Handmade Yixing Purple Clay (Zisha) Teapot 150ml / 200ml - Xi Shi

A purple clay teapot is a type of handmade pottery originating from Yixing, China. Made from rare and natural purple clay, these teapots are prized for enhancing the flavor and aroma of tea while offering a distinct aesthetic appeal. The unique properties of Zisha (purple clay) make it ideal for brewing fine teas.The Xi Shi (西施壶) DesignNamed after Xi Shi, the most renowned of the Four Beauties of ancient China, this teapot is celebrated for its graceful and elegant curves. The rounded, full body is designed to embody classical feminine beauty, softness, and purity, making it one of the most iconic, enduring, and beloved shapes in Yixing Zisha history.This 200ml teapot perfectly showcases the minimalist beauty of the classic Xi Shi design. It features a seamless flush lid (Jie Gai), a delicate short spout that ensures a smooth pour, and an elegant inverted ear-shaped handle. It is fully hand-crafted from the highly prized Xiao Mei Yao Zhuni, a premium and rare red clay famous for its high shrinkage rate and extreme difficulty to fire. The resulting teapot boasts a rich, natural reddish hue and a finely textured surface that will develop a stunning, glass-like gloss (patina) over time with daily use.Xiao Mei Yao Zhuni (小煤窑朱泥) ClayCrafted from Xiao Mei Yao Zhuni, a prized vermilion clay from Yixing. This clay is known for its high shrinkage during firing, which demands great skill to shape fully by hand without warping. It fires to a smooth, lustrous, warm reddish-orange surface that develops a rich patina with regular use.Meet the Artisan: Chuanyong Yao (姚传永)This teapot is made by Chuanyong Yao and is fully handmade (全手工): no moulds, just hand-pounded clay slabs, the traditional Yixing way.Born in 1986, Yao has spent fifteen years at the workbench mastering guang qi (光器), the plain traditional forms with no carving or decoration. With nothing to hide behind, every curve, spout and lid must be exactly right. In Yixing, it is said that a potter’s true skill shows in his plain pots.His pots are clean-lined, classically proportioned and made for daily use. The lids sit snug, the spouts pour clean, and with every brew the clay develops a patina that makes the pot entirely your own. Each pot carries his seal, 姚传永制 (“made by Chuanyong Yao”).Key Features Available in 150ml / 200ml — classic gongfu sizes Fully handmade by Chuanyong Yao from Xiao Mei Yao Zhuni (Premium Vermilion Clay) Recommended for aromatic teas: young raw pu-erh, light oolongs such as Tieguanyin and Dancong, and black tea A classic Xi Shi for the gongfu tea table — and a fine example of traditional Yixing craftsmanship.