The "sand feeling" of the purple sand pot, when it comes to the purple sand pot, the first thing we think of is its typical "sand feeling". So, where does this unique texture of the purple clay pot come from?
Speaking of "sand feeling", we must first understand the raw material of the purple sand pot - purple sand ore. Purple sand ore is mainly composed of minerals such as quartz, mica, kaolinite, and iron oxide. These minerals are weathered, crushed, screened and other processes to make purple sand mud. During the firing process, particles such as quartz do not melt completely, resulting in the formation of size differences on the finished jug.
1. The undulating sand-like protrusions, which is what we call "sand feeling".
Compared with ordinary fired ceramics, the purple sand pot contains a large number of mineral particles, which gives it unique air permeability and heat preservation, and has also become one of the important signs to identify the authenticity of the purple sand. If you buy a pot with a very smooth surface and no sand grains at all, then it is most likely a "fake purple sand" passed off from ordinary ceramics.
So when we buy a purple clay pot, must we choose one with an obvious sand feeling? It depends on the fineness of the mud. Nowadays, many pot makers use fine powders with a fineness of more than 100 meshes, and this ultra-fine clay is fired so that the grains of sand are difficult to see with the naked eye. However, this kind of excessively fine mud also has drawbacks, which will reduce the air permeability of the pot and lose the characteristics that the purple clay pot should have. Therefore, I recommend that you choose a pot with a particle size of 40-60 mesh, which can retain a moderate sense of sand without being too delicate.
Tips] The picture is a handmade purple clay pot, you can start to appreciate it!
In addition, some rare and gorgeous muds, such as vermilion mud and Da Hong Pao, have less sand content and the sand sensation produced is not obvious. However, this kind of real raw ore mud is very rare, as a novice I do not recommend starting first, otherwise it is easy to buy artificial mixtures. If you are just starting to learn to appreciate purple sand, I recommend starting with the common purple mud, section mud, etc., these are representative muds, and the surface sand feeling is generally more obvious and easier to identify.
In the process of playing with the pot, we must explore all the way forward, and the cognition of the purple clay pot continues to deepen. I remember that when I first got a small pot made from old materials, the sand grains on the surface were clearly visible and distributed very naturally, because of the traditional "original mine hand grinding" formula and the experienced pot-making skills, the "sand feeling" of this small pot was extraordinarily rich and three-dimensional. Looking back now, the natural beauty of that pot is still fresh in my memory.