tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31843014.post8761908992553287963..comments2024-01-22T04:03:01.815-08:00Comments on Tea Obsession: Chao Zhou clay pots, why, what & howImenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16810835688957113404noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31843014.post-18885324612789181112014-12-07T07:45:13.538-08:002014-12-07T07:45:13.538-08:00Hi Imen,
Could you please help. I was hoping to b...Hi Imen,<br /><br />Could you please help. I was hoping to buy a tea pot from Zhan's family. It seems that Master Yanming Zhang does not produce tea pots any more due to his health, but pots from his son, Haiyuan Zhang, are available. The price is not astronomical, but still it is rather a lot. How could I know that what I buy (and I am buying from an online dealer) is what I think I buy, and is it even worth buying from a younger generation, so to speak? I am told that the prices on son's work are bound to go up...Are there any signs and clues to spot? anything to look at, at least when it arrives? anything to ask? I am a bit confused with all this... could you please let me know what you think..<br />Thank you in advance,<br /><br />XeniaAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07480041008450943713noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31843014.post-14719365887844486272009-08-18T18:42:48.620-07:002009-08-18T18:42:48.620-07:00Tea Geak,
Yes, it's the same as Chao Zhou cit...Tea Geak,<br /><br />Yes, it's the same as Chao Zhou city. <br /><br />You are correct again with the origin of the clay.Imenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16810835688957113404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31843014.post-83871918331639059462009-08-17T17:34:55.341-07:002009-08-17T17:34:55.341-07:00What are the characters for Chao Zhou? Is it the ...What are the characters for Chao Zhou? Is it the same as the city? Is that what makes it different--that the clay comes from Chaozhou area, not the traditional Yixing area?Tea Geekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03300298431430664323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31843014.post-52611587230954647692009-08-17T09:45:57.614-07:002009-08-17T09:45:57.614-07:00I'm with Maitre-Tea: I'll be buying a CZ p...I'm with Maitre-Tea: I'll be buying a CZ pot at some point, as well. Which, for me, is a big deal, because I've not purchased Yixing yet and need to get started somewhere.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13686236529267573559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31843014.post-40401393516511490302009-08-07T20:34:00.110-07:002009-08-07T20:34:00.110-07:00Maitre Tea,
Well, CZ pots are usually copied for ...Maitre Tea,<br /><br />Well, CZ pots are usually copied for it's shape, but not the clay. <br /><br />Today, the common ones are red clay and red clay mixed with sand from the same mine. There are abundance of CZ clays, mixing of other clay is not necessary. The more expansive ones are made of sandy clay, won't crack with temperature fluctuation. The styles are slightly coarse. The fine clay ones are more common and less expansive, more prone to crack, but much better refined looking. <br /><br />From what I know, CZ clays are cured, not necessary vintage. Some clay makes smoother pots not because it's mixed with other clays, but the curing process or formula is slightly different. <br /><br />Most of pots I know are authentic in terms of clay, maker on the other hand is a different story, since the Wu's pots go as high as 10s thousands dollars each. Wu's are more desirable by collectors.Imenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16810835688957113404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31843014.post-407929550115495792009-08-07T11:43:52.327-07:002009-08-07T11:43:52.327-07:00I'm so sorry to keep bombarding you with quest...I'm so sorry to keep bombarding you with questions about Chao Zhou teapots...I promise I'm buying from you the second I get my paycheck next week!<br /><br />Do Chao Zhou pots face the same problems as Yixing pots, when it comes to authenticity and stuff. With Yixing teapots, there is often a debate about whether the clay is modern or old, if there are additives or if it's "pure."<br /><br />Do Chao Zhou potters use additives like iron oxide or etc. to their pots, and is there a good supply of "authentic" Chao Zhou clay left? Thanks for being so helpful with my line of questioning.Maitre_Teahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09949659223396025930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31843014.post-66452433042338329362009-08-06T08:03:14.981-07:002009-08-06T08:03:14.981-07:00I'll get back to you on that offer in a few ye...I'll get back to you on that offer in a few years or so...still a recent college graduate so I can't afford to be a high roller...Maitre_Teahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09949659223396025930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31843014.post-56396952010977151252009-08-06T01:41:33.511-07:002009-08-06T01:41:33.511-07:00Maitre Tea,
Chao Zhou Clay has higher iron conten...Maitre Tea,<br /><br />Chao Zhou Clay has higher iron content than Yixing Zhuni, the composition of Chao zhou clay is mainly iron and quartz, hence the bright red with consistency. Firing temperature is between 1160 to 1180 degrees C. Shrinkage of CZ is barely 12% from wet clay to finished firing,6% from dried mold to finished firing. Therefore very easy to work with, that's also why cz lids are much tighter than Yixing, it's the reason why tea won't get moldy for 10 days. Small shrinkage also allow potters to make thin and large open pots, hence perfect for the size and sensitivity of Dan Cong teas.<br /><br />I don't know Yixing enough to provide such information. I believe Yixing zhuni contains more varieties of mineral than CZ, that's also why Yixing zhuni colors vary a wide range of red compare to CZ.<br /><br />Anyone want to buy a 80k RMB CZ pot? :DImenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16810835688957113404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31843014.post-10281402367899665382009-08-05T15:51:11.001-07:002009-08-05T15:51:11.001-07:00Very helpful guide...Looking forward to owning one...Very helpful guide...Looking forward to owning one of these soon (over my tea-budget this month already). I was wondering if you could what differences are their between Chao Zhou clay and Yixing clay, in terms of the clay composition and firing temperature. <br /><br />This is a topic that has been discussed on TeaChat, and hopefully we can put an end to the debate.Maitre_Teahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09949659223396025930noreply@blogger.com