Teapots

De Zhong Yixing Clay Teapot

Yixing clay · 140 ml

The name means “Bell of Virtue”. De refers to the Confucian ideal of moral virtue, while the bell-like shape evokes ritual, order and spiritual purification in Chinese tradition. The teapot thus expresses the idea of tea drinking as self-cultivation. The form was created by Shao Daheng during the Qing period, around the first half of the 19th century, a flourishing era for Yixing pottery. He was known for harmonious proportions and excellent function. His pots were said to have “singing” clay, making a bell-like sound as water was poured.