Xishi Yixing Zisha Teapot – Baiyu Duanni Clay, 80ml

This is a 80 ml xishi teapot in Baiyu Duanni Clay, clay-painted, made in Dingshu, Yixing. Its Chinese name is 西施.

The clay. The palest of the duanni family, firing to a near-white jade tone. The most delicate-looking body in the catalogue, and the one that shows a patina most plainly.

The form. The Xishi form (西施) dates to the late Ming, attributed to attributed to Xu Youquan. Named for the classical beauty Xi Shi. Round and full-bodied, with a bead knob, a short spout, an inset lid and a reversed handle. The best-known small zhuni form there is — compact, soft-shouldered, and comfortable in one hand.

How it was made. Nihui — painting in liquid clay slip on the raw body, building the image in low relief before firing.

Size and tea. At 80 ml this is a solo pot. One person, short infusions, and the small volume means you can push a good leaf through eight or ten steeps without ever brewing more than you drink. Best suited to green tea, white tea and light oolong.

One honest note on duanni-family clays: because the body is pale and very open, dark and heavily roasted teas can leave uneven marks if the pot is handled with oily hands or left wet. Rinse it, dry it, and keep it to lighter teas and it will come up beautifully.

This pot. Catalogue no. 433, 80 ml, US$350. Photographed individually — the images show the pot you receive.

Made by 刘秀华. We buy directly from the workshop rather than through a wholesaler, so the attribution comes with the pot.

New to zisha? Read how to season a Yixing teapot before first use.

Similar teapots

• Xishi Yixing Zisha Teapot — Golden Duanni Clay, 90 ml, $150
• Xiang Yun Duan Yixing Zisha Teapot — Baiyu Duanni Clay, 100 ml, $450
• Longdan Yixing Zisha Teapot — Baiyu Duanni Clay, 100 ml, $500

Or browse every Baiyu Duanni pot · more Xishi teapots.