This design is known as Wendan in China. It is often compared to the Xishi, as both designs are similar and popular.
The main difference is the shape: Xishi is rounded, whereas Wendan is oval. Xishi has a tiny top (or nipple), whereas Wendan has a bigger top.
The Yixing tea pot is also made by highly regarded artist Zhu Xinnan （朱新南）. I highly recommend it if you are a lover of aromatic oolong tea.
This pot is made from a special clay called Xiaomeiyao - a red clay (Zhuni) extracted 500 meters away from the Yellow Dragon Mountain.
Compared to the more common clay from Yellow Dragon Mountain, Xiaomeiyao clay is more difficult to make.
Shrinkage rate is at least 23%, and failure rate is high at 40%. Because this clay is so hard to make, only relatively few pots exist in China, making it more sought after.
The fact the Xiaomeiyao mine has been depleted for the past 10 to 20 years also makes it scarce.
Finally, this clay is excellent for brewing aromatic oolong tea, especially a high grade Iron Goddess. It holds and dissipates tea aroma really well.
It also seasons really quickly. All it takes is just 1-2 brewing sessions. You can detect a change in the tea liquor color, and the surface of the pot body becoming more jade-like.
The pot holds 200 milliliters, and it is suitable for 2 people drinking. It comes with 2 Yixing cups.
Xiaomeiyao clay has less luster compared to Yellow Dragon's red clay. This is one way of telling them apart.
You can find Mr Zhu's seal at the bottom of the pot. The four characters says "Zhu Xin Nan Make".
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By Boris (Zagreb). Nov 15, 2009
I would give it 4.5 out of 5. As a modern Zhuni yixing clay pot, it is excellent.
Also, I wanted to say the smell of the pot was pleasant and after I boiled it in water for maybe less than an hour, it smelled very fine - almost like a subtle perfume! In fact, that is what my wife said when I gave her to smell!
I guess it is one of the things which shows that it is excellent clay. Thanks, I'm happy with my purchase. :)
This Yixing Chinese Tea Pot has 7 holes behind the mouth.
We have tested it according to the guidelines of How to Buy Chinese Tea Set and found that it passes all the tests prescribed.
This tea pot will come with 2 cups made from lower grade Yixing purple clay.
The price includes courier shipping. For US and Western Europe, it will take 5 to 10 days to arrive. No other shipping charge is payable.
Mr Zhu Xinnan was born in 1957 in Yixing from a long line of potters.
He graduated from the Jiangsu Industrial School in 1980, before taking up apprentice in Yixing Pottery Factory to learn creative design.
He enrolled in Central Institute of Art and Craft from 1992 to 1994. Three years later in 1997, he was awarded "China Outstanding Young Potter".
He went on to specialize in Yixing designs for the last 20 years. In China, he is highly regarded for his non-decorative, classical designs.
He currently has two Yixing titles. One is a National Level Assistant Craft Master (国家级助理工艺师). The other is Craft and Art Master (工艺美术师).
Although there are ten of thousands of potters in Yixing, only a few hundreds can be regarded as masters with official titles. Mr Zhu is one of them, which speak a lot of about his caliber and standing in China.
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