Featured Yixing teapots

I come across these from time. I only ever bought one before this one and it didn't create much interest.

I saw this one today and decided to take the plunge again. Looks quite modern, clean and crisp. It doesn't really do a massive amount for me though and I don't see the attraction. Some go for wild prices and i just don't get. This isn't a fluke cos loads of people bid.

So what makes a decent yixing teapot? Age obviously. Condition yes. But why are some 20th century plain teapots fetching silly amounts?

 

Oh. I missed this bit. Might have some importance.

 

It could be small enough to be a brewing pot.

The top of the spout-pot without lid-handle has to be a straight line.
This is a pretty little pot, but the spout curves down a little.

Not necessarily.

And maker.

 

Really? The defining quality of a yixing teapot is the shape of the spout? Collectors can be quite odd

 

Every time i have tried to make money on Yixing teapots i have failed. It’s only gone well by chance.

Most of the advice i have followed has not helped. For example remove lid, turn the teapot upside down and place it on a table. If the rim, handle and spout are level with the surface of the table its a ‘good’ one. I found this to be completely inaccurate.

Plain designs can be good or bad. New/old can be good or bad. Enamelling can be good or bad. Elaborate designs can be good or bad. Big/small can be good or bad. Its a minefield.

The only consistent thing i have found is the details of the clay. Look at these images. They have tiny light brown spots in the clay. I think this is an indicator of genuine Zisha clay, and most of the others just look vaguely correct.



Even this isn't always the case. There are plenty of lighter coloured yixing pots that go for hundreds/thousands.

 

It is the straight line. Some people test it by putting a ruler from the top of the spout to the handle. Not that easy to do when the spout is turned down.
Mind you, the straight line is important for teapots. Maybe brewing pots have different standards.

Users, not collectors. And mainly Chinese users of Yixing teapots. It is a cultural thing which non-Chinese collectors usually follow.

 

Thanks. Good tip with the spots.

 

It is 100% accurate for what is deemed to be a good Yixing pot. That doesn't mean that it is valuable overhere. It is what Chinese tea aficionados look for. Collectors in the West may be looking for something else, and those are the people you probably sell to.

 

Okay. Makes sense I think.

Yesterday you had me sniffing silver. Today you have me turning teapots upside.

 

Testing with a ruler is easier. Too difficult to see if you turn it upside down.
Maybe not for Ratsy, he is younger than I am.

 

Maybe you are right about location. I have auctioned a few off for between £100-500. At least some of them had several millimetres difference between spout/handle/rim. Equally i have had some that were perfectly level that barely made double figures.

Im sure once you get into the thousands the rules change.

 

I undoubtedly overcomplicated things for myself.

 

@Chinoiserie this link is worth a read, it has several late 20th century pots valued in the tens of thousands. Some plain, some ornate, some coloured etc etc…

https://www.christies.com/en/stories/a-guide-to-yixing-teapots-24937d6337e6451290f20badc74f4386

 

So what am I looking for here please?

You wouldn't believe how hard it was to take this photo

 

Thanks. I'll have a look. Ill just stick it on eBay and see what happens.

 

They have to be all the same height.
But again, this is what Chinese Yixing users look for in a good pot, not what Western collectors look for. You asked what makes a decent yixing teapot, not what sells where you are.

You are supposed to lay the ruler flat on the pot, so you can check that the spout, pot and handle are all the same height.

 

Another indicator of good pot is to look inside body for a tiny hand made molding marks that look like little stick scratches.

 

I'll have a look thanks. I listed it on eBay last night. I've had six views and no watchers so I guess it's a bad egg. I think I knew this already though.

Oooh. One watcher. There is hope

 

Oh my word. Your last comment took me way back to my bit of ebay selling. A watcher! I have a watcher! It was thrilling, LOL!

 

I don't think I've ever emotionally developed beyond that. It's like doing your first home brew and waiting for the first bubble of CO2.