Yixing

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I just stumbled across the auction I am guessing you are looking at @Dhammabum. It is not a yixing pot, it is CZ which yes is wheel thrown. The mark, shape, and clay are much more of a givaway than the base itself. Also an older pot, but taking a shot in the dark I would guess maybe 50s or 60s but could be even later, though @Bok would probably have a more accurate idea on such things. Not to just be a stickler but for the sake of this not turning in to a forum that is just a string of 'is this real should I buy it?' posts we really are supposed to be putting up photos of our own pots here.

So no, not yixing, but older CZ clay can also be very nice!

[Dhammabum]

I just stumbled across the auction I am guessing you are looking at Dhammabum. It is not a yixing pot, it is CZ which yes is wheel thrown. The mark, shape, and clay are much more of a givaway than the base itself. Also an older pot, but taking a shot in the dark I would guess maybe 50s or 60s but could be even later, though Bok would probably have a more accurate idea on such things. Not to just be a stickler but for the sake of this not turning in to a forum that is just a string of 'is this real should I buy it?' posts we really are supposed to be putting up photos of our own pots here.

So no, not yixing, but older CZ clay can also be very nice!

Thanks for your input!

I have posted several of my pots from my collection here. One of my own pots also exhibits similar circular markings and so I’m curious....

Will note to not use for pots seen on the web for now but was more for my own education. Thanks regardless!

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In this case its def wheel thrown because all CZ pots (except some very low grade molded ones) are. Plenty of yixing have it too, but for vintage CZ pots for them to have nothing other than the Meng Chen mark is pretty common with the exception of a few studios/makers. The real giveaway is the slurry coating and very intense orange inner clay.

Yeah sorry, again don't want to be a jerk about it and I don't think you were playing up that angle, more just for other people who might be looking in the future as it has happened here before... I can say then in this instance, assuming the firing is good on the inside, it isn't a bad price for what it is if you were considering it If you drink oolongs, or even for sheng these old CZ pots can be pretty interesting and are quite nice if you dig rugged and small pots.

[Dhammabum]

In this case its def wheel thrown because all CZ pots (except some very low grade molded ones) are. Plenty of yixing have it too, but for vintage CZ pots for them to have nothing other than the Meng Chen mark is pretty common with the exception of a few studios/makers. The real giveaway is the slurry coating and very intense orange inner clay.

Yeah sorry, again don't want to be a jerk about it and I don't think you were playing up that angle, more just for other people who might be looking in the future as it has happened here before... I can say then in this instance, assuming the firing is good on the inside, it isn't a bad price for what it is if you were considering it If you drink oolongs, or even for sheng these old CZ pots can be pretty interesting and are quite nice if you dig rugged and small pots.

Hey not at all! I agree! Yeah... I mainly drink dark teas. Aged Shous and Liu Bao etc...

I think I’ll stick with my other pots but it’s good to learn RE CZ. Not something I’m up to speed on. Why is it always wheel thrown and not made in the same way as Yixing?

[Bok]

In this case its def wheel thrown because all CZ pots (except some very low grade molded ones) are. Plenty of yixing have it too, but for vintage CZ pots for them to have nothing other than the Meng Chen mark is pretty common with the exception of a few studios/makers. The real giveaway is the slurry coating and very intense orange inner clay.

Yeah sorry, again don't want to be a jerk about it and I don't think you were playing up that angle, more just for other people who might be looking in the future as it has happened here before... I can say then in this instance, assuming the firing is good on the inside, it isn't a bad price for what it is if you were considering it If you drink oolongs, or even for sheng these old CZ pots can be pretty interesting and are quite nice if you dig rugged and small pots.

Hey not at all! I agree! Yeah... I mainly drink dark teas. Aged Shous and Liu Bao etc...

I think I’ll stick with my other pots but it’s good to learn RE CZ. Not something I’m up to speed on. Why is it always wheel thrown and not made in the same way as Yixing?

It’s more the other way round: Yixing clay is not really suitable to be wheel thrown. It is possible but elasticity lends itself more for slab building method.

