Thank you! What I was told:DailyTX wrote: ↑Thu Mar 19, 2020 4:48 pmWith modern pot, it’s hard to tell full vs. half handmade. By the pictures, it seems it’s not made by machine, and it’s not slipcast. Workmanship using modern pot judgement, look at the pot to see if the body, lid, and the top of the lid are proportionate, are the handle and sprout balanced, and a photo of the filter will tell more of interior craftsmanship.
Clay quality is so much more complicated. Based on the photos you posted, it looks like either mixed clay; however, color various due to firing temperature, clay type, and aging time. Not to make things more complicated, if you can get the seller/maker to tell you the clay type, then you can look at the property of the clay, does it have the minerals mentioned on yixing zisha text.
1. Fully handmade.
2. 20+ year old zhini clay.
3. No interior seam line visible because the maker is expert at hiding it.
What I can tell in person:
1. Lid fit is tight.
2. Spout, brim, and handle are level.
3. No strange odors. No colors released when I boiled the pot.
4. Finish and detail look nicely executed—but I don’t have much basis for comparison.