Teapots

Some vintage teapots are listed separately on this page.

For delicate, fragile items, we suggest buyers out of North America select Global Priority (USPS International Priority Mail) as the shipping method.

Each teapot has limited copies or single copy. We will update the web page as frequent as possible. But please forgive us if the teapot you order is out of stock. We will do our best to accommodate your needs.

Photos on computer screens inevitably have color bias. We try to minimize the color biases. Meantime, we suggest you to use a calibrated computer screen (preferably not a laptop screen) to view the photos. Most clay colors are their typical colors of their own genre. But Qing Shui Ni and Pin Zi Ni could have slightly different shades of colors within their own genres.

As we begin to carry Feng Xiaoyi couple's yixing teapots and are still at the stage of collecting feedback from users, all Feng Xiaoyi couple's teapots (made by Feng Xiaoyi or Yu Jingming) are currently at the best prices that we could offer. The prices are up to adjustment later this year.

All our yixing teapots are made of yixing clay (sorry for the redundancy... but...!)

All the teapots are sincerely made and practical to use. None of our teapot is of collection grade, although they are not necessarily less artistic or less valuable than many claimed-to-be collection grade teapots in the market.

As hand-made pieces, none of the teapots is perfect. But all of them pass our quality control and hold very high quality standards for their price ranges. All the photos are available in large sizes, and we will do our best to point out anything that may affect the aesthetic value of a teapot.

All photos can be clicked into large size. Please check out our online album if some photos can't be clicked to enlarge.

Yixing Teapot Purple Clay Wen Dan (Yixing No.1 Factory style), $99. product#pot20

Enlarged photos can be viewed here.

Clay Type	Purple Clay
Craftswoman	Unknown
Design	Wen Dan, traditional style
Strainer Type	14-hole
Volume	135ml (3.8 oz.)
Price	$99
Product #	pot20

Manager's comments:

Before taking the photos, our photographer used this teapot in the photo for a few tea sessions (something that's usually not allowed and doesn't usually happen). Therefore, the teapot in the photo is not 100% new. You may see some tiny tea stain spots on the enlarged photo. The teapot may have gained some patina too. But since it was used for only a few tea sessions before photography, it does look almost the same as a new teapot. Unless otherwise stated, all the teapots we shipped out are new teapots.

According to the producer, this teapot is made with purple clay aged for over 30 years and made by an old yixing worker retired from Yixing No.1 Factory. The craftsman is not famous and not active in yixing profession now, so his name stamp is not used for the teapot. Besides, the teapot was made in order to mimic Yixing No.1 Factory teapots (with a pre-claim from the producer that it's not a No.1 Factory teapot and was not meant to fake the No.1 Factory products), and therefore a "China, Yixing" stamp is used on the bottom. In my opinion, it's not as perfect as some of the very high quality No.1 Factory teapots, but it has a more authentic taste of good quality No.1 Factory teapots than some other products *claimed to be* No.1 Factory teapots.

A few outstanding features of this teapot are:

1. It uses highest kiln temperature possible and the teapot is slightly more high-fired than most other purple clay. I rinsed a new teapot with cold water and hot water for several times, didn't detect any earth smell on the rinsed teapot, and thought it would be ready for use without further pre-seasoning.

2. The wide opening and the shape makes it easy to use for all types of teas. It shares the hassle-free feature of the Han Wa teapot down this page.

3. Wen Dan is a grapefruit/pomelo type of citrus fruit from southern China. The teapot is named after the fruit due to its shape. This Wen Dan is a little "fatter" than the other two Wen Dan styles we have (down this page).

4. For those who care (I personally don't particularly care), this type of clay is claimed to have rich iron content. It's said to be able to make a difference in the tea liquor taste. But I personally think the taste difference is so small that it can often be ignored, if can be detected at all, depending on the type of tea and brewing method (that's for my own tea drinking habit and other people may have sharper senses than mine). But indeed it doesn't hurt to have some iron in your teapot.

***Warning!

Side effect of this teapot - After being used for some time, the clay of this teapot starts looking very much like chocolate. Facing a chocolate-like teapot day in and day out stimulates one's appetite of chocolate badly - some chocolate lover learned it the hard way!

Yixing Teapot Di Cao Qing Shui Ping (Yixing No.1 Factory style), $140. product#xppot3

Enlarged photos can be viewed here.

