I’m still not fully unpacked. I don’t know where to put my tea. The basement is obviously not a good place, and the attic has a funny smell — probably smelling like the insulation. So, I don’t have a lot of places to put them, and the only cupboard suitable for teaware was previously occupied, as far as my nose can tell anyway, by candles of the scented variety. Not good.
So I’ve been living on kyusu brewed aged oolong the past week, surviving but eager to get back to my normal routine of drinking properly made tea.
In the meantime though, I’ve managed to acquire a new piece that I’m pretty excited about.
This is a Qing period pewter wrapped yixing pot. It’s really not terribly good for making tea, but it’s an interesting piece of work and I’ve been wanting to get one for a long time. I happened to run into one in an antique shop around here for the right price, and now I own one of these. If I want to use it to make tea I’d have to clean it pretty thoroughly — the interior is quite dirty. But maybe that will never be necessary.
7 responses so far ↓
HobbesOxon // August 14, 2009 at 1:49 am |
Glad to hear you’re moved in safely! Can you make out the characters on the new pot? My xiaozhuan ain’t so good 🙂
Best wishes,
D
Rinpou // August 15, 2009 at 9:27 am |
Do you know what this interesting shape forms and why?
Rinpou // August 15, 2009 at 9:29 am |
Do you know, what the shape of this teapot forms? It is important.
Anonymous // August 16, 2009 at 2:24 pm |
lz, I’d opt to leave as is. Old pewter usually contains some Lead, if you must clean use “Washing Soda” .. Best to just rub with, clean-dry cloth. Nice pot.. john
MarshalN // August 16, 2009 at 8:38 pm |
Rinpou — this is a Ruyi shape, at least the main body is. I don’t know if that’s what you’re referring to.
John — I don’t think I have much interest in using this particular pot. It’s a bit hard to clean and will be awkward to make tea with regardless.
jasonwitt // August 21, 2009 at 7:38 am |
Is that real Jade for the handle and spout? This is the kind of antique I’d like to own, and I would personally want to clean it and use it for tea. Not as my main teapot, of course, but I do believe the functionality would add to its classic value. –Spirituality of Tea
Anonymous // September 4, 2009 at 1:33 pm |
Love these pots, take a look at http://www.huchitang.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/thumbnails.htm if you would like to see some more. The pages on potters and signatures may give you the makers names. I can’t quite read those on your pot but it is signed on both sides and if you are lucky the potter seal is often on the base on the inside of the pot but frequently they are lost. Chris