Value Assessment of Zisha Teapot

Author: Da Cheng
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-10-01
Features: Zisha ware is a type of pottery made from a special clay with a high iron content, which was initially unglazed. This clay is produced in Yixing, Jiangsu, China. Yixing Zisha ware originated in the Song Dynasty and began to flourish in the mid-Ming Dynasty. Yixing Zisha ware is renowned worldwide for its teapots. During the Ming Dynasty, there were "Four Famous Zisha Potters," including Dong Han, known for imitating Linghua teapots; Zhao Liang, famous for his teapots with handles; Yuan Chang, celebrated for his rustic designs; and all four were from Yixing during the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty. In the Qing Dynasty, there was also a type of colored-glazed Zisha teapot called "Yijun," which was popular during the reigns of the Qianlong and Jiaqing emperors. Some of the more renowned teapot artisans included Ge Mingxiang and Ge Yuanshang (brothers), as well as Shao Jizhu and Shao Xingxin. During the Guangxu and Republic of China periods, there was a large-scale imitation of these wares. In the late Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China era, major teapot masters included Cheng Shouzhen and Yu Guoliang. Cheng Shouzhen, who styled himself Bingxin Daoren, was a native of Shangyuan Village in Yixing during the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China. He was the adopted son of the famous Qing Dynasty teapot master Shao Youting. Cheng Shouzhen excelled in replicating ancient teapots, Han-style flat teapots, and Duqiu teapots, often using the mark "Bingxin Daoren." His style was bold and grand, yet refined within its simplicity.