Clay Type	Di Cao Qing
Craftswoman	Xu Peng
Design	Shui Ping, traditional style
Strainer Type	7-hole
Volume	135ml (3.8 oz.)
Price	$140
Product #	xppot3

Manager's comments:

On this teapot, Mr. Xu, the craftsman, made his best attempts to mimic the classic shui ping teapots of Yixing No. 1 Factory. He used clay quality comparable to No. 1 Factory's, learned from old workers of No. 1 Factory, and studied this plain and practical style for years. His teapots look almost exactly the same as No. 1 Factory's, especially at the details of the handle and spout, where most copy works failed to get "it". Most copy works following No.1 Factory style carry a "China Yixing" seal at the bottom, as used by No.1 Factory. But our young craftsman put his own seal on the bottom and elsewhere on the teapots. He believes his teapots are as good as (hmm... actually he meant to say better than...) the No.1 Factory teapots, and is confident that someday his teapots would be as sought after as the high quality ones among No.1 Factory teapots.

Yixing Teapot Di Cao Qing Xi Shi, $120. product#xppot2

Enlarged photos can be viewed here.

Clay Type	Di Cao Qing
Craftswoman	Xu Peng
Design	Xi Shi, traditional style
Strainer Type	7-hole
Volume	100ml (3.4 oz.)
Price	$120
Product #	xppot2

Yixing Teapot Zhu Ni Duo Qiu, $140. product#fypot4

Please be cautious of the small size and consider carefully if it's a good size for you.

Enlarged photos can be viewed here.

Clay Type	Zhu Ni
Craftswoman	Feng Xiaoyi
Design	Duo Qiu, traditional design
Strainer Type	7-hole
Volume	55 ml (1.9 oz.)
Price	$140
Product #	fypot4

Duo Qiu means "ball on top of a ball". It describes the shape of the teapot. The belly, the head and the knob of the teapot look like big, medium and small balls, one on top of another.

The clay is Zhao Zhuang (a mining location of Zhu Ni) Zhu Ni. It has a thin wall. Therefore, please use common caution used for zhu ni, and when using it in a cold weather, pre-heat the teapot with warm water before pouring boiling water into it.

Yixing Teapot Zhu Ni Fang Gu, $140. product#fypot3

Please be cautious of the small size and consider carefully if it's a good size for you.

Enlarged photos can be viewed here.

Clay Type	Zhu Ni
Craftswoman	Feng Xiaoyi
Design	Fang Gu, traditional design
Strainer Type	7-hole
Volume	50 ml (1.7 oz.)
Price	$140
Product #	fypot3

The color of zhu ni before kiln is yellowish. Therefore, on the final product, sometimes, there is yellow color on the inner rim of the teapot opening (as showed from the last photo). But the yellow color patch won't be large.

The first two photos show comparison of a brand new teapot of this style and another one of the same style that has been used for several times. The difference is subtle because the used teapot has been used for only fewer than 10 times. But the difference is still obvious and the pictures demonstrate how fast zhu ni teapots gain (clean) patina during tea drinking.

Yixing Teapot Jiang Po Ni (Gang Po Ni) "Han Wa", $120. product#xppot1

Enlarged photos can be viewed here.

Clay Type	Jiang Po Ni (Gang Po Ni)
Craftsman	Xu Peng
Design	Han Wa (Han Dynasty Eaves-Tile), traditional design
Strainer Type	10-hole
Volume	140 ml (5 oz.)
Price	$120
Product #	xppot1

Manager's comments:

1. "Jiang Po Ni" is the standard pinyin of this clay. "Gang Po Ni" is closer to the pronunciation in Yixing local dialect, and easier to pronounce for non-Chinese speakers. "Jiang Po Ni" literally means "Fallen Slope Clay", which indicates the mining location of this clay.

2. Although I can't say this teapot is the best teapot or my favorite teapot in our store, here are a few things that I can say about it:

* It's one of the best and the favorite.

* Its clay is one of the best among our collection.

* Among our collection, it's the most (there is no "one of" here) hassle-free teapot for hard-core drinkers of large-leaf, short-infusion teas such as yan cha and sheng puerh. Throwing tea leaves in and pouring tea liquor out are easy breezy!

