SHIPIAO TEAPOT IN NIXING CERAMIC FROM QINZHOU - CAPACITY 165ML - ARTISAN ZENG SHIJUN

1. Teapot shape: Shipiao

• One of the most classic teapot shapes in the world of tea, with a trapezoidal structure: a wide base tapering towards the lid, and a low centre of gravity.

• Character: Solid and unassuming in its beauty, yet extremely refined. This shape gives the tea leaves ample room to unfurl completely.

• Meaning: It expresses the humility, steadfastness and serene bearing of the tea drinker.

2. Material: Nixing ceramic from Qinzhou

• One of China's celebrated "Four Great Potteries", made from the distinctive red and white clay found on the banks of the Qin River.

• Firing technique: Nixing ceramic uses no glaze; its colour arises naturally through the "kiln transmutation" process (a transformation inside the kiln at temperatures above 1000°C).

• Properties: The body is as hard and dense as steel, rings like metal when lightly tapped, has a silky-smooth surface and holds the aroma and flavour of tea exceptionally well.

3. Decoration: Intaglio-carved landscape 

• A hallmark of Nixing ceramic is the hand carving done after the piece is formed. Artisans typically carve classical poems, calligraphy or finely worked mountain landscapes.

• The decoration usually shows a soft contrast in colour between the carved areas and the surface of the pot, a result of kiln transmutation, which makes every piece unique (no two pots share the same colour patterning).

4. Capacity: 165ml

• Compact and elegant in size, particularly well suited to solitary tea drinking (1 person) or tea for two (2 people).

• This capacity keeps the tea piping hot and concentrated, and lets the brewer control the steeping precisely.

5. Filter system: 14-hole filter

• 14 filter holes, drilled by hand with care and generous thickness, inside the spout.

• Advantages: Excellent at holding back spent leaves, even broken ones. The pour is strong, round and smooth, making the act of serving tea a pleasure.