Prof Pan Chunfang



Prof Pan Chunfang learnt and mastered the art of teapot making from the legendary Chu Kexin during the early 60s to 70s. As a teenager, he was a brilliant student in a local school and scored well in his examinations. Unfortunately, he was not able to continue his University studies as his parents were poor and could not afford the fees. At that time, the factory that Chu set up advertised for apprentices to work and train at the factory. Pan applied and got accepted as an apprentice under the tutorship of Chu from whom he mastered all the skills and techniques of the Yixing clay. Due to his diligence and hard work, he was promoted to the rank of senior craftsmaster.

In the 80s, he was transferred to the Nanjing Academy of fine arts to study art, creative designs and innovation under a Professor. Later he wrote a book on the subject and began training potters from Yixing to enhance their skills in design and innovation. Many early potters benefited from his teachings. He was greatly appreciated by his peers for this contribution.

In the 90s, Prof Pan visited Singapore to hold a teapots exhibition cum sale. I had the opportunity to meet him and have a photo taken with him. I also bought several of his teapots, some are featured in a book published by a Taiwanese author. I was holding one of his pots while he was holding another pots I bought. Later he signed on a guarantee card and gave me his name card and invited me to visit him if I were in China. He was such a friendly person and very easy to get along with.

 

Myself (in the middle) at a younger age

Prof Pan signed on the certificate

I particularly like a set of teapot he created, the teapot that shaped like a pumpkin which is slightly distorted or twisted as shown above with four cups. The body is made of segments of clay of different sizes joined together. The surface texture is rough and uneven. This is how one would expect to find the fruits that grow in nature. Most potters however would make the pumpkin teapot in a perfect round shape with a smooth surface texture. But for this design, Prof Pan created a pot  not in perfect roundness as most pumpkins in nature do not grow to normal round fruits. Every part of the pot was hand made. This must have taken him a very long time to complete the job. Come to think of it, what I paid for this set of pot was far too  little compared to the effort and energy this great master had put in to achieve these creative pieces of art. Under the lids and on the side, he even engraved some Chinese characters that read "the world is funny the pumpkin grows abnormally". This shows the man's great dedication in his work. I truly admire his workmanship and talent in the art of Yixing clay.

Later he was persuaded to make another set using the purplish clay. Today, I must say I am very fortunate to own these magnificent teapots from a great master of teapots. It gives me pleasure just to look, touch and rub these teapots. Without any doubt, this is also the reason why I got addicted in teapots in the early years of my collection.

 

Prof Pan's elegant teapots

Other potter's perception of the pumpkin

Pumpkins in nature