Mr. Gu Jingzhou, as a grandmaster of purple clay, created many pot shapes throughout his life, with some being variations of traditional designs. Previously, we introduced how his Cloud Intention Teapot was adapted from the Lotus Pond Tripod Pot. Today, we will discuss the differences between Gu Jingzhou's Hua Ying Teapot and the Ru Ding and He Huan Teapots.
▲Hua Ying Teapot
This is the Hua Ying Teapot created by Mr. Gu. The pot has a shape similar to the Duetsphere design, with multiple circles stacked on a round base, giving it a particularly spirited appearance, resembling a budding flower when viewed from afar.
The word “Hua” in Hua Ying means “flower,” and the pot conveys the image of blossoming flowers. A closer look at this teapot reveals its fine texture, full color, and lustrous finish like jade. Its elegant and upright form features a short spout, pearl knob, small round handle, which are all adorable and lively. The semi-lid design ensures the mouth and lid fit neatly together.
The entire teapot is dignified and elegant, with well-coordinated proportions and a plump, full-bodied shape. Curves form the main body of the design, from the knob, lid, body, to the bottom corners, creating a rhythmic sense through soft curves, where the sizes of the spheres are balanced and moderate.
Now, for those familiar with purple clay teapots, imagine the shape of the Man Sheng Ru Ding Teapot and compare it with the one above.
▲Man Sheng Ru Ding Teapot
The teapot has a curved spout, ring handle, and a cut-off lid that aligns with the mouth. The flat knob extends down to the foot line, harmoniously echoing the shape of the pot, creating a strong formal aesthetic appeal.
▲Man Sheng Ru Ding Teapot
The two teapots have very similar shapes, but Gu Jingzhou's Hua Ying Teapot has a more upright lid and fuller curvature, along with subtle changes to the spout. Essentially, it is a variation of the Man Sheng Ru Ding Teapot.
As for the He Huan Teapot, it has other distinctive features. Let's take a look at the shape of the He Huan Teapot.
▲Man Sheng He Huan Teapot
The teapot is shaped like a flattened circle, with a short curved spout paired with a ring handle, a flattened knob, and a ring base. Its characteristics are simple, clear, elegant, and refined. The entire pot is composed of arcs.
From the lid, curved spout, ring handle to the base, there are no sharp angles or superfluous decorations. Viewed from afar or up close, the entire teapot is graceful and beautiful, with a vivid aura.
▲Jingzhou He Huan Teapot
Comparing the two teapot shapes, we can see that they are quite similar overall, but the most distinguishing feature of the He Huan Teapot is its flatter body.
Additionally, there is an obvious transition in the body of the teapot, which is the essence of the He Huan Teapot. “He” means “together,” and “Huan” means “joy,” symbolizing the unity of two pieces into one.
After comparing these three teapots, you should now understand that the differences between the Hua Ying and Ru Ding lie in the treatment of the spout and lid, while the He Huan differs from both in terms of the transition in the body line and its flatter shape.
Source: Pu'er Tea WeChat Official Account