The Porcelain Thread

[Bok]

I think I have a different definition of teaboat, I meant the ceramic plate. Didn't know about the table felt though

I was talking about the ceramic! The tiny felt is actually a dried loofa interior, used for washing the dishes or for teapots as it has no odours.

Pretty cool! Never heard of that

It is even mentioned in some Chaozhou tea masters writings as the must have for gong fu cha to protect the teapot from accidental breaking.

[gatmcm]

Been browsing some local classifieds looking for old macau stuff lately or any tea related antiques.
After tons of overpriced/poor condition stuff I found an old macau gaiwan at a decent price, looks 70s/80s same stamp as the cup I posted earlier in this thread.
Gaiwan itself is medium thickness, lid is fairly thin though, at 150ml its very nice to drink directly from.

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[Brent D]

Nice find! Pretty good condition too

[Bok]

A pot I got a while back in a lucky eBay find: export porcelain, with fixed spout and handle, also non-matching lid. This kind of make shift repairs are quite frequently found in export China.

I love it’s quirkiness!

A bit too large for frequent use, but still a nice piece.

[Victoria]

Yes, nice body on this pot. I’ve seen many older 18th 19thC pots with seemingly oversized lids. Does the inner diameter fit well inside pot rim?
Here is a 19thC example from the Frick collection.

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And here

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[Bok]

Yes, perfect fit. The colour of the glazing is a slightly different hue.

[gatmcm]

Previous piece reminded me, saw a cool looking porcelain pot on display at a museum in Porto, label said 1735, relatively small, perhaps 300ml.

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[Bok]

Today’s find: 6 douqing late Qing or early ROC cups. Those are my favourite and I stock up if I see them.

[Teachronicles]

Do you guys worry about lead at all with antique porcelain. I just tested, only 80s, porcelain cups I have, and the paint around the outside near the rim tested positive for lead. The portion I tested did have red paint, which I hear can have more lead than other colors. I also wonder how much leeching there is just placing your lips on the paint when sipping. I started to research if lead could leech through skin, and a US gov website said no, but then wondered if it could in saliva, but got distracted when I couldn't easily find an answer on Google . Wondering what you guys thoughts on all this is.

[Bok]

The issue is mostly with overgrazed porcelain and those pieces those colourful pieces you mentioned.

Those simple underglaze ones are normally safe. I tested all mine with a 3M kit.

Chawangshop sells a lot of these very likely unsafe cups...

[Teachronicles]

@Bok hah. That's where I got those cups that tested positive.

[Bok]

Bok hah. That's where I got those cups that tested positive.

I think they should at least warn people about that issue before selling them just like that...

[Teachronicles]

Bok hah. That's where I got those cups that tested positive.

I think they should at least warn people about that issue before selling them just like that...

I agree, I know people that have used them for years. I have some older cups from them, supposed qing/ROC that I'll be testing soon. Though, they are blue paint and not as much paint.

[Bok]

The worst are, as you said the onese with red colour.

Blue and white is usually under the clear glaze, so mostly those are safe, unless they have hairlines or other damage, then things might still leach out.

[Ethan Kurland]

While I am in Thailand, I am often watching NHK World (English-speaking, public broadcasting from Japan), that often has short programs about Japanese ceramics. It seems with so much of the emphasis on pieces meant for beautiful decoration, it could be easy not to think about lead poisoning.