"Shi Piao," along with traditional shapes such as "Duo Zhi," "Pao Zun," and "Fang Gu," are known in the purple clay industry as "indestructible forms."

Florian Xu (Xu Hantang) once discussed the characteristics of premium "Shi Piao" pots, stating that they should be "simply designed, ancient and simple, dignified and stable, firm and resilient, solid and harmonious," demonstrating "full of spirit and grace, grand style, practical and generous."

From the body of the pot, it must be firm yet soft.

Two parabolic lines combine to form the "Shi Piao" pot body: one from the rim to the transition between the body and the bottom, and one from the center of the bottom to the transition between the bottom and the body. These two parabolic lines must be used appropriately and combined properly, giving a sense of firmness with a touch of softness.

From the lid, it must be harmonious and robust.

The lid of a "High Shi Piao" pot appears flat at first glance but upon closer inspection is higher in the center and lower around the edges, with a difference of 1 millimeter between the highest point and the edge. The lid line should be round and have a neck, full and graceful, neither too thick nor too thin, fitting tightly against the rim, and smoothly joining the lid surface.

From the knob, it must be smoothly transitional and well-proportioned.

The knob on the lid is arched bridge-shaped, with its height and span conforming to the proportions, rich in variation. The center of the bridge is the narrowest part, gradually sloping down to the lid surface on both sides, forming a two-thirds ellipse where it joins the lid, creating a subtle transition. The archway is also a two-thirds ellipse, smoothly transitioning and well-proportioned with the bridge body. Both slopes of the bridge are symmetrical.

From the spout, it must be proportionately correct.

The spout is a straight tube that seamlessly connects, extending naturally. Its length and thickness must be just right, not differing by even a fraction. The end of the spout is straight for about 1 centimeter, gradually becoming thicker and blending into the body of the pot, appearing as if it grows out of the pot. The angle of the spout must be appropriate, the surface must be flat, and the inner hole must be round, with the smallest diameter at the outlet and gradually increasing towards the inside, ensuring a strong water flow without dripping.

From the handle, it must be smooth and natural.

The handle is symmetrical to the spout, with smooth triangular lines both inside and outside. It seamlessly connects with the body of the pot. The cross-section of the handle is rounded on the outside and flat on the inside, resembling a rounded triangle, providing comfort when held.

From the base, it must be evenly balanced.

The go stone feet of the pot clearly and neatly join the bottom surface, arranged in an equilateral triangle, evenly spaced, and centered, achieving overall unity.

Source: Purple Clay Pot Encyclopedia, information shared for educational purposes. If there are any copyright issues, please contact us for removal.