Tarad: Here are a few pictures of Zisha pots. They are made in China in the Yixing Provence and produced from purple clay. Their colors are quite interesting, as they're all made from the same clay - just depends where the clay if found. For instance, if the clay is found under rocks, it often has the light buff color due to high ore content.
I have studied these pots for many years and here's a little history that I've learned of the pots:
Purple Clay was originally discovered in Yixing Provence of China during the Sung or Ming Dynasty - not sure which and there are many theories about this - but discovered sometime between Yrs. 943 - 1500. It is the only place in the world that has this type of clay.
The clay was formed from lake deposits. Up until more modern times, Chinese artisans threw the clay by hand to form their wares - it had a natural slip and nothing was added to form a teapot or bowls. The clay contains a high iron & mineral content. Everything was made my hand, including the intricate designs. Then each creation was stamped on the bottom with the artist’s stamp. It took many years for these artisans to perfect their skills and designs. Today much is done by machine, but some items are to this day made by hand (probably very expensive too.) But even to date, the bottom of the pot contains the Chinese stamp of authentic zisha ware.
There are basically three colors of purple clay - it’s all the same clay: Purple (very dark - almost black), red (terra cotta color), and buff. The red & buff color clays are becoming extinct. The red clay is found in areas with more minerals, the buff clay is found in areas under rocks or in areas with high ore content - this gives it’s light color. I found it amazing that all the colors are from the same clay and was produced (up until modern days) with no coloring or additives. (Today, extra minerals & some additives are added.)
The most prized use of the purple clay was in the craft of making tea pots (I think this still holds true today.). The clay is naturally unglazed and is more sandy, therefore allowing it to breath more. It is said that you can leave tea in a one of the purple clay teapots overnight and the tea will never become bitter. These teapots are like a seasoned cast iron fry pan, the more they’re used, the better they become with age. They’re never washed or cleaned with soap, just rinsed out. At one time, each person in a Chinese household had their own teapot, very small and only large enough to hold one serving.
Well, so much for a little history. Most Zisha pots today are still made and imported from the Yixing Provence. I only have one pot that was made in USA. For me, it's more the design and interest of their history that attracts me more than anything else. So now, go find some Zisha pots!
