Exploring Traditional Handicrafts | Purple Clay Teapots

As a shining pearl in Chinese tea culture, it not only carries profound cultural heritage but also is an indispensable utensil in the art of making tea. Purple clay teapots are deeply loved by tea lovers for their unique materials, shapes, and craftsmanship. This article will discuss how to choose a purple clay teapot to brew a good pot of tea from the aspects of materials, characteristics, selection, and usage of purple clay teapots.

Purple clay teapots first appeared in Yixing, Jiangsu Province, China. This area is famous for its abundant purple clay resources. Its uniqueness lies in the use of the local specific purple clay for production. The clay is fine, high-temperature resistant, and has good air permeability.

The origin and development of purple clay teapots:
· Song Dynasty (960 - 1279): The production of purple clay teapots began during this period. The initial purple clay teapots were relatively simple in shape and were mainly used in daily life.
· Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644): The craftsmanship of purple clay teapots significantly developed during the Ming Dynasty and began to be appreciated by scholars and literati. During this period, purple clay teapots had significant improvements in design and craftsmanship.
· Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911): By the Qing Dynasty, the production of purple clay teapots reached its peak, especially during the reigns of Kangxi, Yongzheng, and Qianlong. During this period, purple clay teapots had great improvements in both artistry and practicality.

The production process of purple clay teapots:
· Material selection: Select high-quality purple clay. This kind of clay is unique, with a high iron content and good air permeability.
· Clay mixing: Mix and knead the purple clay to achieve the texture and softness suitable for making teapots.
· Shaping: Shape by hand according to the design drawing. This process can be carried out through various methods such as throwing on the wheel or hand shaping.
· Carving: Carve and decorate when the clay is semi-dry.
· Air drying: Air dry the made teapot body naturally, preparing for firing.
· Firing: Fire at a specific high temperature. Purple clay teapots are usually fired at a temperature of approximately 1100°C to 1200°C.
· Grinding and inspection: After firing, grind and finely process the teapot body to ensure its appearance and texture meet the standards.

The characteristics of purple clay teapots