Introduction to Square-shaped Teapots

The transformation of purple clay square-shaped teapots is numerous, and in ancient times, there was a saying that “there is no single form for squares.” The main shapes include rectangular, square, hexagonal, octagonal, irregular square, and implied square. In the treatment of basic shapes, they can be transformed into dozens of different forms of square teapots according to height, size, and thickness. Some also combine them with round teapots or ribbed teapots, achieving combinations like round on top and square at the bottom, square on top and round at the bottom, square mouth and round lid, round mouth and square lid. They can also achieve a round body with a square spout, a square body with a round spout, or a round body with a square handle, a square body with a round handle, etc. In short, the transformation of square Teapot shapes can follow the designer's creative requirements for the shape, allowing for either round or square treatments.

The Origin of the Yaming Square Teapot

Yaming (1924-2002), a renowned modern painter, was one of the representatives of the Jinling School of painting. During wartime, Yaming began his painting career. After the founding of New China, he studied painting under Fu Baoshi.

In the mid-1950s, Yaming accompanied foreign Pottery experts to Yixing to investigate the craftsmanship of making purple clay teapots, which sparked his desire to collect and study these teapots. In his spare time from painting, he searched for purple clay teapots. He left his footprints in places such as Nanjing's Confucius Temple, Beijing's Liulichang, and Yixing's Tea houses and teapot workshops.

One day in the early 1960s, an idea struck him: since there had been examples in the Qing dynasty of Chen Mansheng designing teapot models and Yang Pengnian crafting them, why couldn't he design a teapot model and have it made by a master craftsman? Zeng Zhaoyu, the granddaughter of Zeng Guofan and then president of the Nanjing Museum, gave him the green light, opening the storerooms for Yaming to admire the museum's collection of teapots from past dynasties. Based on his inspiration, in 1963, Yaming designed the model, Wang Yunchun crafted the teapot, and Xu Xiutang carved the decorations, resulting in the creation of a Purple Clay Teapot masterpiece named “Yaming Square Teapot.”

Characteristics of the Teapot Shape

Viewed from above, the teapot body, mouth, lid, and knob are all square. Viewed from the side, the entire teapot takes the shape of the character “Ya.” The shape is square and rigorous, simple yet substantial. The transition between straight edges and rounded corners is natural, combining hardness and softness. The lines on the facets are firm and powerful, the lid slightly bulges, and the bridge knob is neat and crisp. The overall proportions are harmonious, the outline distinct, and the presence upright. The surfaces are large and broad, the angles blunt but graceful, the lines straight and firm, the lid square but with a round implication, the base circle large and well-proportioned, the spout has both straight and curved variations, the handle is square and fits the body, and the button hole is flat and large.

Editor's Note

Strength and integrity are the unyielding spirit; art is the undying soul; authenticity is the unchanging destination; culture is the everlasting demeanor. To take a piece of clay, mold a vision, shape a spirit, and gain sudden enlightenment with boundless passion. The spirit of the work is clearly embodied in the teapot.