CZ is not always wheel thrown, they also used moulds, already in Qing period, but it is not so common.

It’s more appropriate to say that most pottery is made on a wheel, and slab built is the exception. Not talking about the “kneading method” where strings of clay are slowly built up to form a shape. That is a common way for a potter to learn the basics and get a feeling for clay and shapes.

[Dhammabum]

In this case its def wheel thrown because all CZ pots (except some very low grade molded ones) are. Plenty of yixing have it too, but for vintage CZ pots for them to have nothing other than the Meng Chen mark is pretty common with the exception of a few studios/makers. The real giveaway is the slurry coating and very intense orange inner clay.

Yeah sorry, again don't want to be a jerk about it and I don't think you were playing up that angle, more just for other people who might be looking in the future as it has happened here before... I can say then in this instance, assuming the firing is good on the inside, it isn't a bad price for what it is if you were considering it If you drink oolongs, or even for sheng these old CZ pots can be pretty interesting and are quite nice if you dig rugged and small pots.

Hey not at all! I agree! Yeah... I mainly drink dark teas. Aged Shous and Liu Bao etc...

I think I’ll stick with my other pots but it’s good to learn RE CZ. Not something I’m up to speed on. Why is it always wheel thrown and not made in the same way as Yixing?

It’s more the other way round: Yixing clay is not really suitable to be wheel thrown. It is possible but elasticity lends itself more for slab building method.

CZ is not always wheel thrown, they also used moulds, already in Qing period, but it is not so common.

It’s more appropriate to say that most pottery is made on a wheel, and slab built is the exception. Not talking about the “kneading method” where strings of clay are slowly built up to form a shape. That is a common way for a potter to learn the basics and get a feeling for clay and shapes.

Thanks for the wisdom Bok! Yeah, that’s a great perspective to view Yixing as the exception.

Bok, I read an earlier post by you that mentioned you have a (few?) Antique CZ pots. Have you tested how these tend to fare with Shou Puerhs or Black Teas? I appreciate sweeping generalisations are dangerous, just meant subjectively in your experience...

[LeoFox]

Hahahahahha - yes bok - tell us about your use of those pots with ripe pu erh

[aet]

]Thought I'd share this with community.
We were in Jianshui week ago and found out that there are already quite few masters from Yixing doing biz there. Apparently Yixing rents are much higher and so the prices for clay , which is not even local but from all over the place.
They actually sell the Jianshui clay to Yixing , where it is mixed with some other clay/s.

[Baisao]

Bok, I read an earlier post by you that mentioned you have a (few?) Antique CZ pots. Have you tested how these tend to fare with Shou Puerhs or Black Teas? I appreciate sweeping generalisations are dangerous, just meant subjectively in your experience...

I realize you’re asking Bok but I’ll add my two cents because I do drink shou and heicha, and I own CZ.

I think CZ clay is a mismatch for these teas but mostly for aesthetic reasons. The clay body is generally more open and would be subject to staining and a weird looking patina. There seems to be more leaf waxes in puerh material than C. sinensis-sinensis teas based upon how quickly they build a patina and stain teaware.

I think zini is a better fit for shou and heicha. You get the benefits of the clay without the drawbacks of it being more open bodied and visibly stained.

CZ could be used regularly for hongcha but I prefer hongcha in zhuni because I want to preserve all the juicy high notes. Otherwise, it’s a good match for hongcha made from C. sinensis-sinensis.

Edit: corrected typo

[Bok]

Exactly what Baisao said. Not good candidate for either of these two in my view. I prefer them for Baozhong and Dancong.

[WhisperingFrog192]

Smudgy seal

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the size and thickness of CZ pots is also usually not a good match - they tend to run small and be thin walled. not great for teas you tend to brew in larger pots and that want high heat retention.

[Baisao]

the size and thickness of CZ pots is also usually not a good match - they tend to run small and be thin walled. not great for teas you tend to brew in larger pots and that want high heat retention.

Another fine point!

[DailyTX]

An interesting modern evolution of the Yu Hua Long pot.

[teacreacha7]

An interesting modern evolution of the Yu Hua Long pot.

Beautiful!