Qing Dynasty is the gold era of the purple clay teapot, although it is not as good as the porcelain tea ware from Jing De Town, but its designs are richer than porcelain tea ware. It showed its unique individuality and elegant demeanor. The decorate technology of the purple clay teapot arrived at high level, besides carved calligraphy, there are clay painting, carved painting, colour glaze painting, basso-relievo, stack clay painting, stick clay painting, mill clay painting, inlay clay, inlay gold, hollow out, bind up gold, bind up silver, bind up lacquer, burnish etc. More purple clay teapost have entered to the palace where the emperor lived as the articles of tribute in early Qing Dynasty. (In fact, purple clay teapots have already entered to the palace in Wan Lie year Ming Dynasty (1570), because of one teapot by Shi Da Bing made was found in the Imperial Palace).
Photo of Kang Xi Emperor's 'Colour Flower Enamel Square Teapot'
Kang Xi, one earliest emperor in Qing Dynasty, he liked purple tea pot and tea bowl very much. He especially liked add colour enamel teapot as they were more showily. He refused the seal of makers on the purple clay teapot and only accepted those showing the title of the emperor's reign. This rule was continued until Yong Zheng emperor and Qian Long emperor. So you could not see the seal of maker on the palace purple clay teapot in early Qing Dynasty. It has only the title of an emperor's reign.
Photo of Yong Zheng Emperor's 'Colour Enamel Teapot'
Yong Zheng emperor was very interested in the designs of purple clay teapot. He commanded people to imitate the designs of purple clay teapot and made porcelain tea ware, silver tea ware, copper tea ware (it was proved by the original record in Yong Zheng 11 year, No.3360). Although Yong Zheng emperor lived only 13 years, but there were many Registers showed about purple clay teapot in his record.
Photo of Qian Long Emperor's 'Colour Enamel Purple Clay Teapot'
Most of the palace purple clay teapots were from Qian Long emperor era, Qian Long emperor liked drinking tea in his whole life, even during the time when he went on his six time tour of inspection. He ever said: “The emperor cannot stop drinking tea in any day.” He liked purple clay teapots. He ordered people to carve his poem on the purple clay teapot. So, most palace purple clay teapots showed Qian Long's poem in Qian Long's era. Qian Long emperor also ordered people to make special tea ark for keeping purple clay tea ware when he went out for tour. Qian Long emperor also advocated his people to use purple clay teapot. So, purple clay teapots were very fashionable in Qian Long era and even a long time after Qian Long.
After Qian Long, more purple clay teapots entered to the palace. It was not only restricted to the seal of emperor, so you can easily find many purple clay teapots with the seal of famous great masters in the Imperial Palace after Qian Long Emperor.
In Kang Xi emperor 24 year (1685), Kang Xi emperor agreed to make business with overseas. Purple clay teapots were exported to Europe together with Chinese tea. So, purple clay teapots were attracted and welcomed by the Europe people. They praised it as “Red Porcelain”.
During those times, Portuguese, Hollander, German copied this “Red Porcelain” and made their pottery tea ware. In 1711, Mr Bo Te Ge, one famous potter from German had successfully made 2000 pieces red pottery teapots which imitated the Yixing purple clay teapots, wrote a disquisition of “Red Sand Porcelain”. There was one Yixing purple clay teapot which was collected in the state museum of Denmark, was used by the king of Denmark in 1674. Yixing purple clay teapots were also exported to Japan, South-East Asia, and Central America countries in 17th century and 18th century.
Photo of Chen Ming Yuan's 'Pumpkin Teapot'
In early days of Qing Dynasty, the most famous great master is Mr Cheng Ming Yuan, It was recorded in “Yang Xian Famous Potters” by Wu Qian in 1786 (PS: Yixing is called “Yang Xian in ancient). Wu Qian said that Chen Ming Yuan's teapot was the best in one hundred years history. He exceeded all teapot masters of three eras. He was equal to Shi Da Bing. It had been proved that the carved calligraphy on Cheng Ming Yuan's teapots was written by famous calligrapher Mr Cao Qian Rang. This modus operandi was continued till now. Many famous literators, painters and politicians liked to write their epigraph on the purple clay teapot to raise its value. They even invited some great masters coming to their house to make purple clay teapot for them and let the masters enjoyed those antiques they collected.
Other great masters were Zheng Nin Hou, Wang Nan Ling, Yu Rong, Shao Yu Ting, Shao Xi Mao, Cheng Ying Qian, Cheng Han Wen, Yang Ji Cu, Zhang Huai Reng, Yang Ji Yuan, Yang You Lan, Shao Ji Zu, Shao De Xing, Cheng Weng Bo, Cheng Weng Ju, Cheng Ci Wai, Xu Weng Long etc.
Photo of Yang Peng Nian's 'Shi Piao Teapot' carved by Chen Man Sheng
Photo of one of the Man Sheng Teapot
In the medium-term and later period in Qing Dynasty, the most exponent was Man Sheng's teapot that was made by the cooperation of Cheng Man Sheng and Yang Peng Nian. Yang Peng Nian made teapot, epigraphed by Cheng Man Sheng who was a famous calligrapher and painter. So, the “Man Sheng Teapot” was very rare on then. Afterwards, Yang Bao Nian (Yang Peng Nian's brother) and Yang Feng Nian (Yang Peng Nian's sister) helped Yang Peng Nian to make “Man Sheng Teapot”, usually Cheng Man Sheng's seal was at the bottom of the teapot, the seal of Yang Peng Nian was in the cover and at the bottom of the handle. His seal is smaller than Cheng Man Sheng's. We think it is not candid to Yang Peng Nian who is a famous master.
Photo of Shao Da Heng's 'Eight Diagrams Bundle Bamboo Teapot'
Another great master was Shao Da Heng. His famous teapot was the Eight Diagrams Bundle Bamboo Teapot and Fish Dragon Teapot. Mr Huang Yu Ling was an outstanding master after Shao Da Heng.
Other masters were Wu Yue Ting, Ge Ming Xiang, Feng Cai Xia, Deng Kui, Jiang Yu Ling, Zhu Shi Mei, Shao Er Quan, Sheng Xi, Shao She Da, Shao You Ting, He Xing Zhou, Wu A Kun, Sheng Rui Tian, Jing Shi Hun, Fan Da Sheng, Cheng Bo Ting, Fan Die En, Cheng Shou Fu, Jiang Wan Feng, Jiang Zheng Xian, Shi Bao Fen etc.
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