Yixing teapot shape Eggplant
The Eggplant Teapot is a classic form in purple clay (zisha) teapot design. Here is a detailed introduction.
1. Shape Characteristics
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Design Inspiration: Modeled after the eggplant, the body is plump and full, resembling a ripe eggplant — broad at the belly and narrow at the mouth — with smooth, natural, and gracefully flowing curves.
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Knob Design: The knob is shaped like an eggplant calyx. Vivid and lively, it adds a sense of animation to the entire teapot and serves as one of the defining signature features of the Eggplant Teapot.
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Spout and Handle: The single-curve spout and the ring-shaped handle are ergonomically designed and well-proportioned to the body. They create a natural, smooth continuity between stillness and motion, reinforcing the biomorphic character of the piece.
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Lid Construction: The teapot uses a cut-in lid (jiegai) that fits the body seamlessly and tightly, meeting the technical standard of “smooth rotation without obstruction” and giving the whole form a unified, integral appearance.
2. Craftsmanship
The transitions where the spout and handle join the body are handled with a natural flow, demonstrating the maker’s mastery over linear tension. The foot of the teapot is neatly trimmed, exemplifying the characteristics of traditional zisha forming techniques.
3. Historical Origins
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Beginnings: The form is said to date back to the Qing dynasty and was first created by purple clay artisans Zhu Shimei and Shen Xi, who incorporated the eggplant shape into teapot design, thus pioneering the Eggplant Teapot.
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Development: Over successive generations, renowned potters such as Gu Jingzhou, Cheng Shouzhen, and Pei Shimin all produced their own versions of the Eggplant Teapot, each introducing innovations in form and craftsmanship. This has established the Eggplant Teapot as an enduring classic in purple clay art.
4. Artistic Value
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Aesthetic Connotation: With its simple, clean form and natural lines, the Eggplant Teapot embodies the aesthetic ideal of “great skill appearing as clumsy simplicity” (da qiao ruo zhuo), reflecting the unadorned modesty and restraint of traditional Chinese culture, and holding considerable artistic and aesthetic value.
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Cultural Significance: In Chinese culture, the eggplant symbolizes longevity, as the phrase “long and slender” (chang shou) is a homophone for “long life” (chang shou). The Eggplant Teapot is thus endowed with this auspicious meaning, making it a much-loved zisha form.
5. Market Value
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Auction Prices: Eggplant Teapots made by masters such as Gu Jingzhou have repeatedly set high prices at auction. For example, Gu Jingzhou’s Eggplant Teapot once sold for 7.475 million RMB, underscoring its standing in the field of zisha teapot collecting.
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Collectibility: With its classic shape, superb craftsmanship, and rich cultural connotations, the Eggplant Teapot is a highly sought-after category among zisha collectors. Examples made by renowned masters, in particular, possess significant collectible and investment value.
Blending natural beauty with refined craftsmanship, the Eggplant Teapot is a gem in the art of purple clay. Whether as a functional tea vessel or an art collectible, it possesses a singular and enduring charm.
