Yixing ware question

you'll want to take the lid, while holding the handle between your fingers and gently tap it against the teapot handle. that is the best way to produce the "ring".

The "ring" depends on the type of zi sha and the temperature it was fired. A zhu ni teapot won't have the same "ring" than a duan ni one.

Seb

jfandor wrote:

jfandor8Jnle.39$ snipped-for-privacy@news.uswest.net5/26/05

To me, the key sentence in your report is, "It makes a mean pot of Tieguanyin." I'd say therefore it is a very good pot. Can we see pictures? I wouldn't worry overly about the ring stuff. There appear to be many opinions on that anyway.

Michael

My* digital camera isn't working right now, but I'll get some snaps ASAP.

I totally agree that "It makes a mean pot of Tieguanyin" is the key sentence. I doubt I'd care if it turned out to have been made in Detroit. :D But the "ring" test threw me a bit. I don't exactly have a seasoned ear for these things, but to me, a terra-cotta pot has a "ring" to it when stuck the right way. My coffee mug rings when I scrape my thumbnail on it. My teapot, though, scrapes or goes "thunk." I'll try the handle, but I'm not going to lose any sleep over it.

It's rather low and wide for an Yixing, and the capacity is a staggering (for me, at least) 16 oz - after several rounds of brewing I have a few quarts of tea. Yikes. Next pot will be a bit more "bladder friendly."

Anyway, thanks to you and everybody else who replied.

Some ring some don't but it says nothing about quality of the pot. The ringing comes from thinner walled pots ring sharper. It sounds as if your potter was skilled.

Austin snipped-for-privacy@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com5/30/05

Austin,

I suspect it has more to do with vitrification and density, but experience brings me to agree with you on the fact that it says little about the quality of the pot. If I like it, and the tea likes it, it's a great pot.

Michael

For those who wants to know how to select a good ZiSha (Yixing) teapot, free feel to take a look at