n the long history of Chinese tea culture, purple clay teapots are like a brilliant pearl, carrying thousands of years of cultural heritage and exquisite craftsmanship. Their hometown is Yixing, Jiangsu, with a history of about 1,500 years. According to archaeologists' research, the origin of Yixing purple clay teapots can be traced back to the Neolithic Age when pottery was already being made in the Yixing area.
The development of purple clay teapots has gone through several important stages. The initial origin stage can be traced back to the early Ming Dynasty. During the reign of Emperor Chengzu of the Ming Dynasty, a monk from Jinsha Temple, Gongchun, was the first to use the simple hand-kneading method to make tea utensils from purple clay. His pot-making technique had a profound influence on later generations. During the initial creation stage from the Zhengde period of the Ming Dynasty to the end of the 16th century, most purple clay teapots were bulky and exaggerated large pots, and the craftsmanship was relatively simple. Later, with the emergence of Shi Dabin, there was an innovation in the manufacturing process. He adopted the method of patting clay slices, leading purple clay teapots to develop in the direction of being small and elegant.
And Wang Sai's [He Fu] is an outstanding work under the inheritance of this ancient art. [He Fu] is a 150cc fully hand-made excellent tea utensil. It adopts the single-piece folded-shoulder forming process, and every line shows the ingenious thinking of the craftsman. The spout and handle of the teapot are exquisitely and delicately made, full of literary elegance, just like a beautiful work of art. This teapot is made of the old purple clay from Yixing Purple Clay Factory in the 1970s. This kind of clay material is extremely precious and adds a unique charm to the teapot. From the clay material to the shape, from the craftsmanship to the details, [He Fu] is almost perfect and beyond reproach.
Wang Sai, as a post-90s generation of talented pottery makers, is from Suqian, Jiangsu. He moved to Yixing, the capital of pottery, with his family. Due to his strong interest in purple clay, he entered the purple clay industry after graduation. Under the guidance of veteran artists from Yixing Purple Clay Factory, he systematically learned the fully hand-made forming techniques of purple clay teapots and also received meticulous guidance and instruction from many famous pot artists in the industry. Over the years, he has put a lot of effort into honing his skills, studying the shapes of utensils, and researching clay materials. In recent years, he has continuously produced excellent works and has attracted much attention. He is an outstanding figure among the new generation of purple clay artisans.
It is worth mentioning that in the 2023 Yunzangzhai Art Autumn Auction, the teapot made by Wang Sai was sold for $3,800. This is undoubtedly a powerful proof of the quality and value of [He Fu], making it a coveted treasure for tea utensil collectors. This [He Fu] purple clay teapot is not only a practical tea set but also a carrier of historical and cultural inheritance. It perfectly combines the ancient purple clay art with modern aesthetics, worthy of our careful appreciation and collection.