Yixing factory clay colours

[Bok]

...I know, the colour of the clay is only a weak indicator of anything, as it depends on firing etc. and of course the skill and lighting of the photographer involved

But - I noticed that when browsing images of antique pots, earlier and later factory pots, that the latter seem more orangey in the case of hongni. Is that something that can be said, that the older the vintage, the more likely the colour is more of a red than orange?

I have a book of Qing and ROC pots and those are even more red than the early factory pots.
Whereas in for example the EOT pots most are from the 90ies and I would describe them more as orange than red.

Thanks for any light shed into the never ending complexities of Yixing

[.m.]

I've noticed that too. I think hongni tends to darken a bit with age and use. Does this make sense?
Like when you pour hot water in a yixing pot the color becomes more deep and lustrous, and it seems as if some of this color change becomes more permanent with pots that has seen a lot of use.

[Bok]

I've noticed that too. I think hongni tends to darken a bit with age and use. Does this make sense?
Like when you pour hot water in a yixing pot the color becomes more deep and lustrous, and it seems as if some of this color change becomes more permanent with pots that has seen a lot of use.

Maybe, but it is the same with unused older pots as well.

[steanze]

...I know, the colour of the clay is only a weak indicator of anything, as it depends on firing etc. and of course the skill and lighting of the photographer involved

But - I noticed that when browsing images of antique pots, earlier and later factory pots, that the latter seem more orangey in the case of hongni. Is that something that can be said, that the older the vintage, the more likely the colour is more of a red than orange?

I have a book of Qing and ROC pots and those are even more red than the early factory pots.
Whereas in for example the EOT pots most are from the 90ies and I would describe them more as orange than red.

Thanks for any light shed into the never ending complexities of Yixing

I think there's something to your observation, but it is also a bit more complicated
Many 70s F1 pots are a bit more orangey than the 60s ones. Late 70s also has an even more orange type of hongni. However, 90s nenni+iron oxide can be redder than some of the 70s pots. With respect to ROC, there are some more orange ones and some redder ones, and also in late Qing, for example, there is a dark red kind of hongni that's darker even than the 60s F1 hongni, but then there's also zhuni which can be similar or even slightly more orange than the 60s hongni

[Bok]

Cheers Steanze, although your reply does not make things any easier

[steanze]

I'll try to take some pictures when I get the chance. I think rather than finding overall trends like that, it is easier to try to remember some clay batches/types. For example, late Qing zhuni, dark red late Qing /ROC hongni, 60s to mid 70s F1 hongni, late 70s F1 hongni, niangaotu, nenni+iron oxide. And then remember how things other than clay type can affect the color/texture, for example firing temperature, recede firing, ...

[Bok]

I'll try to take some pictures when I get the chance. I think rather than finding overall trends like that, it is easier to try to remember some clay batches/types. For example, late Qing zhuni, dark red late Qing /ROC hongni, 60s to mid 70s F1 hongni, late 70s F1 hongni, niangaotu, nenni+iron oxide. And then remember how things other than clay type can affect the color/texture, for example firing temperature, recede firing, ...

I am sure the tea forum community at large would be very grateful for that!

[steanze]

I was hoping to manage to take some daylight pictures today but it might not happen... in the meanwhile here is a start though:
on the right: late Qing zhuni
on the left: early ROC dark red hongni

I will put up better pics when I can

IMG_20180313_152331892_small.jpg (253.71 KiB) Viewed 8712 times

[Teachronicles]

I was hoping to manage to take some daylight pictures today but it might not happen... in the meanwhile here is a start though:
on the right: late Qing zhuni
on the left: early ROC dark red hongni

I will put up better pics when I can

IMG_20180313_152331892_small.jpg

What a cute spout on the qing pot

[steanze]

First post had attachment issues and now apparently I can't delete it, so I had to edit it to this.

[steanze]

What a cute spout on the qing pot

Yes, the late Qing styles are quite elegant.

Ok, here are two pics that are a bit more comprehensive. First up, from left to right: late Qing zhuni, early ROC dark hongni, 1950s hongni (puffed lid).
Next: the 50s hongni puffed lid again (for lighting comparison), 60s F1 hongni, early-mid 70s F1 hongni, late 70s F1 hongni.

hongni1_small.jpg (157.72 KiB) Viewed 8679 times

hongni2_small.jpg (141.46 KiB) Viewed 8679 times

[Bok]

Wow! Thanks, as beautiful as instruktive.