Pear-Shaped Yixing Zisha Teapot – Aged Duanni Clay, 120ml

This is a 120 ml pear-shaped teapot in Aged Duanni Clay, hand-carved, made in Dingshu, Yixing. Its Chinese name is 梨形.

The clay. Weathered duanni ore, which fires warmer and denser than fresh stock while keeping the family's open, sandy structure. Slightly more forgiving than young duanni, with the same clarity on light teas.

The form. The Pear-Shaped form (梨形) dates to the late Ming to early Qing, attributed to the Mengchen lineage. A classic small zhuni form: narrow above, full below, like a ripe pear hanging on the branch, with a high neck and short spout. Related to sitting, wendan and xishi, but with more of the weight of real fruit low in the body.

How it was made. Decoration cut into the leather-hard clay by hand with a steel blade, in the Yixing engraving tradition that goes back to Chen Mansheng's collaborations with potters.

Size and tea. 120 ml is the classic gongfu size — comfortable for one drinker or two sharing small cups, and the volume most Chaoshan-style brewing was built around. Best suited to raw pu-erh, green 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. 418, 120 ml, US$350. Photographed individually — the images show the pot you receive.

Made by 宁云. 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

• Handmade Flat-Lid Shipiao Yixing Zisha Teapot — Aged Duanni Clay, 130 ml, $400
• Hand-Grip Form Yixing Zisha Teapot — Golden Duanni Clay, 110 ml, $350
• Sculptural Form Yixing Zisha Teapot — Aged Duanni Clay, 160 ml, $350

Or browse every Aged Duanni pot · the full Yixing catalogue.