Featured Yixing teapots

Sometimes "Calligraphy" pots can generate more interest than other newer plain pots

 

I conducted an estate sale several years ago of a elderly Japanese women married to Chinese man, when he died her daughter moved her to USA in the late 1970s with over 60 yixing pots in tow (a lot minis). Learned a lot... from the Chinese buyers who attended the sale.

 

I was hoping that it might appeal.

 

Calligraphy is a massive bonus on anything old and Chinese. On new things it may not always hold true.

I agree with the tips given about teapots and what to look for. I had a discussion with an avid collector once before I even really knew what Yixing was. For the modern pieces it is really about precision it seems. Dimensions but also fit. How tight does the lid fit. Everything perfect, and everything in its place. Also maker obviously.

The old pewter teapots having their original Yixing liner massively increases their value.

Yixing clay supposedly added an element to the flavor of your tea that no other clay did.

 

Is all the precision like a Feng shui thing then? About energy and such like? Or maybe it's along the lines of Victorian etiquette where everything just has to be done to OCD perfection? I wonder if they have dedicated tea drinking clothes and such like.

I'm glad I asked the question now as I never realised it was so deep and spiritual.

 

Could be. I think the guy I talked to seemed to appreciate the exacting engineering required more than the feng shui per say. I didn’t go in depth about the reasons for his appreciation though.

I don’t know about tea clothes but a sale I was at recently featured a huge collection of Japanese tea wares. I’m no expert but I think they are more obsessed with the ritual around tea than the Chinese.

 

It takes on the flavour of the tea and 'gives it back' to the tea, enhancing the flavour. That increases with use.
So only one type of tea in one pot. If you drink more types of tea, you need more pots.

They don't.

Yes, they are. For the Chinese it is more about having the right pots etc.

 

Ah yes, makes sense not mixing your teas/pots up when brewing. One day I’ll have to brew some up in a Yixing pot and also a stainless pot and see if there is a perceptible difference. I don’t drink enough tea these days to season a pot appropriately and test it after many uses.