1. YIXING (eeshing) Teapots

2. YiXing teapots first appeared during the Sung Dynasty (960-1279) in the YiXing region of China, located in the Jiangsu province, about 120 miles northwest of Shanghai. The Jiangsu province is the world's only source for the unique clay from which YiXing teapots are made, called purple or red clay.

3. Oldest Teapot

4. Zisha not quite. This earliest of all YiXing teapot is dated back to 1533. It was excavated in NanJing from the Ming Dynasty eunuch (palace servant) Wu Jing's tomb. It is THE oldest solid evidence of YiXing teapots. The Ming Dynasty was a dynasty manipulated by eunuchs. And in Chinese culture, mortuary objects were usually the deceased peoples' most loved objects. Such lead researchers to believe YiXing teapots had became significant during the Ming Dynasty. This particular teapot is, however, not a YiXing teapot by strict definition. Firstly, it is not made of pure Zisha. Secondly, it's making process differs slightly form that of YiXing teapots'. Thirdly, this teapot was used for boiling instead of brewing Chinese tea. Although this teapot is not `a 100% YiXing teapot, it marked the transition of Chinese tea from being boiled to being brewed (process completed during 1531 - 1595).

5. Biggest Teapot

7. Contemporary Olympiad

10. KOFI or Tea Annan

11. YIXING Competition

12. QE2 takes Cha in Shanghai

13. Qualities required in a teapot The connoisseur appraises a purple clay ware basically according to the following criteria: whether the clay is natural or artificial; whether the clay is processed or refined by hand or by machine; its form and design, i.e. whether it is beautiful; the degree of craftsmanship, i.e. whether it is formed by hand or by molding; the popularity of the craftsman and its ability to brew a cup of tasty tea or better still, to upgrade the quality of tea. The tea culture and teapot art have been blooming since the last decade. However, high quality clay wares with superb craftsmanship are in limited supply and cannot keep up with the increasing demand. Especially rare are the delicately handcrafted works by famous artisans. Therefore, any pieces made by a master artisan are sought after everywhere, and are worth their weight in gold.

15. Hand made no machinery or moulds

18. Which one can you afford?

19. Record Price; Really?

20. How Much? “On 25 Mar 2006, in the central of Shanghai ceramics exposition,one yixing purple clay tea pots of from Taiwan that made by National great master Mr Lu Yao Cheng,was public sale on RMB 100,000(USD12500.00). The professional indicated that, at present the purple clay tea pot investment collection community gradually is receiving in a big way, the auction market is gradually elevating temperature,The price of purple clay tea pots will be rised also”.

21. Only £37500 “In last September Beijing "China industrial art high-quality goods auction ", also was a Lu Yao Chen's pot set "the small stone cold fountain pot “has puplic sale out RMB600,000 (USD75000). this is a "the day price" on that auction, has created the contemporary China purple clay tea pot individual work highest record”.Lu Yao Chen

22. Yixing Tea Pot Shop

23. Bamboo

26. Calligraphic

28. Incised, Marbled

29. Ebay and on Line

30. Symbols

31. Slip - Inlay, raised and painted

33. END