Yixing

[Sleepy]

I got this pot from ZAG. I have a problem that two of the seven holes are blocked. Below image is bad quality I apologize, it's taken with my phone but it shows two of the bottom holes are blocked. The pour is poor.

I don't know if I should go poking at the blocked holes or make the others larger instead. I have tried to look through the spout and it looks like the blocked holes are at the bottom of the spout hole. So technically I should be able to get through but not sure if that's the best way to make the pour better. Or how much do I risk if I try to file my way through the obstacles.

Any advise?

Blocked spout.png (254.63 KiB) Viewed 18335 times

[.m.]

@Sleepy
Those holes could definitely use some gentle widening. From my experience: Get a set of diamond dremmel bits - the cheap ones from China are just fine (I've got them in a Lidl store once), and the whole set costs about the same as a single one in a hardware store. Don't use an electric dremmel, use just your fingers, going slow with a patience is the key. I use a wine bottle cork to hold the bit - poke a hole in the cork and push the bit in. It fits inside a teapot and gives a good level of control. Add a drop of water to keep the bit wet. Check frequently what you are doing, you don't want to make hole through the spout. Good luck.

[Sleepy]

I actually have a Dremel and those diamond files. I wouldn't use the dremel itself, I'm sure I would destroy this pot if I tried.

Thank you for the wine cork idea, that's really good. I didn't think of the dremel bits at all since those files are awkward to hold.

And yeah, the other holes do seem to be a bit too small too. I'll probably start with those and see if I can do anything about the blockage.

[tea42]

Is the crack in this Yixing teapot acceptable?
Hi,

I just wanted some opinions from someone else. I ordered a Yixing teapot through RealZisha. It was about $600. It arrived with a crack that looks like it happened during firing. It goes all the way through the body. If I pour in some lukewarm water it immediately starts leaking from the crack. Would you return the pot?

Thank you for your help.

[Sleepy]

Is the crack in this Yixing teapot acceptable?

Well, if a teapot can't teapot then I would want my money back

It's one thing to have a superficial crack and something completely different to have water leak out. Contact the seller and explain the issue, they should understand not wanting a leaky teapot. Especially if there was no warning in the description before buying.

[.m.]

That is really bad. Definitely not acceptable, especially since the crack is so obvious.

[Bok]

Of course return! Brand new items should not have cracks... and pricey as well.

[Youzi]

Is the crack in this Yixing teapot acceptable?
Hi,

I just wanted some opinions from someone else. I ordered a Yixing teapot through RealZisha. It was about $600. It arrived with a crack that looks like it happened during firing. It goes all the way through the body. If I pour in some lukewarm water it immediately starts leaking from the crack. Would you return the pot?

Thank you for your help.

No, those cracks, especially if it’s on the outside definitely don’t fly in yixing. Should’ve been noticed by the artist and thrown away. Definitely ask for a full refound plus shipping.

[steanze]

+1 not ok

[.m.]

Here's a somewhat curious find. A polished yixing pot stamped with what looks like a Dutch East Indies coin from the beginning of 20th century, something usually seen on Javanese terracotta pots. Upon closer inspection, it turns out it is actually not stamped by the coin but by carved stamp made to resemble the coin (or perhaps by a fake coin).

[Bok]

Here's a somewhat curious find. A polished yixing pot stamped with what looks like a Dutch East Indies coin from the beginning of 20th century, something usually seen on Javanese terracotta pots. Upon closer inspection, it turns out it is actually not stamped by the coin but by carved stamp made to resemble the coin (or perhaps by a fake coin).

Is it really polished? Or is it patina? Shape make me think of other local Indonesian yixing imitations I’ve seen before. Can be still old though.

[.m.]

Is it really polished? Or is it patina? Shape make me think of other local Indonesian yixing imitations I’ve seen before. Can be still old though.

To be honest, i'm not completely sure whether it is yixing, and I am open to the possibility it is from Indonesia.
What I am able to say:
- The outer surface is sanded and polished, but not thoroughly as is common with Thai market pots.
- It is slab build, using all the usual yixing construction techniques, including the handle, spout and the lid, no touchups on the inside so all seams visible. A standard 7 hole filter was broken off later to improve pour. IMO, it must have been made by a yixing trained potter.
- The clay is dark brown on the exterior, grey with a brownish/purplish tint on the interior and grey with blueish tint in the inside of the clay. The color difference inside and outside is interesting - my guess is that it was fired without a sagar box. The inside grey is similar to how a grey yixing pot I have looks like (reduction fired?).

[.m.]

This is the grey little buddy I was referring to.

[steanze]

Is it really polished? Or is it patina? Shape make me think of other local Indonesian yixing imitations I’ve seen before. Can be still old though.

To be honest, i'm not completely sure whether it is yixing, and I am open to the possibility it is from Indonesia.
What I am able to say:
- The outer surface is sanded and polished, but not thoroughly as is common with Thai market pots.
- It is slab build, using all the usual yixing construction techniques, including the handle, spout and the lid, no touchups on the inside so all seams visible. A standard 7 hole filter was broken off later to improve pour. IMO, it must have been made by a yixing trained potter.
- The clay is dark brown on the exterior, grey with a brownish/purplish tint on the interior and grey with blueish tint in the inside of the clay. The color difference inside and outside is interesting - my guess is that it was fired without a sagar box. The inside grey is similar to how a grey yixing pot I have looks like (reduction fired?).

Looks like a Yixing teapot to me... I've seen these around, did not end up picking up any because I was always a little bit puzzled. It could still be for the Thai market, some Thai market pot had a lighter degree of polishing.

[.m.]

@steanze