Where does Yixing clay come from?
Jiangsu Province
Yixing clay (simplified Chinese: 宜兴泥; traditional Chinese: 宜興泥; pinyin: Yíxīng ní; Wade–Giles: I-Hsing ni) is a type of clay from the region near the city of Yixing in Jiangsu Province, China, used in Chinese pottery since the Song dynasty (960–1279) when Yixing clay was first mined around China’s Lake Tai.
What is a Yixing zisha teapot?
Yixing teapots were also commonly known as zisha teapots. They are also called Qing Shui Ni when the clay is not mixed or colored. Today zisha teapots are characterized by the use of purple sand clay. These Yixing purple clay teapots and other stoneware feature a purple-red brown color.
What is the size of a Yixing teapot and why?
The capacity of most popular Yixing pot sizes ranges from a few hundred millilitres (or cc, ml, etc) to 70 or 60 ml.
What is purple clay?
Purple Clay, also known as ‘Zisha’, is a rare natural mineral resource comprised of clay and other minerals such as quartz buried deep underground for years. Although it named “purple clay” it is usually rosely-brown in color. There will be some other colors appear as well, due to its unique blend of minerals.
How do you take care of a purple clay teapot?
To clean a clay pot: Remove used tea leaves with your fingers, use chopsticks or bamboo tweezers if the leaves are still hot. Rinse the body of the teapot and lid thoroughly with warm water for at least 20 seconds. Rub gently with your fingers to remove any stains. Pay attention to the spout area of the pot.
Are Yixing teapots fired?
Pine wood is used as fuel for the kiln. Yixing teapots are fired for 3 days and 4 nights in the wood kiln.
Why is purple clay good?
Purple clay (zisha) has the reputation of being a high quality clay because of its fine texture and porous nature, as well as being easy to mould. They became popular during the Ming Dynasty gradually replacing porcelain china.