Qin Xun Pear-shaped Teapot - Small Coal Kiln Red Clay

Qin Xun - Pear-shaped Teapot - Small Coal Kiln Zhu Ni (Red Clay)

Small coal mine Zhu Ni:

The small coal mine, located at the foot of Huanglong Mountain in Yixing (formerly part of Hongwei Village), was named after the coal mines that were mined there in the early years. It was shut down in 1997 due to difficulties in mining mud and environmental protection policies.

Characteristics of the mineral layer: The mineral layer is relatively shallow, with an egg-shaped sedimentary structure, interspersed with hard bluestone, making mining difficult and resulting in scarce reserves.

High shrinkage rate: The firing shrinkage rate is as high as 25%-30%, far exceeding that of ordinary Zhu Ni (about 15%-20%), which can easily lead to deformation and cracking, requiring extremely high teapot making skills.

Granular texture: The clay contains trace amounts of raw mineral particles, which, after firing, present a well-arranged "pear skin" texture, with a delicate yet layered quality.

Color: At room temperature, it is yellowish-brown, and after high-temperature firing, it turns orange-red or brownish-red. After patina formation, the color becomes deeper and has an amber luster.

Process challenges:

Forming difficulty: It requires the traditional technique of "patting and joining", avoids mass production with plaster molds, and can only be made entirely by hand to maintain the clay's properties.

Firing techniques: The temperature needs to be increased in stages, and the kiln temperature should be controlled at about 1080℃-1100℃. Precise control is necessary to avoid "cracking".

Key points for identification

• Appearance features:
  • The surface has natural wrinkles ("earthworm pattern"), not artificially created.
  • There are fine wavy lines at the rim of the pot and other areas where the contraction is obvious.
  • After soaking and conditioning, a patina forms quickly, and a warm and smooth change can be seen within a week.
• Market traps:
  • Beware of counterfeit products containing added iron oxide powder; the color is gaudy and lacks depth.
  • Genuine products produce a crisp, metallic sound when tapped, while counterfeits produce a dull sound.

Applicable tea types

Oolong tea (such as rock tea and Dancong): High-density structure locks in aroma and enhances the tea's flavor.

Aged Pu-erh tea: absorbs impurities and highlights its aged aroma.

Black tea: Enhances the sweetness of the tea soup and avoids overcooking.

Collection value

Scarcity: Most of the existing ore is from early stockpiles, and less than 1% of the genuine products are circulating in the market.

1. Historical Origins

Founder: Lu Siting, a famous teapot maker in the Qing Dynasty, was known for making pear-shaped teapots. Later generations, out of respect, collectively referred to this type of teapot as "Siting teapot".

Evolution: Originally a plain vessel, it later developed decorative techniques such as engraving and gold inlay, becoming a model of the combination of "flower vessel" and "plain vessel" in Zisha pottery.

2. Design Features

Pear-shaped body: The body of the pot resembles a pear, tall and full, with the center of gravity shifted upwards. The lines extend downwards from the neck of the pot, embodying the philosophy of "round heaven and square earth".

Three-bend spout: The spout curves elegantly upwards, the water flow is crisp and clean, and the flow stops abruptly.

Lid design: The lid fits perfectly with the spout, and the knob is like a bead, in harmony with the proportions of the body of the pot.

Capacity: Mostly small teapots (100-200ml), which meet the requirement of "small pot to concentrate aroma" in Kung Fu tea.