* Although it's a small teapot, with this clay texture and this style of classic simplicity, nobody dares to call it "girly"!

"Eggplant" Yixing Purple Clay Fairy Pitcher (decanter), "said-to-be" 1990s work, $50, #gnpot1

Enlarged photos can be viewed here.

Manager's comments:

We say it's "said-to-be" 1990s work. It doesn't mean we don't believe it's from 1990s. We are just not sure. As a matter of fact, I can't tell which yixing works are from 1990s or from certain era. It's sometimes easy to tell which ones are NOT from 1990s or certain era, but for most people, there is barely anyway to tell for sure which era a yixing ware is from, unless there is record of its history (e.g. if it's obtained from its creator or long-term collector).

For following reasons, we think these "eggplants" are very likely 1990s works.

1. They are made of fairly good clay - but not top grade clay, which is usually used for teapots but rarely for fairy pitchers. The clay texture is already comparable to some very good clay nowadays. This is consistent with the fact that 1990s fair clay is about the quality of today's very good clay.

2. The craftsmanship has a taste of 1990s. By "1990s taste", I mean they are carefully made, yet not meticulously made. The eggplant is in excellent shape, but wasn't made with a perfectionism attitude and wasn't meant to be made as an expensive piece. It was made as a piece of folk art and as a daily utensil, not a piece of academic art.

3. I don't think the creation date of yixing ware matters at all. I see a lovely eggplant, nice clay and good functionality. But I know DOB of a yixing ware matters to many people. Hence there should be some clarification here.

4. Below is also some "said-to-be" information. We think it makes sense, but have no way to tell for sure how true it is.

According to the supplier, these eggplants were made by Yixing No.1 Factory's branch factory cooperated by Yixing No.1 Factory and Taiwan Gu Nong Ceramic Arts. Gu Nong Ceramic Arts was one of the first organizations that introduced many high quality yixing wares to Taiwan, and participated in production of many high quality yixing wares.

5. This fairy pitcher can also be used as a brewing vessel for green tea and red tea with "keep root" brewing method.

6. The current price is based on the supplying price. Since it's not likely that we could get more supply of these eggplants, the price might be adjusted in the future based on rarity.

Yixing Teapot Red Clay thin-walled Shi Piao, $65. product#teapot11

Temporarily out of stock.

Enlarged photos can be viewed here.

Clay Type	Hong Ni (Red Clay)
Craftsman	Chen Yougen
Design	shi piao, traditional design
Strainer Type	7-hole
Volume	75ml (2.6 oz.)
Price	$65
Product #	teapot11

This teapot has nice balanced shape, great pour and nice clay. There are occasionally several black iron particles on the surface. This is because the teapot was made under higher fire than usual, and some iron in natural red clay comes out (For example, on the lid of the photoed teapot, there is an iron particle on the lid. But locations of iron particles could be different on different teapots.) It's all natural and doesn't affect the function of the teapot (but it does affect its outlook and price). The knob is made very convenient to grab. But for such a small size, the underside of the knob is not made very smooth.

It has a thin wall. Therefore, please use common caution used for zhu ni, and when using it in a cold weather, pre-heat the teapot with warm water before pouring boiling water into it.

Additional notes: The maker of this teapot (Mr. Chen Yougen) signed this teapot as made of Zhao Zhuang Zhu Ni in the paperwork that comes with this teapot. We do not disagree with Mr. Chen. But due to the market expectation of high price for Zhu Ni, and because the clay of this teapot is not high grade Zhu Ni (compared with the other Zhu Ni teapots we carry), we would just call this teapot Red Clay teapot.

Yixing Teapot Purple Clay Fang Gu, $72.99. product# fypot1

Enlarged photos can be viewed here.

Clay Type	Zi Ni (Purple Clay)
Craftswoman	Feng Xiaoyi
Design	Fang Gu, traditional design
Strainer Type	7-hole
Volume	70ml (2.5 oz.)
Price	$72.99
Product #	fypot1

Yixing Teapot Purple Clay Wen Dan, $72.99. product# fypot2 (temporarily out of stock)

Enlarged photos can be viewed here.

