I’ve noticed a subtle horizontal line beneath the rim of some teapots. While possible that this line exists on post-ROC teapots, I’ve seen them most in Qing Dynasty era Yixing teapots.
I've attached a few photos that show this horizontal line on various designs. When looked at in person, it appears that the clay is added to make the rim, the line being the joint between the body and the rim.
What is the purpose of this line or addition of clay? When did this technique/design go out of vogue? It has stumped me for years.
Horizontal Line on Very Old Yixing Teapots
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Thank you, steanze! My namesake and I have a couple of things in common. 
Also, thank you for displaying a modern example. That modern zhuni is lovely. So creamy a d lustrous.
Before seeing your example, I had not seen any with this line except in my books on Qing Dynasty Yixing teapots, which were mostly handmade. Yours is the first modern one I’ve seen with the line.
Two questions for me emerge:
1) Why are these on only a few handmade pots rather than most?
2) Since it is a property of the creation of the pot, what is happening at this step in the building process?
My guess is that the top of the slab was irregular so it was cut off and a rim was crafted at that location. It still doesn’t answer why so many handmade teapots do not have this line. It is seen on both common and high end teapots, so it doesn’t appear that it was viewed as a fault. I’m sure there were proprietary techniques but I would imagine potters would be going to great lengths to find a way to hide that line if it was seen as a fault.
Also, thank you for displaying a modern example. That modern zhuni is lovely. So creamy a d lustrous.
Before seeing your example, I had not seen any with this line except in my books on Qing Dynasty Yixing teapots, which were mostly handmade. Yours is the first modern one I’ve seen with the line.
Two questions for me emerge:
1) Why are these on only a few handmade pots rather than most?
2) Since it is a property of the creation of the pot, what is happening at this step in the building process?
My guess is that the top of the slab was irregular so it was cut off and a rim was crafted at that location. It still doesn’t answer why so many handmade teapots do not have this line. It is seen on both common and high end teapots, so it doesn’t appear that it was viewed as a fault. I’m sure there were proprietary techniques but I would imagine potters would be going to great lengths to find a way to hide that line if it was seen as a fault.
You may look at the links in this topic at the top and the bottom of the page viewtopic.php?f=32&t=90&p=814&hilit=slab#p814 with pictures of fully handmade and mold-made process:
- In handmade pots it is quite usual to close the top of the pot with a round slab at some stage of the construction and then to glue a second slab on top of it which will form the rim, a middle of which is cut out. That is probably the line that one can see on your pictures. Also, the rim is made of a horizontal slab while the side of the pot from a vertical one, which might be another reason why it becomes apparent.
- In mold assisted slab made pots the construction is a bit different.
Btw. note that all the above pictures are of pots with smooth rims which probably makes the whole thing more apparent.
*Of course, i wouldn't want to make general statements based on those few pictures, but i think this sort of agrees with your observations.
- In handmade pots it is quite usual to close the top of the pot with a round slab at some stage of the construction and then to glue a second slab on top of it which will form the rim, a middle of which is cut out. That is probably the line that one can see on your pictures. Also, the rim is made of a horizontal slab while the side of the pot from a vertical one, which might be another reason why it becomes apparent.
- In mold assisted slab made pots the construction is a bit different.
Btw. note that all the above pictures are of pots with smooth rims which probably makes the whole thing more apparent.
*Of course, i wouldn't want to make general statements based on those few pictures, but i think this sort of agrees with your observations.