held the position of mine director at Huanglongshan No.4 Mine and general manager of Yixing Purple Clay Raw Material General Factory. She herself studied under Xu Lanjun and received guidance on teapot-making techniques from Master He Daohong and many other accomplished middle-aged and young ceramic artists. Later, she and her husband dedicated themselves to the research of purple clay theory and focused on practical craftsmanship. With a rigorous approach to her profession, she prioritizes the essence of ceramic art over superficial details. She not only possesses an in-depth understanding of Oolong tea and Pu’er tea brewing but also excels in the knowledge of purple clay ore materials, specializing in literati-style tea utensils and ancient Zhuni teapots.
Qin Xin’s work Hexagonal Pear-shaped Teapot was sold at a price of RMB 23,000 at the 2022 Jiangsu Guanyu Autumn Auction, proving that her purple clay teapots are well worth collecting