Ziye Stone Ladle Teapot - Zhaozhuang Old Zhu Ni Clay

Material: Zhao Zhuang Old Zhu Ni (a type of clay)

The "Shi Piao" was originally called "Shi Diao". In the Cihai dictionary, "Diao" is defined as "a small cooking vessel with a handle and a spout". The "Shi Piao" is a classic traditional style of Zisha pottery, with an elegant shape, graceful and upright posture, dignified and stable, strong yet powerful, solid and harmonious.

Stone Ladle Teapot

The earliest record of the "diao" (铫) transitioning from a metal vessel to a ceramic one is found in the poem "Brewing Tea in the Examination Hall" by Su Shi, a scholar of the Northern Song Dynasty: "Let us learn from the officials and make a name for ourselves, with a brick stove and stone diao as our companions." Su Dongpo's change from the metal "diao" to the stone "diao" is closely related to the tea ceremony of the time. When Su Dongpo was demoted to teach in Shushan, Yixing, he discovered that the tea brewed in the local purple clay pots tasted better than that brewed in copper or iron vessels. So, he used local materials and designed a clay "diao" with both a spout and a handle, imitating a metal handle, to brew tea. This "diao" is what later became known as the "Dongpo Handle Teapot," which can be considered the earliest purple clay "stone diao" teapot. Judging from the surviving stone diao teapots, by the time of Chen Mansheng and Yang Pengnian, they had undergone significant changes, becoming more literati-oriented and artistic. The main characteristics of the "Mansheng Stone Pot" are its smaller top and larger bottom, resulting in a low center of gravity and stable use. The spout is a short, powerful, straight cylinder, ensuring smooth water flow. The body of the pot is pyramid-shaped, giving it a dignified appearance. Compared to the "Zizhan Stone Pot," both made by Peng Nian, the "Mansheng Stone Pot" appears fuller and more rounded, while the latter is more rugged and archaic. This may reflect the artist's personality in the pot's design. So, when did the Zisha "Stone Pot" become known as the "Stone Ladle"? This dates back to the time of Zisha artist Gu Jingzhou. Gu quoted the ancient saying, "Of the three thousand rivers, I only drink from one ladle," suggesting that the "Stone Pot" should be called the "Stone Ladle," and from then on, it has been called the Stone Ladle Pot.

history

Among the myriad variations of teapots, the Shi Piao (石瓢) teapot reigns supreme. The Shi Piao teapot is a classic traditional shape of Zisha (紫砂) teapots. Historically, evidenced by relevant materials and artifacts, its origins can be traced back to the Qianlong and Jiaqing periods of the Qing Dynasty. Many renowned masters throughout history have crafted it. The Shi Piao teapot's body originates from a stone mortar used for pounding rice, characterized by a small mouth and a large belly; however, unlike a stone mortar that is partially buried in the ground, the Shi Piao teapot stands on three legs. In the past, to avoid dust and dirt, farmers used pot lids to cover the teapot, hence the handle of this pot lid evolved into the unique "overhead beam" of the Shi Piao. Its mortar-shaped body, three legs, and bridge-shaped knob on the lid—these three elements constitute the genetic DNA of the Shi Piao. According to Zhen Jun, a Manchu from the late Qing Dynasty, in his "Tea Treatise," the "essential vessel" is the *diao* (铫). As a cooking utensil suspended above charcoal fire, "a thin pot is valued for its thinness, so as to quickly bring it to a boil; a stone pot cannot be thin. Modern people use copper pots, which are unbearably fishy and astringent, because a pot's primary function is cleanliness, so as to preserve its flavor; a copper pot cannot be clean. Porcelain pots are not fire-resistant; only clay pots are acceptable." Therefore, the Yixing clay pot, taking its shape and form from the stone pot, is no longer used for cooking, but only for brewing. Chen Mansheng and Zhu Shimei inscribed on the stone pots they helped make: "Boiling white stones, floating green clouds, a ladle of fine wine invites the gentleman of the paulownia tree," and "A ladle of plum blossoms, an invitation from the eastern pavilion." Among the masters of stone pot making, Yang Pengnian of the mid-Qing dynasty was considered the best. His stone pots came in tall, medium, and short sizes; and had different handles, such as those with a ring handle or a raised beam. He collaborated with Chen Hongshou on the curved "Mansheng Stone Ladle," exuding simplicity and harmony; with Qu Yingshao on the straight-sloped "Ziye Stone Ladle," characterized by strength and vigor; and with Zhu Jian on the open-topped "Shimei Stone Ladle," conveying a profound and ancient elegance. Even more classic are the works of literati who, inspired by their own experiences, incorporated poetry, calligraphy, painting, and seal carving into the teapot, perfectly embodying the essence of water, tea, teapot shape, and personal sentiment. Phrases like "Not fat but firm, thus enduring for years" and "Loving bamboo is like teaching a disciple, repeatedly pruning and supporting it" are imbued with the flavors of life.

