Yixing Kiln Zisha Teapot with Handle

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Period: Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
Medium: zisha (“purple sand” clay)
Dimensions: overall height: 14 cm; mouth diameter: 8.5 cm; foot diameter: 9.5 cm

This plain zisha (lit. “purple sand”) teapot from the kilns of Yixing has a smooth surface and is devoid of embellishment. The only marking is the two-character inscription Rongxiang (lit. “Rong Village” or “Glorious Village”) on the lid’s interior. This design for zisha teapots with handles was common around the middle to end of the Qing dynasty (1644–1911) and is more stable and aesthetically pleasing than those with a single handle; teapots of this type are also seen in many extant paintings.

Translated and edited by Adam J. Ensign and Kang Xiaolu