Jon Singer on tue 17 oct 00
>Khaimraj Seepersad said, in response
>to Jim Sydnor:
>
>I have also read [ but still to prove ] that machine grinding of zisha
>clay ruins the particle size needed to produce the 3 to 5 % porous
>quality for fine tea brewing.
I was at Yixing Teapot Factory #2 last month, and I can assure you
that nowadays they machine-grind the zisha -- they showed us the
machines.
They did, however, claim that the best pots are made from clay that is
not pugged by machine -- they said the craftspeople prefer to work it
with mallets to condition it and drive out the air, the way they used to
in the old days. Most of the pots, however, even though they are all
handmade, are not of that quality.
Best --
jon
Khaimraj Seepersad on tue 17 oct 00
Greetings to All ,
Jon ,
thank you very much for that .
Could you say just how much is handmade on those pots?
Look at Ebay - yi xing .
I am seeing so many teapots that look like mould made
stuff , that I bought quite a few to just examine them .
So there are Factories called # 2 , # 3 and therefore there
is a # 1 ?
According to what I saw on-line , #2 are the "rebels " who
left # 1. Fascinating this Yi Xing world .
I hope you see this ,
Khaimraj
-----Original Message-----
From: Jon Singer
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Date: 17 October 2000 5:06
Subject: Re: Yixing "zisha" clay (was Question for the group) --
>>Khaimraj Seepersad said, in response
>>to Jim Sydnor:
>>
>>I have also read [ but still to prove ] that machine grinding of zisha
>>clay ruins the particle size needed to produce the 3 to 5 % porous
>>quality for fine tea brewing.
>
>I was at Yixing Teapot Factory #2 last month, and I can assure you
>that nowadays they machine-grind the zisha -- they showed us the
>machines.
>
>They did, however, claim that the best pots are made from clay that is
>not pugged by machine -- they said the craftspeople prefer to work it
>with mallets to condition it and drive out the air, the way they used to
>in the old days. Most of the pots, however, even though they are all
>handmade, are not of that quality.
>
>Best --
>jon
Khaimraj Seepersad on wed 18 oct 00
Good Morning to All
Jon ,
Yes , I figured they were hand moulding instead of the famous
beating out a 3mm thick slab , and forming on a banding
wheel -- great pity . I guess they no longer carve the handles
and spouts ?
Probably press moulded , interchangeable , parts .
I bought shapes I liked , and only the cheaper ones . I expect
to see seam lines , and lots of unfinished tooling . I figure
from what your saying , I also got a few Taiwanese as well .
The real test is probably in making the tea and how the pot
handles the scenting process .
A tea tour . I only got access to white and green teas , about
2 years ago . Though my grandfather from Canton , used to
have a private stash , he would share with us , when were
older than 16 years . He always believed that tea hardened the
brain cells of young people - chuckle .
So as children , tea as well as all alcohol was on the forbidden
list . Though Dad would allow us a sip of a shandy .
I find the simpler forms of the old teapots much more appealing ,
but it is fascinating to see what the Chinese can imagine into
being .
Lastly , I was reading it takes 20 years to become a Master
potter in Yi Xing . It also takes 20 years to become a Master
of Chinese Painting ----- though only around 50 years will you
have enough experience to have anything profound to say ---
according to the Chinese Literati .
It also takes around 20 years to master European Oil Painting.
Isn't Craft fascinating ?
Khaimraj
-----Original Message-----
From: Jon Singer
To: Khaimraj Seepersad
Date: 17 October 2000 22:26
Subject: Re: Yixing "zisha" clay (was Question for the group) --
>>Greetings to All ,
>>
>>Jon ,
>>
>>thank you very much for that .
>
>My pleasure!
>
>>Could you say just how much is handmade on those pots?
>
>Well, what we saw at the workshop was 100% handmade --
>yes, some of it was press-molded, but it was done by a person,
>pressing the clay into the mold with her fingers & some
>wooden tools.
>
>>Look at Ebay - yi xing .
>>I am seeing so many teapots that look like mould made
>>stuff , that I bought quite a few to just examine them .
>
>Wow! That's very cool. What do you find? Is it possible
>to tell? I have seen several broken ones, and it looked
>to me like they were actually luted together. I could also
>see where the bottoms had scrape marks on the inside,
>so I think these were handmade
snip >
>>So there are Factories called # 2 , # 3 and therefore there
>>is a # 1 ?
>
> snip
it was
>a Tea tour, not a pottery tour, so this factory was the only
>real pottery place we stopped at), Factories #1 and #3 are
>now closed, and most of the teapots you see around are
>made at #2... except, presumably, the knockoffs, which are
>made in various places (including Taiwan, no surprise).
>
>>According to what I saw on-line , #2 are the "rebels " who
>>left # 1.
>
>Wow -- I hadn't heard that part. What a riot! Too bad I didn't
>know about it -- I'd have asked them. They didn't mention
>anything to us about the origins of the factory.
>
>> Fascinating this Yi Xing world .
>
>It really is. You should see the little museum, upstairs at the
>factory; and you should also see the China Tea Museum,
>which has various artifacts (including some fine pots) as well as
>lots of tea samples.
>
>>I hope you see this ,
>>Khaimraj
snip
>Cheers & thanks --
>jon
>
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