Yixing clay, Master Zhang Yu
“Nanman Zixiu” Teapot, 130 ml
The name translates to "teapot of the southern barbarians," hinting at its side-handled shape. The teapot is crafted from purple Yixing clay and fired using the traditional Hei Tao technique, where the piece is placed in a carbon-rich environment (with ash, straw, or charcoal) with restricted oxygen. The iron compounds in the clay oxidize, and the surface acquires a deep black or dark gray color. The firing temperature is so high that the surface of the clay begins to melt and vitrify, taking on a glossy sheen—naturally self-glazing. Such wares are known as "black pottery." This technique dates back to the Neolithic Longshan culture (~3000–1900 BCE), where black pottery was prized as elite tableware.
Specifications
- Category
- Teaware
- Type
- Teapots
- Material
- Yixing Clay
- Volume
- 130 ml
- Origin
- Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province
- Locality
- Jiangxi
- Packaging
- Gift box
Description
The name translates to "teapot of the southern barbarians," hinting at its side-handled shape. The teapot is crafted from purple Yixing clay and fired using the traditional Hei Tao technique, where the piece is placed in a carbon-rich environment (with ash, straw, or charcoal) with restricted oxygen. The iron compounds in the clay oxidize, and the surface acquires a deep black or dark gray color. The firing temperature is so high that the surface of the clay begins to melt and vitrify, taking on a glossy sheen—naturally self-glazing. Such wares are known as "black pottery." This technique dates back to the Neolithic Longshan culture (~3000–1900 BCE), where black pottery was prized as elite tableware.