In the field of purple clay teapot collection and tea tasting, "small yet exquisite" single-serve small teapots have always been the first choice for tea lovers pursuing the ultimate integration of tea ware and tea soup. The special collection recommended by Tongxinshe Teahouse this time is a new work by renowned teapot maker Shi Jiahui—the Imitation of Qing Dynasty Mengchen Pear-Shaped Teapot. With a compact capacity of 70cc, it demonstrates the perfect combination of raw sand red clay and full-handmade craftsmanship.
Shi Jiahui was born in Dingshu, Yixing (the core production area of purple clay) in 1990, and was immersed in the purple clay culture from an early age. She studied under Zhu Menggen, a powerful and renowned teapot maker, focusing on full-handmade purple clay teapot craftsmanship. Under her mentor’s verbal guidance and practical demonstrations, she not only built a solid foundation of basic skills but also deeply understood the essence of traditional purple clay craftsmanship. Her teapot-making skills have become increasingly sophisticated through practice. She is particularly good at imitating ancient red clay plain teapots, and is famous for her accurate imitation of small red clay teapots from the three dynasties of the Qing Dynasty. Her works are thought-provoking and have been deeply loved by teapot enthusiasts at home and abroad.
The Mengchen Pear-Shaped Teapot recommended this time is a masterpiece of Shi Jiahui that is rooted in tradition. Produced by Jiaxing Hall, it is fully handmade by her, with meticulous attention to every step from clay selection to teapot shaping. The "raw sand red clay" used is an especially fine variety of red clay. With balanced sand content and a loose, breathable structure, it not only preserves the aroma of tea but also softens the tea’s texture. When brewing Wuyi rock tea, Pu’er, and other teas, it can maximize the mellow sweetness of the tea soup. The "full-handmade" production abandons the rigidity of machine molds; the curvature of the teapot body, the smoothness of the spout, and the grip of the handle are all repeatedly polished and adjusted by hand, with a warm touch that highlights the unique warmth of handcrafted work.
In terms of shape, this teapot strictly imitates the classic "Pear-Shaped Teapot" by Mengchen, a great teapot maker of the Qing Dynasty: the body is shaped like a plump pear, elegant and rounded without being bulky; the spout is short and neat, pouring water smoothly without dripping; the handle is ring-shaped, perfectly fitting a single hand. Combined with the 70cc capacity for single-serve use, it allows easy tea adding, water pouring, and soup serving, ensuring every sip of tea maintains the optimal temperature and aroma concentration.
What’s more noteworthy is that this small teapot is extremely difficult to make and fire: raw sand red clay itself has low plasticity, and it is easy to crack if the force is uneven during manual shaping, requiring strict precision in the craftsman’s techniques. The detail control of the small-capacity teapot is even more challenging—achieving a perfect seal between the lid and the mouth, and balancing the proportion of the spout and the body, all require precise handling down to the millimeter. During the firing process, red clay has a high shrinkage rate; only by accurately controlling the kiln temperature and duration can the teapot maintain its complete shape, and develop a warm orange-red color and a restrained luster after firing. The low yield rate further enhances its collection value.
Whether used as a practical teapot for daily single-serve tea tasting (to experience the delicate interaction between tea ware and tea soup), or as an exquisite choice for purple clay collection (to inherit the elegant style of the Qing Dynasty red clay imitation craftsmanship), this handcrafted raw sand red clay Mengchen Pear-Shaped Teapot by Shi Jiahui is a model of "small size with great style." It fully demonstrates the charm and craftsmanship of traditional purple clay teapot making, and is worthy of being cherished by tea lovers and collectors.