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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;khl889, post: 197912, member: 104&quot;]The center of the lid is marked 秀堂镌之 &quot;Inscribed by Xiu Tang.&quot;</p><p><br /></p><p>Xu Xiutang 徐秀堂 is a modern artist in Yixing; his pots sell for good sums. Some are styled similarly to yours.</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="http://laohu.taohuren.com/zishahu/3083.html" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://laohu.taohuren.com/zishahu/3083.html" rel="nofollow">http://laohu.taohuren.com/zishahu/3083.html</a></p><p><a href="http://www.zisha.com/product/catalog/41972.shtml" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.zisha.com/product/catalog/41972.shtml" rel="nofollow">http://www.zisha.com/product/catalog/41972.shtml</a></p><p><br /></p><p>But I can&#039;t find those seals under the lid among listings for his seals.</p><p><br /></p><p>It&#039;s possible -- as the marking suggests -- that he only engraved the inscription, while another potter made the pot itself.</p><p><br /></p><p>As you no doubt know, the works of master potters and other artists in China are frequently copied. You&#039;d have to ask an expert to examine this for a worthwhile opinion as to whether it really is by Xu Xiutang.</p><p><br /></p><p>As to the discoloration, it looks like the pot has been lacquered or something on the outside. This is often done to antique the pot or create a more valuable-looking shade or polish of clay; sometimes it&#039;s done before sale, sometimes it&#039;s done by subsequent owners. (Wax is also sometimes used instead of tedious burnishing.) Notice how different the clay under the lid appears. Obviously this raises some question as to the bona fides of the pot as a work by a master artist.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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