Teapots with inscriptions

Some teapots have inscriptions on the body. These teapots are mainly commissioned by shops or tea factory to promote their tea.

The most common ones are teapots with inscription to promote China's Oolong tea. The value of such teapots depends on when they are made. Those made in the 50s and 60s are very rare and expensive. Hence, there will be fakes around and one has to be careful when offered such pots at an attractive price. Those made in the 70s are still expensive but equally hard to find. Those made in the 90s are still available if you want to own one. Bear in mind the state owned teapot factories ceased from production in late 90s.

This one is solely for Puerh

This one commissioned by Tea Shop in HK

This one is meant to be given to customer as gift

This one promotes drinking China Oolong tea

I am glad to be able to collect some of these teapots even though they are not made in the early years.

Teapot with unusual design

This teapot design is for export to the Japanese market. Don't know why the Japanese prefer to hold the teapot in this fashion.

This teapot could possibly be made in the 70s as the inscription on the side reads Long Live Chairman Mao.

Another inscription at the base of the teapot reads Wish Chairman Mao in Good Health. Usually one wish others during their birthdays with such greetings.

4-gentlemen pots

Do you know, small teapots like this made in the 50s and 60s are quite expensive these days. Some are selling for thousands of dollars. May be the law of supply and demand play an important part. As they are mainly in collectors' hand, that is why the price.

Recently I am fortunate enough to collect a set of such teapots called the four gentlemen pots. They are made in the 90s though. 4 gentlemen refer to the four types of flowers/plant found in China. These flowers are favorite subjects for poets and artists alike.

The 4-gentlemen teapots are shown here:

Chrysanthemums

Bamboo

Plum Blossoms

Orchid

The One Teapot

Recently bought a teapot, very good workmanship and clay is of superb quality.

What caught my attention was the inscription behind. Sound like ......

Also the little character inscribed at the root of the handle. Could it be ....

Could this be made by the legendary Gu Zingzhou in the 50s. Anyway, real or fake, I like the teapot as it is not easy to find one made in such glamour. And most important, I did not pay millions for it.