Featured Yixing tree stump teapot

After reading a few threads in here about Yixing teapots I've added them to the things I keep my eyes open for at the thrift stores. Found one yesterday. Looks pretty new to me, but it was thrift store priced - only a few dollars -a bargain! Wondering if anyone can help with the mark/maker? Looked on a few pages of maker's marks online but didn't find it. 4" high to the top of the lid. About 6 1/2 inches wide from the handle to the tip of the spout. Thanks again!

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Other threads maybe before my time, so this is first example of the type I have seen. Way cool! How well balanced is it when you pour & does it pour without dribbling?

 

I'm not someone who knows much about teapots, but it pours very smoothly, no drips or dribbling down the spout, just a smooth stream that stops and starts evenly. As for balanced - seems perfectly even side to side and the center of balance is maybe a few mm's behind the center of the mark on the bottom - easy to hold.

 

Part of the appeal is that it has been deliberately made to look crude while performing so well.

 

Gorgeous, aaron, and a very lucky find, congratulations.
Looks like it has the perfect Yixing teapot line, equal height for the top of the pot, the top of the handle, and the top of the spout.
There are sites with Yixing marks. Many of them are for antique marks, so yours may not be on it. It is an ongoing tradition, there are still some truly expert Yixing potters. But if you want to look, this is the right way around:

 

Many thanks for the help AJ - very interesting to know about the height line - it also helps to not work on finding the mark... upside down

 

The line means it passes the Yixing quality test. That is also the reason it pours so smoothly, perfect design.

 

Does the lid fit well or it has some play?

 

How much movement is considered play? Maybe 1mm or less movement...

 

Great pics as usual, Aaron !!!

A little jiggle sounds ok !

 

Words to live by!

 

Not sure. I’ve heard that quality yixing pots should have lids that fit snugly. But that alone does not mean that the piece is not recent and mass produced. Also, I guess there are also exceptions.

 

I just checked it again - when the lid is in place if you push on the lid to try to move it around it moves...maybe..maybe a half millimeter . I think I'd consider that pretty snug. If you pick the pot up with the lid on and move the pot around, there is no movement of the lid at all.

 

there has to be some play......!

 

Yeah or the dang thing wouldn't go on and off!

 

Aaron, I thought this article about TREE STUMP YIXING TEAPOTS was rather interesting. I didn't know anything about them!

https://www.teachat.com/viewtopic.php?p=241574

 

Thank you SB - interesting that the tree stump form goes back 4-500 years! I think mine is probably within the last 50 though - ha

 

Aaron, now, if you go to sell it, you can call it a TRADITIONAL TREE STUMP...
- or say, IN THE LONG CHINESE TRADITION, HERE'S...

 

You can call it whatever you want. Even if listed only as Yxing or Teapot, Chinese people will know better.