Description

STYLE

The core point of Jianshui ceramics is the elegance of the inlaid clay and the polished surface. It brings out the fruity, mineral flavours in the tea infusion. This piece is a flat profile teapot which is especially suitable for making sheng puer and long-string oolong teas. On one side is the figure of a wandering monk leaning on his cane, and on the other side we can see a calligraphy meaning a peaceful heart. COLLECTORS’ ITEM

Jianshui is one of the four famous ceramic cities in China, mainly due to the artistic processing of coloured clays from local clay mines and the related ceramic crafts, as well as Yixing. The township is in Yunnan, not far from Kunming. Jianshui pots, which are more robust than the Yixing pots, are made by disking. The valuable handicraft in this case the process of carving, filling the carvings with different coloured clays and then polishing the surface with river stones. The unglazed pots, which shine brightly on the surface are also high heat-breathing tea-making vessels. Their colour is usually eggplant black, rust brown, but they can also be light grey or yellow. The antique-looking style vessels are decorated with figurative motifs and calligraphy.

The clay is sourced from the local “five-coloured mountain”, so the five colours of clay are red, yellow, green, brown and white. Clay masters keep the best deposits secret and only pass them on to their descendants. The Jianshui clay has a particularly high iron content, so that the hardness of the fired pots is outstanding, the surface has a metallic feel to the touch, and when clinked, it sounds like metal and stone at the same time. Jianshui ceramics are not glazed, but very carefully polished, giving a shimmering, glossy experience, as if looking at a mirror: “hard as iron, shiny as water, silky as jade, tinkling as a rock.”

Shen Hong Zhi was born in July 1986. He followed his parents to learn jianshui pottery and craftmanship. 2007-2009 he visited famous folk experts also in Jianshui and Yixing. In 2011 he was awarded the title of National Assistant at the age of 25 by Yunnan Arts and Crafts Association. He studied and worked tirelessly, and created a new style and a new pattern in Zitao art. In 2016, his style, carved on the inside walls of the pots, was listed as a Chinese Intangible Heritage and he was awarded the title of Master at a very young age. His works have won first prizes and honours in provincial and national competitions.