Ni Shunsheng
Senior Craft and Art Artist
Jiangsu Provincial Master of Arts and Crafts
Member of China National Arts & Crafts Society
Member of China Industrial Design Association
Director of Yixing Zisha Cultural Research Association
Senior Appraiser of the American Rodan Teapot Art Association
Senior Advisor of Yixing Zisha Collection and Appreciation Committee
Honorary Dean of Zisha Art Institute, Yixing Art Gallery (Xu Beihong Painting Academy)
Honorary President of the Zisha Professional Committee of Shandong Tea Culture Association
Born in 1938 into a pottery-making family in Dingshu Town, Yixing, Ni Shunsheng was influenced by his grandfather Yu Guoliang, a renowned teapot maker from the late Qing and early Republican era who won international awards. He began learning the craft from his parents, Ni Xianglin and Shao Baoqin, at a young age.
In 1954, he joined the Yixing Shushan Pottery Production Cooperative (predecessor of Yixing Zisha Factory) and became a disciple of master Zhu Kexin, also receiving guidance from Pei Shimin. During his apprenticeship, his work “Wind-Curved Sunflower Pot” was rated as the best.
In 1958, he began mentoring apprentices. The first group of students from Zisha Middle School entered the factory as trainees under his guidance. He also assisted student Qian Wusheng in improving tools, for which he was awarded by the factory.
In 1962, under the leadership of Zhu Kexin, Ni and Wang Yixian attended the "National Arts and Crafts Seminar" held by the Ministry of Light Industry in Beijing.
In 1963, his creation “Five Blessings Peach Teapot” was exhibited at the first Technical Innovation Games held by Yixing Ceramics Company, earning him the title of “Factory’s Sole Champion”.
In 1970, to improve export product quality, the factory recognized top performers in each product category. Among several producers of the Round Squirrel Grape Teapot, Ni was awarded the red flag for outstanding quality.
In 1983, to expand semi-finished product production, the factory established a new workshop where Ni served as technical instructor, overseeing nearly 100 workers across four teams. He helped innovate designs and improve technical quality.
In 1987, he joined the factory’s research institute to focus on creative design. He created works such as “Butterflies in Love with Flowers”, “Summer Joy”, “Five Blessings Peach”, and “Shunquan Teapot”. His wall decorations “Plum Branch” and “Longevity Peach” were featured in showroom brochures and published in the overseas edition of the People’s Daily. Many of his new works received orders from clients, generating foreign exchange for the factory.
In 1988, his innovative “Longevity Peach Wall Decoration” series won first prize in Jiangsu’s Four New Products awards.
In 1989, his “Pine Stem Wall Decoration” won the gold award at the 6th Jiangsu New Products Expo.
In 1990, he received an honorary certificate from the Ministry of Light Industry for 30 years of contribution to the arts and crafts industry.
In 1992, he was sent by the factory to Hong Kong, South Korea, and Southeast Asia for the “Yixing Zisha Fine Art Exhibition”. He was featured in special reports by CCTV-7, Guangzhou TV, Jiangsu TV, Shandong TV, Hebei TV, and other media.
In 1993, his innovative “Color Clay Sculpted Teapot” won the gold award at the Jiangsu Science and Technology Patent Expo. Many of his works were collected by museums and Zhongnanhai’s Ziguang Pavilion.
In 2007, he was named “Charity Star” by the Yixing Charity Foundation.
In 2009, his works “Double Dragon Celebration Teapot”, “Ritual Vessel”, “Champion”, “Longevity Peach Stem”, “Plum Stem Scholar’s Object”, and “Squirrel Grape Ball” were designated as national gifts.
In 2011, he was honored as “Model of the Era” by the “Quality Long March in the Pottery Capital” campaign.
In 2013, he was featured as a renowned Zisha master in the Jiangsu Digital TV Expo’s “Jiangsu Column”.
In 2014, he was appointed guest professor at Tianjin Light Industry Vocational Technical College.
In 2016, Yixing Xu Beihong Painting Academy appointed him honorary dean of its Zisha Institute for a ten-year term. His works “Ritual Vessel Teapot” and two “Kexin-style Bamboo Segment” pieces were collected by the academy.
In 2019, his “Greater China Teapot” was collected by the Hulunbuir Art Museum in Inner Mongolia, and his “Shunquan Teapot” was collected by the World Museum in Vienna, Austria.
In 2020, his “Butterflies in Love with Flowers Teapot” was collected to mark the 25th anniversary of China Art News. The same year, his “Ritual Vessel Teapot” and “Dezhong Teapot” were exhibited and collected at the Yangtze River Delta Zisha Art Exhibition.
As of 2020, Ni had been engaged in Zisha art for 65 years. He continues to pass on his skills to his children and apprentices while creating new works. In recent years, his new Zisha pieces have been highly sought after and collected by enthusiasts worldwide.
