When it comes to “Purple Clay Factory No.1,” many Teapot enthusiasts are familiar with it. Under the state-run production model, Factory No.1 had the privilege of selecting premium clay materials. It also gathered a group of skilled purple clay artisans. The seven senior artisans—Wu Yungen, Pei Shimin, Ren Ganting, Wang Yinchun, Zhu Kexin, Gu Jingzhou, and Jiang Rong—established this factory by pooling together both pot-making and engraving talents from the folk sector. Over its 40-year history, the factory trained numerous national masters, provincial masters, provincial celebrities, and senior fine arts and crafts professionals in purple clay. As a result, exquisite purple clay products emerged in abundance, marking one of the most glorious periods in the centuries-long history of purple clay until the factory's transformation from state-owned to privately-owned in 1997.

In addition to the old Teapots from Factory No.1, the “old purple clay” from the same factory remains well-known to this day.

All the clay used for the teapots produced by Factory No.1 came from mine No.4 on Huanglong Mountain; the shapes were standardized by the previous generation of masters and renowned artists; and the kilns used back then burned heavy oil, which has been phased out since 2002 due to pollution concerns. Therefore, the “old” purple clay teapots from Factory No.1 have been highly sought after by collectors for their “premium clay, standard shape, adequate firing, non-renewable, and non-reproducible” qualities.

However, there is a common belief that older clay is better. In reality, all purple clay materials have undergone hundreds of millions of years of evolution, so they can all be considered “old” in terms of age.

Teapot enthusiasts often send pictures claiming that their teapots are made from the “old purple clay” from Factory No.1, and they want to know how the teapot is. This raises the question: what exactly is the “old purple clay” from Factory No.1?

Distinguishing such top-quality clay is not difficult. Back then, the clay was processed following ancient methods without acidification. The semi-manual, semi-mechanized production process left clues for identification.

The “old purple clay” is said to come from the purple clay series found on Huanglong Mountain, which was mined, processed, and aged from the 1980s, with limited quantities remaining today. After firing, the exterior appears slightly purple, while the interior turns a faint red. This explanation is quite widespread.

What is the “old purple clay”? Let's delve into it today. The key lies in the word “old,” and there are several interpretations:

1. Heavy Sand Content

The term “old” refers to large chunks of purple clay ore with high sand content. These ores contain more quartz particles, making the clay difficult to form and requiring a higher firing temperature. According to this view, because of its high sand content and difficulty in processing, the clay is described as “old,” hence the term “old purple clay.”

2. Long Aging Period

The term “old” refers to the aging period of the clay. Clay that has been aged for a long time is called “old clay.” Old clay has relatively higher plasticity when shaped into a pot and tends to develop a warmer color after firing, appearing lustrous and antique-like even after a short period of use.

In a sense, the longer the aging period, the better. However, clay that has been aged for too long needs to be reprocessed before being used to make teapots. Describing the aging period as “old” reflects the extended duration, hence the term “old purple clay.”

Some say that dark purple clay is “old purple clay.” Is this correct? In fact, the color of a Purple Clay Teapot only depends on the clay composition and firing temperature.

A smooth surface on a purple clay teapot looks glossier and more textured, while a rougher surface appears dry and coarse. Different firing temperatures produce different colors and shrinkage ratios, and the same clay material can yield different colors at different temperatures.

For those who appreciate the “old purple clay” from Factory No.1, it is best to judge based on the quality of the clay. Teapots made from this clay naturally possess a certain degree of water color and luster. Sometimes, excellent clay quality does not require Steeping or nurturing; simply cleaning the teapot and gently wiping it with a cloth can bring out a warm and lustrous appearance.