final verdict on SilkRoadTrade yixing ?

I bought half a dozen or so from them not long ago. (Total shipping doesn't rise much, so it made sense to buy several for gifts.) Very reasonable quality for the price, about like MandJs. I like their emphasis on clean lines and minimal decoration. I expected to keep one and give away the rest - but at least for the moment, I'm keeping four! Most were "Grade C" for about $10~15; one was a larger "Grade B" in a shape I liked. All are OK to pretty good. I also found the photos accurate as regards finish. A couple of very thin pots had slight imperfections in lid fit, but nothing serious - and no issue at that price! I plan to try their Grade A pots when I'm next feeling richer.

Good service and packing, again as with MandJs. Anyone care to recommend other reliable and inexpensive sources for Yixings?

-DM

Thanks for the reply. My only worry is the thing is billed as a "zhuni" pot, a lovely "cinnabar red" color.. but then I read here and elsewhere that such clay is basically gone, and it makes me wonder if the pot is something other than a Yixing...

snipped-for-privacy@posting.google.com7/19/04

Hey B,

I'd need to see the pot in order to offer an opinion. Why not post the URL directly to the pot so we can see it? Meanwhile, here's my experience with that company: Some months ago I chose and purchased four pots at their "A" quality. The price including shipping for all was just under $100 USC. (This was a two for one sale.) The pots are small, conservative and traditional in design, of red clay. Two of them are in constant use. I like them. They are seasoning gracefully and drinking their respective favorite teas with enthusiasm. One, a red clay and sandy mix, quickly chipped at the lip, despite the care I'd taken with it. Another I passed off to a friend. Except for the chip, I was satisfied generally. I noticed some of what appeared to be a clay drip within one, indicating that the pot was probably slip molded. Also, the extreme thinness and uniformity of the walls indicate that. I would have preferred that these pots be at least slab molded. On balance, I was satisfied. The pots were worth the price, but not more.

As I said, let's see the pot. Post the URL.

Michael

snipped-for-privacy@posting.google.com7/20/04

Clays from different areas and strata contain different chemical compositions. Each batch is unique in that sense. So, the clay that's mined in one place will be somewhat different from the clay that's mined in another place nearby or lower down. Therefore, *any* clay is by nature basically gone or going. There is a lot of hype going on. Even if it is not Yixing, which it incidentally probably is, it doesn't matter that much. The important thing is that you and the pot are happy drinking tea together. Matching the pot to the tea has merit. Wall thickness, size, and porosity will contribute to enjoyment. If you're still drooling, go for it, I say.

Michael

Ok, here's the pot:

snipped-for-privacy@posting.google.com7/20/04

OK. I approve the pot.

Seriously, it's almost exactly like one of those I bought from them. It's a clean lined pot of good color and breeding. I'd say by all means go for it if you like it, which you obviously do. I don't think you will be sorry. I've found the color too rich at first, but it mellows nicely with use. It will serve you well. The walls of these pots are quite thin,egg shell thin almost. That's a good thing for Phoenix Oolongs. I use one for lightly oxidized oolongs and one for Phoenix. Both drink well.

Michael

Sounds good.. it's funny because I actually like the rich, almost over-the-top color of the thing.. all the pots on the dozens of other yixing-ware sites seem rather drab to me, and I understand that's part of the simple rustic charm of them and all, but they tend to look alike after awhile.

Oh, to follow up, I got the pot, I brewed my first cup of Pu-er in it today, and it was lovely. It's relatively high quality and it meets all the "Yixing tests" I saw posted recently, namely:

-When turned upright (90 degrees), spout down, with water in it, the lid doesn't budge.

-If the steam hole is covered, the pot stops pouring completely. Not even a drip.

-If the spout hole is covered, with water in the pot and the pot is inverted completely (180 degrees), the lid doesn't fall out. In fact it doesn't budge at all.

The capacity is slightly less (~1/2 oz) than silkroadtrade listed it as, but not a big deal.

Overall a good buy and I look foward to using it more! Thanks for your help.