A Minute to Understand the Price Evolution of Purple Clay Teapots

Article by Shā Hǎi Mò Yùn

To collect purple clay pottery, one must not only learn to discern authenticity and appreciate quality but also accurately understand and grasp market trends, as well as be aware of historical and current prices for purple clay pottery. Only then can one acquire collections at a relatively reasonable price and achieve the goal of maintaining value and appreciation.

Purple clay teapots from Yixing originated during the Zhengde period of the Ming Dynasty. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, alongside the prosperity of porcelain, the art of Yixing purple clay objects advanced rapidly. Under the support of the Chinese government, senior artisans organized cooperatives and resumed the production of purple clay teapots. This period saw the emergence of a group of master potters such as Zhū Kěxīn, Wáng Yínchūn, Jiàng Róng, Gù Jǐngzhōu, Wú Yúngēn, Pèi Shímín, among others. The works of these masters featured fine craftsmanship, high-quality clay, and were highly sought after by collectors.

01 Ming and Qing Dynasties

As early as the Ming Dynasty, mature purple clay teapots were already considered precious. In the poem “Portrait Song of Táobao for Fēng Běnqīng” by the Ming poet Lín Gǔdù, he wrote: “The clay from Jingxi is shaped under the supervision of the potter, as precious as jade and pearl. It is considered the top choice among Tea utensils, admired and held in the hands of people.” The poet equated purple clay tea utensils with precious gems.

Modern Times – Gù Jǐngzhōu's Gongchun Teapot

The works of renowned artists fetched even higher prices. Xú Jiēfèng wrote in the “Revised Gazetteer of Yixing County”: “Gongchun's teapots come in various styles, and though they are made of clay, they are treasured far and wide. When used to Brew tea, they preserve the original flavor, hence why scholars and officials often paid a high price for them. Following him was Shí Dàbīn, whose work became even more exquisite, and his prices soared even higher.”

Ming Wanli Period – Shí Dàbīn's Purple Clay Lǐquán Teapot

Xú Jiēfèng only mentioned that people were willing to pay a high price for Gongchun's teapots and that Shí Dàbīn's prices had skyrocketed, but how much exactly were they worth? According to Zhou Gāoqǐ's “Yangxian Teapot Series” written during the Chongzhen era: “For teapots made by famous artisans, a single teapot weighing less than a few taels could fetch a price of twenty taels of Silver, making the clay as valuable as gold. Thus, the price of a famous artisan's teapot ranged between ten and twenty taels of gold, several times its weight in silver.”

Qianlong Period – Yáng Pénnián's Sānzú Yùbì Mànshēng Teapot

However, the works of Qianlong-era potters were not particularly expensive at the time. According to the “Yangxian Sand Pottery Illustrations and Examinations” published in 1937: “Most inscriptions on Mànshēng teapots were done by his staff, such as Jiāng Tīngxiāng, Gāo Shuǎngquán, Guō Píngjiā, and Zhā Méishǐ, although some were done by Mànshēng himself. For those inscribed by him, the engraving technique was elegant and graceful. Those engraved or inscribed by his staff or assistants were marked with double signatures. Ordinary teapots sold for 240 wén each, while those with additional work were three times the price.”

From this, we know that ordinary purple clay teapots at the time were valued at 240 wén each, while those with inscriptions or engravings by Chen Hongshou or his staff were “three times the price,” i.e., 720 wén per teapot, which was less than a mǐn (a unit of currency). The price of a Mànshēng teapot was only 0.024% of what a Shí Dàbīn teapot would have fetched. There is a significant difference in price between teapots made by historical masters and those made by contemporary potters, as proven by history.

02 Republican Era

During the Republican Era, the price of teapots made by purple clay artisans was higher than in the Qing Dynasty.

Zhū Kěxīn's Yú Huàlóng Teapot

Based on the research by scholar and scientist Chén Míngyuǎn in his book “Cultural People's Economic Lives” on the purchasing power of silver dollars in China during the first half of the 20th century, the purchasing power of a silver dollar in 1926 was approximately 30-35 RMB. Prices in Yixing would naturally be lower than in major cities, perhaps reaching 40 RMB. Based on this conversion, Fan Chéngfǔ's Yú Huàlóng teapot was worth around 48 RMB, the Hétáo teapot was worth 60 RMB, Zhū Kěxīn's Yú Huàlóng teapot was worth 50 RMB, and Fén Gǔnlín's Hétáo teapot was worth 72 RMB. Wáng Yínchūn's small horizontal level teapot was worth 40 RMB.

Fén Gǔnlín's Hétáo Teapot

Of course, common purple clay teapots would not have been so valuable. According to “Appreciation and Collection of Purple Clay” edited by Ní Hónglín: “By the 21st year of the Republic (1932), there were over 600 people working in the purple clay industry, producing a total of 140 kilns annually, with an annual output of 2.2 million pieces and an annual value of about 420,000 RMB.” Based on this estimate, the average price of a purple clay object was 0.19 RMB. However, this price did not differentiate based on size or quality.

Gù Jǐngzhōu's Purple Clay Water Chestnut Round Button Teapot

During the war of resistance against Japan, the purple clay industry was in a state of depression, and at the same time, prices soared. Many purple clay artisans, including some who had already become famous, had to adapt to the trend and mass-produce their works, resulting in instability in the quality of works by famous names. However, Gù Jǐngzhōu did not pursue quantity, making only “10 to 20 teap