In the use of purple clay Teapots, it's inevitable that they may get some knocks and bumps. Does a small flaw mean you have to throw it away? You'd be reluctant, wouldn't you? So today, we're sharing with you how to repair a Purple Clay Teapot.

If your purple clay Teapot has minor cracks, here's how you can handle it:

First, check if it leaks. If it doesn't leak, there's no need for repair; if it does, then you should repair it. Note that you must not use adhesives like super glue or AB glue on parts of the teapot that come into contact with water, as these adhesives can contaminate the water and are toxic!

If the damage to the purple clay teapot is more severe, it will require professional skills to repair it.

Teapot Repair (Jugong)

As a craft for repairing or restoring damaged purple clay teapots, “jugong” (teapot repair) is not very common nowadays. From some traditional Qing dynasty and Republic-era purple clay teapots, we can see the ingenious use of materials such as gold, Silver, copper, iron, tin, and jade in patching up damaged teapots.

If there are small dents on the spout, body, handle, or base of the purple clay teapot, or if the spout or handle breaks, you can use inlaying or tin plating to repair it. If done well, this won't affect the teapot's usability and may even enhance its artistic value to some extent.

Gold edging involves wrapping thin gold sheets around the rim of the teapot, the spout, the edge of the base, the perimeter of the lid, and the knob (copper sheets can also be used), creating an elegant appearance. If the crack on the teapot is long, you can ask professionals who specialize in purple clay teapot repairs to do the job.

If your beloved teapot accidentally breaks, don't discard it; make sure to find every single piece. A jugong craftsman will use fire lacquer to glue them back together. If the teapot has a crack, it's best to apply the repair at the crack to prevent it from extending further. If the lid breaks and you can't find a jugong craftsman, keep the fragments and find a suitable craftsman later to repair it.

Lid cracked

Crack in the teapot body

Severe damage to the teapot body

The saying “mending a teapot mends the heart” refers to the “cherishing of objects” that occurs during the repair process. The care and patience of the repairer allow the imperfect to be restored instantly, and the appreciation for the object being saved makes everything more complete.

Treasure what you have. Sometimes, the cost of repair can exceed the original price of the item. This is similar to human relationships: once broken, mending them requires great effort and may not be worth it. Thinking that something can always be repaired might lead to neglecting items that could otherwise be preserved intact.

It's in cherishing that we find true value.

Let the things in our hands and the people around us age gracefully alongside us.

When using a purple clay teapot or other ceramics, if you accidentally drop and break it, remember not to throw it away! Sometimes, repairing it can reveal a different kind of beauty.