Zhu Ni Clay Yixing Teapot ‘Heart Sutra Xi Shi’ by Xiaolu Li 250ml

A fully handcrafted teapot by certified Yixing artist Xiaolu Li. The teapot is made in the classic round ‘Xi Shi’ shape with hand-carved calligraphy. The name Xi Shi refers to 1 of the 4 classic beauties of China. This ‘Heart Sutra’ teapot is fired around 1175-1180ºC with a shrinkage rate of 35%. The teapot spout features a round filter inside the teapot for great pouring fluency and speed. The seal of the artist is stamped on the inside of the teapot, the handle and the lid. Generally, the reddish Zhu Ni clay has a shrinkage rate of 30-40% after oven firing. Thus, it’s one of the hardest clay types for teapot making with a success rate of just around 60%. As teapots made by Zhu Ni requires skill and experience, most teapot makers prefer to use traditional purple clay (Zi Ni). Hand-carved Chinese Text The teapot body displays hand-carved buddhist calligraphy text about the ‘Four Noble Truths’, ‘Emptiness’, and the ‘Heart Sutra’.