A Purple Clay Teapot, while its smooth and elegant body can perfectly showcase the ancient grace and elegance of the purple clay Teapot, seems to lack a bit of cultural depth. The emergence of purple clay engraving holds an important place in the culture of purple clay Teapots. Not only does purple clay engraving enhance the artistic beauty of the teapot as a whole, but it also reflects the five-thousand-year history of Chinese civilization.

The engraving on purple clay teapots differs from ordinary carving. It is performed on uneven surfaces with multiple angles and lines, drawing inspiration from ancient Chinese inscriptions and seal carving, yet distinct from both. It has its unique methods of engraving and cutting techniques, forming what is known as common Pottery engraving. The method of engraving on purple clay teapots is relatively complex but primarily divided into two types: engraving the base and hollow engraving. Each stroke requires the use of flexible techniques to highlight the most captivating part of the engraved content, which is also the more challenging aspect of pottery engraving. Typically, there are five techniques used when handling the cutting tool: draw, vertical cut, flick, kick, and press. Draw means the engraving tool moves from down to up; vertical cut means the tool moves from left to right; flick involves first using a smooth cut followed by a reverse cut; kick involves first using a reverse cut followed by a smooth cut; and press means the engraving tool moves from up to down. When engraving, one must pay attention to the varying pressure, sharpness, depth, width, and continuity of the strokes to convey the spirit of the engraving.

The engraving decoration on purple clay teapots can generally be divided into plain engraving, color sketching, intaglio, relief, and full-body engraving. Depending on the shape of the purple clay object and the different concepts intended for the engraving, different techniques are employed to achieve various effects. Plain engraving and color sketching are self-explanatory—one involves adding color and the other does not. The colors used are all body-safe pigments that are non-toxic to humans. Intaglio refers to engravings that are “concave,” while relief engravings are “convex.” Full-body engraving involves the painting on the lid of the teapot connecting seamlessly with the painting on the body, forming one continuous image.

Having discussed these techniques of pottery engraving, the most crucial aspect lies in the engraver's ability to apply them flexibly. Based on different moods, shapes, and themes, they integrate diverse contents. To be an outstanding engraver, one must not only possess proficient engraving skills but also have knowledge in areas such as calligraphy, painting, history, and literature. Only then can one create works with unique styles.