Clay Type	Zi Ni (Purple Clay)
Craftswoman	Feng Xiaoyi
Design	Wen Dan, traditional design
Strainer Type	7-hole
Volume	65ml (2.3 oz.)
Price	$72.99
Product #	fypot2

Yixing Teapot Qing Shui Ni Fang Gu, $120. product#pot9 (new arrival)

Enlarged photos can be viewed here.

Clay Type	Qing Shui Ni
Craftswoman	Pan Bohong
Design	Fang Gu, traditional design
Strainer Type	9-hole
Volume	130ml (4.6 oz.)
Price	$120
Product #	Pot9

Yixing Teapot Red Clay Fang Gu, $120. product#pot8 (out of stock)

Enlarged photos can be viewed here.

Clay Type	Hong Ni (Red Clay)
Craftswoman	Pan Bohong
Design	Fang Gu, traditional design
Strainer Type	9-hole
Volume	120ml (4.2 oz.)
Price	$120
Product #	Pot8

Please click pictures for large images.

Yixing Teapot Red Qing Shui Ni He Huan, $120. product#pot10

Enlarged photos can be viewed here.

Clay Type	Red Qing Shui Ni
Craftswoman	Pan Bohong
Design	He Huan, traditional design
Strainer Type	7-hole
Volume	100ml (3.4 oz.)
Price	$120
Product #	Pot10

Yixing Teapot Red Clay Rong Tian. product# pot1 (currently out of stock)

Clay Type	Hong Ni (Red Clay)
Craftswoman	Pan Bohong
Design	Rong Tian, traditional design
Strainer Type	7-hole
Volume	110ml (4 oz.)
Price
Product #	Pot1

Please click pictures for large images.

Yixing Teapot Red Clay Xi Shi, $99. product# pot2

Clay Type	Hong Ni (Red Clay)
Craftswoman	Pan Bohong
Design	Xi Shi, traditional design
Strainer Type	7-hole
Volume	110ml (4 oz.)
Price	$99
Product #	Pot2

Yixing Teapot Duan Ni Duo Qiu, $99.99. product# pot4 (out of stock)

Clay Type	Duan Ni
Craftswoman	Pan Bohong
Design	Duo Qiu, traditional style
Strainer Type	7-hole
Volume	140ml (5 oz.)
Price	$99.99
Product #	Pot4

Yixing Teapot Red Clay Wen Dan, $89.99. product# pot5

Clay Type	Hong Ni (Red Clay)
Craftsman	anonymous
Design	Wen Dan
Strainer Type	"golf ball"
Volume	150ml (5 oz.)
Price	$89.99
Product #	Pot5

Yixing Teapot Zi Ni Shi Piao. product# pot6 (sold)

Clay Type	Zi Ni (Purple Clay)
Craftsman	anonymous; engraved by Xuan Yuan
Design	Shi Piao; engraved text is from Taoism Classic - "Do not lose your spirit to impetuosity; do not lose your root in lightness."
Strainer Type	7-hole
Volume	95ml (3.3 oz.)
Price
Product #	Pot6

Yixing Teapot Red Clay Shi Piao. product# pot7

Sold

Clay Type	Hong Ni (Red Clay)
Craftsman	anonymous
Design	Shi Piao
Strainer Type	7-hole
Volume	110ml (4 oz.)
Price
Product #	Pot7

Limited Edition:

The limited edition tea wares are not commodities we carry for long term. Some of them are personal belongings from friends and families, and some are inexpensive, practical tea wares that are barely profitable. All of them are not for profit, and prices of personal items are made much lower than their values. The purpose is send them to people who can make some use of them. Therefore, they can only be sold for tea buyers with their orders. They are not sold separately, and basically none of them is anything precious or "must-have" anyway.

For any of the limited-edition pieces, please contact us for invoice.

Large antique style yixing teapot with flower pattern from CCCI. $25, shipping included, and shipped to US address only. (If the address is east to Ohio and north to Virginia, then the price is $19, shipping included.) Style: Tall "Dan Bao" (egg-shape). Clay: pin zi (mixed purple).

A little larger than 500m (17 oz.). The large size makes it only practical for black tea or large volume brewing of puerh or hei cha.

CCCI is a large yixing dealer of America. Teapots of this brand generally have mediocre clay grade, but all their teapots are safe to use. This teapot's craftsmanship is not artistic, but generally ok. The hand-painted flower pattern and the brass handles are very well made and similar to the style of some yixing large teapots of the old days.