Xu Hantang

21 июнь 2025 г.

Xu Hantang

Master of Chinese Arts and Crafts (1997, 4th Edition)
Master of Chinese Ceramic Art (2003, 1st Edition)
Senior Industrial Art Designer
Member of China Industrial Design Association
Member of China Ceramic Industry Association
Council Member of Jiangsu Ceramic Art Society
Council Member of Shanghai Zisha Association
Advisor of Sino-Japanese Ceramic Research Association
Council Member of International Tea Culture Symposium
Member of China Penjing (Bonsai) Association
Honorary President of Yixing Penjing Association
Advisor of Jiangsu Ceramic Art Committee
Lifetime Achievement Award in Chinese Arts and Crafts

Born in May 1932 into a renowned Yixing Zisha pottery family, Xu Hantang became the first formal disciple of the legendary master Gu Jingzhou in the early 1950s.

With profound artistic skill and comprehensive mastery of traditional Zisha techniques, Xu excels in creative design, offering unique insights into clay materials, shapes, decoration, and forming tools. His works span a wide range—teapots, flowerpots, vases, stationery, miscellaneous items, and playful sculptures—covering styles from minimalist geometric forms to intricate floral, bamboo, and tree-inspired designs. To date, he has created over 300 Zisha works, celebrated for their refined elegance, dignified beauty, and international acclaim.

A dedicated philanthropist, Xu established the Xuting Town Xu Hantang Education Foundation in 2014 with a personal donation of 10 million RMB, supporting outstanding and underprivileged students.

His teapots, whether traditional or innovative, exhibit clean lines, balanced proportions, and a commanding presence, embodying the essence of a true ceramic master. His flowerpots, renowned for their exquisite craftsmanship and structural harmony, include over 250 varieties of small and miniature pots from the 1960s-70s, earning the title "Hantang Pots" in artistic circles.

Beyond creation, Xu has systematically studied Zisha theory, publishing papers such as Traditional Zisha Teapot Art, The Forming of Traditional Zisha Teapots, Discussions on Zisha Forming Tools, and Tea and Zisha Teapots. His works have won numerous awards in national ceramic art competitions and are housed in museums worldwide, including:

15-Piece Silver-Inlaid Coffee Set & Duo Zhi Teapot – Palace Museum, Beijing
Shi Piao Teapot – Victoria and Albert Museum (UK), Royal Museums of Art and History (Belgium), National Museum of China, Nanjing Museum, Wuxi Museum
Miniature Assorted Teapots – Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware, Hong Kong