Smoke fills the air, and a purple clay pot stands quietly on the table. The simple and heavy body of the pot has a warm luster, which makes people unconsciously want to reach out and touch it.
A high-quality purple sand ware with connotation must have three basic factors: exquisite structure, excellent production skills, and excellent practical functions. As a connoisseur, if you want to have an in-depth understanding of the true meaning of a purple sand artwork, the six characters of "mud", "shape", "work", "style", "gong" and "name" should become the main criteria for judging.
Tips] The picture is a handmade purple clay pot, you can start appreciating!
So, what kind of "mud" and "shape" are the best?Through these two basic elements, from what angles should we appreciate the skill and connotation of the pot?
As a connoisseur, we must first understand that a good clay directly determines the practical function and storage value of a pot.
The purple sand mud has a unique double air permeable structure, so that the tea contained in it can maintain the original fragrance and umami. This magical function of quality preservation and freshness is an important reason why the majority of tea lovers flock to purple sand ware. However, it is worth noting that not all purple sand mud can achieve such a desirable effect.
Among them, the "sediment" produced in Yixing is the best. On the one hand, the mineral composition of the sediment is very rich, not only rich in quartz, feldspar, mica and other minerals, but also rich in trace elements such as iron, calcium, potassium, sodium, etc., which are indispensable and important factors to improve the thermal insulation functionOn the other hand, the sediment at the bottom of the Yixing vein, after tens of thousands of years of precipitation, the texture is extremely delicate, which can be called "uniform powder jade". In contrast, other mud species cannot be compared in terms of mineral composition and texture. It can be said that a pot with this kind of high-quality mud is worthy of the reputation of "boutique" and is most likely to become a priceless collector's item.
However, it is worrying that there is not much left of this superb mud. After years of overexploitation, Yixing's purple sand layer is on the verge of depletion and can only support another 50 years of mining at most. This means that in the future, truly high-quality purple sand raw materials will become more and more scarce, and there will be more value for collection and appreciation. Therefore, it is necessary for people of insight to favor and select carefully. Early pots, which have already been made from the best clay and made into beautiful pieces, deserve special attention. They will surely create one myth after another on the auction market.
In addition to measuring the material of the pot, as a connoisseur and collector, it is also important to consider the shape of the pot. This is directly related to whether a work can reflect the traditional Chinese artistic conception and whether it is worth cherishing and inheriting.
The artistic conception pursued by Zisha's works is in the same vein as the Chinese tea ceremony, that is, "pure heart and few desires, natural origin". Correspondingly, the shape is simpler and more traditional, and the purple sand ware is easier to fit with this artistic conception. From the perspective of treasure and circulation, they deserve more effort and are more likely to generate higher investment value in the future.
For example, the bowl-type pot of the Qing Dynasty has a simple and dignified shape. Compared with other styles of pots, it is closer to the original spirit of Chinese tea art. Therefore, this kind of gaiwan pot is the most rare, especially the works of Kangxi and Yongzheng. Visionary people often spend a lot of money to acquire these "national treasures", rather than other modern pots that pursue novel effects. The latter are often left out in the cold and perform poorly in the auction market. It can be seen that the shape of purple sand ware also directly affects whether a work can eventually become a fine product worthy of inheritance and collection.
A sound structure and a sense of artistic conception are the most basic elements for judging a purple sand boutique. But in order to truly appreciate the skills and beauty of a high-quality product, the core is to start from the level of "work". As a handicraft, "Gong" represents the ingenuity and soul of the maker.
An excellent pot should not only reflect the fit between purple sand mud and tea, but also reflect the dialogue and careful carving between the maker and the entire process. For example, the proportional structure of its flow, handle, button, cover, abdomen, ring foot and other parts must be coordinated and harmonious. The transition of points, lines and surfaces should be smooth and natural, without the slightest sense of abruptness. On the whole, the shape is regular and neat, and there is no distortion;And every detail reflects the ingenuity of ingenuity. This can be regarded as a masterpiece of "excellence"!
It can be seen that the superb skills come from the deep "dialogue" between the craftsman and the clay, and also from the meticulous craftsmanship and strict control of the whole process by the maker. In such a work, every detail contains the brainchild of the maker, which can most touch the hearts of connoisseurs. It's beautiful, and it's breathtaking. This is the real "boutique".
If you only stop at appreciating the external beauty of "boutique", it is still a little superficial. A comprehensive review of a boutique should also be examined from the dimensions of "style", "merit" and "name" to gain a deeper understanding and judgment.
Tips] The picture is a handmade purple clay pot, you can start appreciating!
"Style" refers to the poems and prints engraved on the pot or in the pot box. These gorgeous and elegant handwriting add a profound humanistic heritage to a work. For example, the pots made during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty were often engraved with some elegant and timeless calligraphy patterns, or poems praising the beauty of new tea. This not only highlights the humanistic spirit of the scholars of that era, but also adds a bit of poetry to these pots in the eyes of connoisseurs.
"Gong" mainly refers to the practical function of the pot. A good pot should be moderate in size, just right in height, tightly covered, and easy to inject and flow tea. This is also the basic goal to be achieved by a craft. In addition to work, the reputation of the pot maker and the relationship between mentor and teacher should also be concerned.