Gold & Enamel Coated Zisha Teapot







Item: Gold & Enamel Coated Zisha Teapot
Clay: Zisha coated with a layer of gold & enamel
Volume: 530cc
Maker: Tu San (supervised by National Museum of China)
Price: RM2,500 (Sold)

Item Description:
This teapot is an archaized teapot. It was made of Zisha mixed with sand. Itis a very unique teapot where three types of art work gathered in one pot. Ontop of zisha, it was partly coated with a layer of gold and partly glazed withcolourful enamel. The art work was fine and unique.

It is difficult to get such a special teapot and it is worth for collection.

Squarely Round Teapot


Item: Squarely Round
Clay: Classy "Hei Ni" and "Jiao Ni"
Volume: 250cc
Maker: Li Jian-Jun (Master of Zisha Arts & Crafts)
Price: RM600.00

Item Description:
This teapot was made of a classy type of clay "Hei Ni" and "Jiao Ni" (mixed clay in unique design). It has fine art work, fitting lid, elegance design, smooth running water and hold true.

Maker Introduction:
Li Jian-Jun, Master of Zisha Arts & Crafts, born in Hua Xi, China in year 1965. He began his interest in designing and making zisha teapot in year 1987 with the guidance of a few famous zisha artists. In year 1993, he started his own workshop "Li Zi Zisha Art Gallery" in Beijing.

2001, his teapot "Corydon" won the 3rd place in "Beijing Chinaware Art Competition"
2003, his teapot "Think of Origin" won the 2nd place in "Shi Jia Zhuang Tea Expo"
2004, his teapot "Duo Zhi" won the 2nd place in "Shanghai Famous Teapot Expo"

Zisha teapot collectors especially from Hong Kong, Australia, Taiwan, Japan and Korea love to collect his teapots very much.

Teapot of Hundred Children















Item: Teapot of Hundred Children
Clay: Duan Ni
Volume: 600cc
Maker: Chen Pang (Master of Zisha Arts & Crafts)
Price: Sold

Item Description:
This teapot was made of a rare type of clay called "Duan Ni" mixed with sand. When Chen Pang finished making this teapot, it was sculped by a famous sculptor, Zhou Jian-Rong. The art work was fine and the sculptured picture was lifelike and remarkably like the true. It is worth to collect such a good teapot.

Maker Introduction:
Chen Pang, also named as Chen De-Sheng, born in a Zisha village in Yixing, China. Under the edification of the Art of Zisha, and with his earnest and preciseness attitude, have posed into his unique style. His teapot has novelty design,lifelike, natural and simple. Assimilate the distillate of tradition, explore and hanker.

1983, record in "The Contemporary Famous Artist of Yixing Zisha"

1987, employed by Yixing Zisha Arts & Crafts Factory as a Master of Arts & Crafts

1990, employed by Chinaware Museumas a Master of Arts & Crafts

To this day, his teapots are still collected by domestic and overseas people.

The Status of Yixing Purple Clay Teapot After 1937


During the War of Resistance Against Japan (1937), Yixing purple clay teapot products were destroyed, many masters hade to go into exile and most kilns were desolation.

After 1949, the people were liberated. The products of Yixing purple clay teapot were renewed. Many masters returned to Yixing. The state factories were specially set up to produce purple clay teapots. The designs of the purple clay teapot grew up to hundreds kinds. Many excellent craftsmen appeared.

Photo of Gu Jing Zhou's 'Shang Xin Qiao Teapot'

Photo of Gu Jing Zhou's 'Ci Le Ti Liang Teapot'

The most famous great master was Mr Gu Jing Zhou (1915-1996). One of his purple clay teapots was sold at USD65,000 in Macao in 1997. This is the highest price to a purple clay teapot in the modern times. Mr Gu Jing Zhou was appellative as "leading scholar of the times".

Photo of Jiang Rong's 'Shi Liu Shu Wa Teapot'

Photo of Jiang Rong's 'Bai Guo Teapot'

Another famous great master is Mdm Jiang Rong (1919-2008), who was one of the most famous masters in Yixing. Her purple clay teapots were the State Department premier's gift when visited to overseas in 1957.

Photo of Lu Yao Chen's 'Yun Wen Ba Fang Teapot'

Photo of Lu Yao Chen's ' Boat of the Desert'

Other great masters like He Dao Hong, Xu Xiu Tang, Xu Han Tang, Wang Yin Xian, Lu Yao Chen and Tan Quan Hai, they are the rule of China industrial arts great masters awarded by the China State Department. The price of their teapots are at least USD1,000 since 1980 until today.

Now in Yixing, the artists of the older generation who are still with the vigor of youth, exhibit their artworks that still richer in substances and forms, while the young and mid-aged artists never stop making exploration and creation in styles and shapes. This presents one vast panorama of prosperity in Yixing ceramic business like hundred flowers blossoming in a garden.

The Prosperous of Yixing Purple Clay Teapot in the early Republic of China


On the last stage of Qing Dynasty until the early days of the Repbulic of China, it was a prosperous period to Yixing purple clay teapot. Some ethical capitalist started to rise for replacing the feudal household mainly in Shanghai. Those dealers appeared in Shanghai for dealing with Yixing purple clay teapot. They made order of purple clay teapots in Yixing. As a result, it brought forward some great masters.

Photo of Chen Shou Zhen's 'Duo Qiu Teapot'

The most accomplishments were Cheng Shou Zheng, Yu Guo Liang and Pei Shi Ming. Cheng Shou Zheng's archaized teapot won the gold award at the Panama International Exhibition in 1919. He is the first master who took gold award at international level in purple clay history. Through the hard work by zisha pottery artists and masters of different generations, the zisha pottery teapots presented their rich culture and artistic quality to the world and gained great prestige by showing their special charm. For example, at the beginning of the 20th century, they were awarded first prize at Panama International Exposition, and also excellence and gold prize at Chicago Exposition, London Arts Exhibition and Philadelphia International Arts Exposition.

Photo of Zhu Ke Xin's 'Bao Chun Teapot'

Yixing purple clay teapot was still in development before the War of Resistance Against Japan (1937). According to the record, there were 40 sites dragon kilns for specially firing purple clay teapots in Ding Shan, Shu Shan in 1919. It had risen to 63 sites in 1929 and had risen again to 76 sites in 1936. 1936 is the blossom year in the period of the Repbulic of China. The firing time was 4740 times for one year and produced two million pieces of purple clay teapots.

The purple clay teapot shops were also set up in many cities, such as Shanghai, Hang Zhou, Wu Xi, Tian Jing, Qing Dao etc. Some branch stores were set up in Japan, Singapore and Philippines. The main shops were Cheng Ding He Company, Wu De Sheng Company, Tie Hua Xuan Company, Ge De Company and Li Yong Company. There were at least two seals on those purple clay teapots in this period, one was the seal of maker and another one was the seal of the shop.