Handmade Yixing Purple Clay (Zisha) Teapot - Well Curb

A purple clay teapot is a type of handmade pottery that originates from Yixing, a city in China. Purple clay is a rare and natural material that has a unique color and texture. Purple clay teapots are prized for their ability to enhance the flavor and aroma of tea, as well as their aesthetic appeal. The unique properties of Zisha teapots make them very suitable for brewing Pu-erh tea.

First of all, Zisha teapots have a delicate texture and strong water absorption, which means that the tea aroma in the pot can be absorbed by the pot wall. After a long time of use, the pot body will absorb and retain the aroma of the tea, making the brewed tea more mellow and delicious.

Secondly, the excellent heat preservation performance of Zisha teapots can ensure that the temperature of the tea remains constant during the brewing process. This is very important for brewing Pu-erh tea, as maintaining an appropriate temperature can better extract the flavor and aroma of the tea.

This particular teapot is designed by Master Tan with the name "Well Curb Teapot" (井栏壶): As the name suggests, its design is inspired by well curbs. Created by Chen Mansheng (陈曼生), it is one of the classic traditional teapot shapes and is a teapot with many variations. When it comes to Mansheng's well curbs alone, there are many styles.

Mansheng's friend and fellow teapot maker, Peng Nian, visited and they exchanged their experiences in making teapots. Just then, a maid came to fetch water from the well in the courtyard. The well curb was high and the water was deep, so the maid bent her waist like a shrimp, which made the two friends laugh. Mansheng immediately began to sketch and after several attempts, he finally created a teapot. Peng Nian suggested naming it "Water Fetching Teapot," but Mansheng shook his head and said, "This teapot is naturally made and can only be called a Well Curb Teapot."

The term "well curb" is commonly found in traditional Chinese culture, such as in the field of "fortune telling," where there is a "well curb" section. The forty-first move in the Chen-style Tai Chi Chuan form is called "Turning Back and Entering the Well Curb." In real life, a well curb refers to the protective curb around a well, also known as a well bed or well shaft. In ancient times, people often placed well curbs when they dug wells, and some even placed well covers, well tops, and well pavilions, which not only protected the well but also beautified the environment.

Capacity: 80ml

Teapot Maker: Li Tan (谭丽)

(This item will be shipped from Canada)