A fellow pot enthusiast once asked me, “Why is this Teapot so light? The body is so thin, are you being stingy with the clay or is the craftsmanship poor?”

Thin-Walled Pottery Like a Cicada's Wing

Zisha Teapots come in countless shapes and employ various techniques, and thin-walled Zisha teapots are one such manifestation of manual craftsmanship. It's not about being frugal with clay; it's an expression of skilled craftsmanship. Some pots are as thin as paper and are of very high value. The thickness of the pot body generally ranges between 0.2 and 0.3 cm.

People often describe thin-walled Zisha teapots with phrases like “thin like a cicada's wing, light like floating clouds.” “Thin-walled” was originally a “divine skill” in porcelain making. Starting from the Ming and Qing dynasties, artisans began to apply this technique to Zisha teapot production. Although few have survived, they achieved a previously unseen marvelous effect.

Gong Chun Teapot

A thin-walled teapot looks no different from an ordinary Zisha teapot. Its shape is just as stately and substantial, but it feels much lighter when held. This embodies Laozi's Taoist philosophy of “great skill appears clumsy.” A small 150 ml teapot feels as light as a piece of rotten wood in your hand, weighing only 50 grams, almost capable of floating on water.

Creating a thin-walled teapot involves rolling the clay thinner than usual, which is not a specific technique but rather a skill that demonstrates the author's mastery. Due to its thinness and difficulty in forming, it is prone to cracking during firing due to uneven heating. Therefore, making a thin-walled teapot requires a high level of technical proficiency.

Thin-Walled

Thin-walled teapots originated in the Chaoshan region of Guangdong province. The production of these teapots has strict requirements for environmental humidity, indicating the significant difficulty in crafting them. Making a perfect thin-walled teapot is no easy feat. As a functional vessel, these exquisitely crafted thin-walled teapots must cater to both “aesthetic appreciation” and “practical use.” Thin-walled teapots that seem weightless in your hand and appear to have a spirit when you focus on them are delightful to hold and represent the magic of artistic creation.

Care of Thin-Walled Teapots

The weight of a Zisha teapot depends on the thickness of its walls! Thick-walled teapots align with the rustic elegance and substantial texture of traditional Zisha Tea pots, providing enough strength to withstand unexpected external forces to ensure a long life. Thin-walled teapots are relatively more expensive because they are highly breathable, difficult to fire, and challenging to make! They test the maker's teapot-making skills. Both thick-walled and thin-walled teapots have their unique characteristics and advantages, ultimately depending on personal preference.

Thin-Walled

Due to their thin walls, thin-walled Zisha teapots require extra care when in use. If bumped, they are more likely to get damaged. In winter, it's important to warm the teapot before use to avoid thermal shock. The care and use of thin-walled Zisha teapots are the same as regular ones, avoiding oiliness. After each brewing of tea, be sure to wipe them clean and place them in a well-ventilated area.