Factory No.1 Yixing Teapot #66 early 70's Hong Ni Shui Ping Teapot 70ml

Early 1970s Factory One Hong Ni Teapot | 70cc Classic Shui Ping Form | “China Yixing” Seal This small 70cc Hong Ni teapot was produced by Yixing Factory No. 1 in the early 1970s. Compared to the more standardized mass-production period that emerged after the 1980s, teapots from the early 1970s were generally made in smaller quantities, with greater attention paid to hand-finishing, proportion, and clay preparation. The craftsmanship from this period often feels more delicate and refined, retaining much of the artisanal spirit inherited from earlier Yixing traditions. Most importantly, this was also a time when the original Factory One Hong Ni ore had not yet been exhausted. Early Factory One Hong Ni is highly regarded for its naturally vibrant reddish tone, fine particle structure, and dense yet lively texture. Unlike many later Hong Ni blends, these earlier clays tend to fire with greater depth, warmth, and translucency under light. In brewing, early Hong Ni is especially appreciated for its ability to elevate aroma and fragrance clarity. The higher glassified level makes it suitable for brewing high aroma tea such as Dancong oolong, rock tea and Taiweanese high mountain oolong. The base bears the classic “China Yixing” mark, commonly seen on export-oriented Factory One teapots of the era. Today, early Hong Ni Factory One teapots remain highly sought after among collectors, not only for their historical importance, but also because the character of this early clay is widely considered difficult to reproduce in modern production.