Legend of Mansheng Stone Ladle

The Mansheng Stone Ladle is said to have originated from the legend of Chen Mansheng, who, in his spare time from his official duties, often traveled incognito through the streets, occasionally collecting antiques. One day, he suddenly saw a beggar begging on a street corner, with a stone vessel in front of him. Mansheng observed the vessel for a long time but could not find it. So he approached and picked it up to examine it closely. He saw that the vessel had a unique shape, resembling a gourd but not quite. Although it was old, it could not hide its elegant and simple appearance. Upon looking at its base, he found the inscription "A gourd vessel custom-made by the Shao family of the Yuan Dynasty." Mansheng was overjoyed and immediately took out two taels of silver to buy it.

Mansheng was overjoyed to receive this item. He hurriedly returned home, cleaned it thoroughly, and upon closer inspection, confirmed it was indeed a Yuan Dynasty stone ladle teapot. As a connoisseur of Yixing teapots, Mansheng was inspired to create a teapot based on its shape. He used the stone artifact as a model to design the teapot, adding a lid and spout to complete it. After hundreds of revisions, the final teapot was completed and named "Stone Ladle." He inscribed on the body of the teapot: "Not fat but firm, therefore, this is the inscription of the stone ladle teapot made by Mansheng of Yongnian."

This Shi Piao style is a classic design among Yixing teapots. Its main features are a smaller top and a larger bottom, resulting in a lower center of gravity and stable use. The spout is a short, powerful, straight cylinder, ensuring smooth water flow. The body of the pot is pyramid-shaped, giving it an elegant appearance. Later, through many improvements, it was subdivided into Ziye Shi Piao, Jingzhou Shi Piao, Hantang Shi Piao, and others. Ultimately, however, all styles trace their origins back to Mansheng.　

The Ziye Stone Ladle Teapot is said to have been created by Yang Pengnian and Qu Ziye, and is a representative of literati teapots. A painting by Jin Nong bears the inscription: "I have collected a bamboo inkstone painted by Mr. Dongxin. The inkstone has a bamboo branch on the back, which I took inspiration from." A painting by Banqiao bears the inscription: "Banqiao has this vertical and horizontal stroke, quite elegant. Ziye collected Banqiao's painting, probably imitating the Meihua'an style." The lid is inscribed with "Ziye Painted Teapot," the inside is inscribed with "Yiyuan," the bottom is engraved with the seal "Jihu," and the handle has the seal "Pengnian," indicating it was a collaboration between Yang Pengnian (during the Jiaqing and Daoguang periods) and Qu Ziye.

Later generations imitated the style of the Ziye Stone Ladle teapot, but they always fell short of the original. Although both the Ziye Stone Ladle and the Mansheng Stone Ladle were made by Peng Nian, the Mansheng is fuller and more rounded, while the Ziye is more rugged and archaic. This may be due to the individual personalities expressed in the art of the teapot.