The purple clay from Yixing stands out, so in some places, local “purple clay” is used to make various Tea pots, which is not uncommon. So how can one determine if it's genuine Yixing purple clay?

Purple Clay

Color Observation

Color is the first impression given. Yixing purple clay comes in a rich variety of colors, including many shades like chestnut purple, as well as red purple, brown purple, dark purple, and more. Purple clay from other regions tends to produce items with a single color, usually a clear red, with a closer look revealing a sense of yellow clay within.

In addition to the predominantly purplish-red varieties, Yixing purple clay Teapots also come in green, yellow, black, and other colors. One could say that no two colors are alike, and no two products are identical. Non-Yixing purple clay, on the other hand, has a monotonous color without variation.

Purple Clay

Appraisal of Form and Quality

Besides its material quality, the category, form, and character of purple clay are crucial.

From the Ming dynasty to the present day, Yixing purple clay has undergone a development history spanning five or six centuries, reaching a very high level of craftsmanship. There, there is a large group of skilled artisans who, with their deep expertise and exceptional techniques, create one-of-a-kind purple clay teapots, each with a unique shape or style.

Their manual skills have reached an extremely proficient level. Generally, when placing a Yixing teapot next to a non-Yixing one, one can discern the difference in quality.

The shapes of non-Yixing Teapots tend to be rigid and stiff due to the lack of handmade craftsmanship. They don't pay close attention to proportions of lines, surfaces, and other details, making them appear crude.

Purple Clay

Tactile Feel

Pick up a Purple Clay Teapot, observe it, appraise it, and then touch it; sometimes even place it against your face. This is because Yixing purple clay contains a significant amount of sand.

A teapot made from non-Yixing purple clay clay may look smooth but feels rough to the touch. A Yixing teapot, on the other hand, feels comfortable and gentle when touched or pressed against the skin.

Purple Clay

Sounding Test

Yixing purple clay, after being handcrafted and repeatedly hammered and pressed, bears countless finger imprints left by the maker. After firing, tapping on it produces a relatively crisp sound.

Non-Yixing teapots are formed either by spinning clay slurry on a wheel or by pressing it into molds. The clay is not compressed, nor does it go through the hands of artisans for pushing, pinching, smoothing, and scraping, thus lacking the emotional nuances. When tapped, they produce a dull sound.

Purple Clay

Bargaining

If you're at a market or stall buying a purple clay teapot and unsure whether it's genuine Yixing purple clay, there's one simple method: bargain.

Non-Yixing purple clay teapots are typically mass-produced using molds, so their cost is low. If you manage to negotiate a very low price and the seller is willing to sell, you should consider that the teapot might not be from Yixing.

Of course, the prices of genuine Yixing purple clay teapots can vary greatly, ranging from tens of thousands of yuan to just a few dozen or even a few yuan. It's the same with any product; otherwise, the world wouldn't be so colorful.