Xishi Yixing Zisha Teapot – Zipao Yusha Clay, 180ml
Xishi Yixing Zisha Teapot – Zipao Yusha Clay, 180ml
This is a 180 ml xishi teapot in Zipao Yusha Clay, hand-carved, made in Dingshu, Yixing. Its Chinese name is 西施.
The clay. Zini blended with fine sand, so the fired body carries visible grain against a settled purple ground — the name means 'purple robe, jade sand'. The sand adds texture without costing breathability. A pot that stays interesting to look at as it ages.
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. 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. At 180 ml this fills three or four cups at once — enough for guests without moving to a full teapot. Best suited to pu-erh, black tea and roasted oolong.
This pot. Catalogue no. 167, 180 ml, US$85. Photographed individually — the images show the pot you receive.
Made by 杨海鹏. We buy directly from the workshop rather than through a wholesaler, so the attribution comes with the pot.
| Clay | Zipao Yusha Clay (紫袍玉砂) |
|---|---|
| Form | Xishi (西施) |
| Capacity | 180 ml |
| Craft | Hand-carved (刻绘) |
| Origin | Dingshu, Yixing, Jiangsu, China |
| Catalogue no. | 167 |
New to zisha? Read how to season a Yixing teapot before first use.
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