Small Lotus Seed (Yixing Tianqing Clay) 小莲子壺
Made by award winning Chaozhou teapot craftsman, Chen Zhijian. In his early years, Chen had came in champion in national wheel throwing competitions, with many of his works superceding his teachers in dexterity and refinement, especially in traditional and historical teapot styles from the early to late Qing dynasties. In other private commissions for KZ over the past years, Chen had been able to make impeccably refined and elegant pots, all the way from classical Qianlong Pear shapes to ultra thin walled “Nanban” styled teapots that wheel thrown and pulled to shape entirely from the inside of the pot, without any external surface touch ups, yet maintaining very thin walls. These teapots are treasures in the modern day, and will become heirloom treasures in time to come. Capacity：Approximately 70-75ml Form & Soul: Inspired by the organic symmetry of a lotus seed, featuring an arched dome lid, an upright body, and fluidly curved spouts and handles. It blends structural discipline with soft elegance. Character: Softening, multi-layered, and harmonious. The subtle headspace in the high-arched lid creates a gentle air pocket, allowing steam to circulate softly and smoothing out the liquor's edges. Pour Dynamics: An graceful, elegant, medium-speed stream that flows in a smooth curve, offering satisfying visual rhythm during the pour. Ideal Tea Companion: Traditional Traditional Roast Tieguanyin or Aged Oolongs (Aged Dan Cong / Aged Yancha). The shape softens aged or wood-fired notes, allowing complex, lingering notes of dried fruit, honey, and medicine to unfold layer by layer. Directions for Usage and Care: As the teapot is entirely new and freshly off the kiln, please rinse the teapot with clean water and ensure that any grits or loose clay is washed away before usage. There is possibly some sandy clay residue which is used to prevent the lid from sticking to the pot during firing, this can be easily washed away. Also, this teapot is optimally fired, the teapot is ready for immediate usage after washing, you may want to fill the teapot with one or two rounds of hot water or with some light dilute good tea for five minutes, and then wash out, and it will be ready for brewing tea. Do not boil the teapot, and not with tea leaves and towels either! After use, please empty out the tea leaves from the pot and rinse it with clean water, and optimally with one douse of hot water before leaving to dry.