Purple clay teapots are unique to China, and artisans integrate sculptures, calligraphy, drawings, paintings, and poetry into many of the designs. These elements make purple clay teapots not only practical tea sets, but also works of art. But they didn't start off so popular and elaborate: it was a slow road to fame.
Origins: An amazing discovery
The first purple clay teapot was invented in the middle of the Ming dynasty (1368-1644). At that time, loose-leaf tea became more widely available and people sought to improve their teapots.
According to ancient sources, a boy named Gong Chun saw some people making jars using purple clay and was enlightened. "Why not use it to make teapots?" he thought. He cleansed the clay, and crafted a small purple clay teapot.
He showed this pot to his friends. They were surprised by his novel yet somewhat plain creation. And when they sampled tea brewed in the pot, they found out it was much more delicious and savory than before. They saw this pot as a remarkable innovation, and called it a Gong Chun Pot in honor of that observant and creative boy. Since then, a great number of potters have been imitating this classic style.
Fast Fact: An imitation Gong Chun Pot was sold for $25,000 US dollars just a few years ago. It was crafted by contemporary artist Gu Jingzhou.
In the late Ming and Qing dynasties
In the Ming dynasty, master potters sought to make graceful teapots with their own designs. For instance, some of them created new styles based on bronze vessels, which were ornate and reflected the solemn attitudes of the falling dynasty.
In the early Qing dynasty (1644 - 1912), master potters began to craft purple clay teapots based on fine sculptures. Natural objects like chestnuts, trees, and animals were used for inspiration and teapots became works of art that were more vivid and animated. Much like other forms of art at that time, an artist would inscribe his name and imprint his seal on the pot so that other people knew it was his.
A few decades later, people started to integrate more detailed paintings, calligraphy, and even poetry into their teapot designs. They began inscribing images and stories on teapots with a bamboo knife.
The purple clay teapots of our time
From the fall of the Qing dynasty to new China's opening-up to the world in the mid-to-late 20th century, purple clay teapots went through a recession. Political and social problems in this time made crafting purple clay teapots a rare luxury. But after this time, purple clay teapot workmanship was revived, and more and more skillful potters came forward. They dedicated themselves to both tradition and originality.
Recently, genuine purple clay teapots have become increasingly valuable. Since purple clay was on the verge of exhaustion, officials have taken action to stop the unbridled exploitation of this resource. Under new decree, only a certain quota of purple clay can be mined. This limit has hurt some local businesses, but overall is good for the protection of one of China's national treasures.
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