Both inside outside painted teapots

Yet there was another type of teapots which were painted on the inside and outside with red zisha. These were again the products of the period from 1970s to early 1980s. The teapots were made from purplish clay (zisha). Again due to the relatively high cost of the red clay, these teapots were coated with a layer fine red zisha. This time, both the inside and outside were coated with the red clay.

These teapots again become collectors' items as they remind people of that era in Yixing where such products were made. They were of course good in workmanship and quality.

In late 80s, the 1st factory stopped producing these teapots and they ceased to appear in the market. One reason was that the factory was able to find a cheap way to process the red clay. Hence there was no need to coat the purple-clay pot with red clay, either on the outside or on both sides of the teapots.

The whole teapot was coated with red clay

Outside painted teapots

In the 1970s, some teapots made in the Yixing 1st factory were coated with fine layer of red zisha. These teapots were actually made from the purplish clay. The reason to do so was red teapots were sought after by tea drinkers and the cost of making them was high. Due to the higher cost of red clay, so the purple clay teapot were coated outside with fine layer of red clay, from fine sediments collected over red clay-water mixture. The inside of the teapot remained in its native colour of purple clay.  This gave rise to the so-called inside-purple-outside-red teapots. Quite a lot of teapots were made in this manner in the 70s and early 80s. In those days, there were so many of such teapots available in the market that one paid too much attention to them. The teapots were juct vessels to brew a cup of tea, nothing remarkable about these teapots.

Today these teapots become collectors' darling as they were the products of that unique era from the 1st factory of Yixing (considered the best in Yixing). Of course, tea drinkers would also love to brew old tea in these old vessels. Moreover, the teapots develop a nice reddish shine after many hours of brewing tea.

Today, if you happen to see one such teapot in the market, make sure you acquire it (with the green sticker on) as it is going to cost more and more in the future.

Teapot made in the 70s

Inside purplish outside reddish

Characteristics of teapots of the 70s

Teapot labels

   In early days, teapots came with the green stickers with "Made in China" mark. This practice was essential as world trade rules require all products to have the stickers bearing the country of origin. As a result, teapots with green stickers were really teapots for the export market. Hence, people would want to buy such teapots as they know these teapots were really from the 1970s or even earlier. They were definitely made in the First Yixing Zisha Factory. The first factury in Yixing was considered the best, equivalent to Imperial Kiln of Jingdezheng.

Green stickers

 With the founding of 2nd, 3rd and 4th factory in Yixing making zisha ware, the 1st factory began to distinguish their products from others by introducing a new label, the square n round label. This label was registered in 1981. So people can be assured that they are buying the products from the legitimate 1st factory. Since the closure of state owned Yixing factories in the late 1990s, teapots with these labels also become sought after. Hence the price of these pots went up as a result.

Square n round label

Chu Ni Hu

Recently bought a Chu Ni Hu, a red zisha teapot (Chu Ni). Chu Ni clay is unique in the sense that the hue is a mixture of red and orange colour. It is not as glaring as the red hue but more subtle and pleasant to  look at. It reminds us of a pretty lady who does not need any make-up and yet her beauty is easily recognizable and appreciated.The raw clay is yellow in colour. It is easy to work with but shrinkage rate is high at 20%. After firing in a furnace, this turns into a red colour intermingling with orange tinge. As a result, Chu Ni Hu commands a better price that the red zisha teapot.

Chu Ni Hu

Raw Chu Ni clay

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