Yixing
@Mark-S the way this pot shines and has blurry details, I think it is a clay that is not pure and probably loaded with additives. Probably machine made. Also looks like it has been artificially been made to look used.
I wouldn’t use it.
I wouldn’t use it.
Also don’t fall for the trick with the tea leaves inside, oldest in the book of teapot forgery
Inside makes it pretty obvious that this pot is fully not handmade, but with moulds...
The black stuff inside also doesn’t look like natural tea patina.

Inside makes it pretty obvious that this pot is fully not handmade, but with moulds...
The black stuff inside also doesn’t look like natural tea patina.
I have read that these kinds of pots were often made for export to Europe, and that they were moulded. The private seller also did not tell me the age at all and he sold it to me for little money. I think it's best to clean the pot first. But maybe you are right. I do not know.
You can even see the seam lines from the cast...
Also compare the dragon to any cheap plastic toy, looks the same.
And the hole inside where the handle connects is another dead sure proof for slip cast, same as in a plastic watering can!
Also compare the dragon to any cheap plastic toy, looks the same.
And the hole inside where the handle connects is another dead sure proof for slip cast, same as in a plastic watering can!
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You are right with the second picture, but I also got this line on many other teapots that are definitely not slipcast.
The image quality is not that good, but there is no line under the spout. And the clay does not look that uniform on this teapot. The clay of my cheap slipcast teapot looks different. But I am no potter. Maybe, there are different ways of slipcasting.
The image quality is not that good, but there is no line under the spout. And the clay does not look that uniform on this teapot. The clay of my cheap slipcast teapot looks different. But I am no potter. Maybe, there are different ways of slipcasting.
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I am not in any way knowledgeable about teapots, Yixing or otherwise, but I work in the metal casting business, so I have some kind of lateral angle on that.
I must say that when I saw the pictures before others commented, first that of the inside of the lid, then that of the inside of the pot, the way the material has smooth depressions really felt like a cast product. It strongly reminds my of cast chocolate, actually. Parting lines can be smoothed out somewhat, but these flowing shapes are difficult to hide.
It's kind of a good example for slipcast pots to be honest. You can see from the whole pot and the signs, but the holes on the inside is the absolute giveaway. You'll never see anything like that on any half hand or machine half hand pots.
I'm sorry to say that.
Anyways, count your losses, put it down in the tuition fee account - and most importantly take it as a learning experience! We’ve all been there and bought things we shouldn’t have...
But please think twice - and clean more than twice, before attempting to use it!
But please think twice - and clean more than twice, before attempting to use it!
Thanks, I am really grateful for your help, and I also think that you are right about it, since so many others told me the same, and you got much more experience. However, I still do not see a line under the spout. Maybe, my eyes are starting to become fuzzy... cannot even see a line with maginifying glassesBok wrote: ↑Fri Jan 31, 2020 8:59 amAnyways, count your losses, put it down in the tuition fee account - and most importantly take it as a learning experience! We’ve all been there and bought things we shouldn’t have...
But please think twice - and clean more than twice, before attempting to use it!

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I don't see the line at the front body neither, however on the spout, it is clear.Mark-S wrote: ↑Fri Jan 31, 2020 9:12 amThanks, I am really grateful for your help, and I also think that you are right about it, since so many others told me the same, and you got much more experience. However, I still do not see a line under the spout. Maybe, my eyes are starting to become fuzzy... cannot even see a line with maginifying glassesBok wrote: ↑Fri Jan 31, 2020 8:59 amAnyways, count your losses, put it down in the tuition fee account - and most importantly take it as a learning experience! We’ve all been there and bought things we shouldn’t have...
But please think twice - and clean more than twice, before attempting to use it!But whatever... I will keep it as a reference then. At least, I did not pay much for it, and I still like the look of it.
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You can always use the holes in the inner wall, at the handle, To sort out the cheapest kind of slip cast pots.
Hope this pot wasn't too expensive for you.
I did not know that these holes only appear on slipcast pots. Good to know

No, it was not ($21,50). I returned the gourd style teapot, and got about $130 back, so I had some money left to "gamble". Hopefully, the next teapot is not trash.