Bao Zhenglan 鲍正兰
– Senior Master of Arts and Crafts
– Inheritor of the Zisha (purple clay) craft from the Bao family
– Group Leader of the Research Institute, Yixing Zisha Craft Factory
– Disciple of Lü Yaochen, Zhou Guizhen, and Li Bifang
– Part-time Instructor at Dingshu Ceramic Training Base
– Senior Technical Advisor to No. 2 Yixing Zisha Craft Factory
Born in 1953, Bao Zhenglan is the younger sister of China National Master of Arts and Crafts Bao Zhiqiang 鲍志强. In 1965, she began her training under the renowned pottery carver Ren Ganting 任淦庭, alongside her brother, focusing on ceramic carving. In 1972, she joined the Yixing Zisha Craft Factory to study zisha forming techniques, successively learning the art of teapot making from China National Master of Arts and Crafts Lü Yaochen 吕尧成 and Senior Master Li Bifang 李碧芳. In 1982, she was selected by the factory to work at its Research Institute, where she further advanced her skills in zisha modeling and creative design under the guidance of China National Master of Arts and Crafts Zhou Guizhen 周桂珍.
Brocade bamboo teapot made by Bao ZhenglanShe also received multiple original designs from Gao Haigeng, which greatly enhanced her zisha creation and production abilities. She twice attended ceramic production training courses organized by the Central Academy of Fine Arts. During her tenure at the Research Institute, she had the privilege of receiving personal instruction from the legendary master Gu Jingzhou. In her later career, she collaborated frequently with her brother Bao Zhiqiang on joint works. Her creations are highly prized and collected by connoisseurs and enthusiasts both at home and abroad.
written by siyutao art team
