Dai Chenguang Dezhong Yixing Teapot in 1970s Aged Zini

A plain Dezhong teapot has nowhere to hide. Without surface ornament, the eye goes directly to the broad cylindrical body, flush lid, rounded knob, loop handle and rising spout, and to how cleanly those parts resolve as one silhouette.

The form is associated with the renowned Qing potter Shao Daheng. Dai Chenguang's contemporary interpretation keeps that restraint: the reddish-brown zini surface is left unglazed, allowing fine mineral variation and the joining of body, lid, handle and spout to remain visible.

Dai Chenguang made the teapot from Huanglongshan zini reserved since the 1970s. Against the unadorned Dezhong form, the warm mineral surface becomes part of the structure rather than background decoration.

At 270 ml, the pot is suited to a small shared tea session rather than a solitary tasting. Dai Chenguang's seals appear on the inner wall, base, handle and lid; two base-mark versions are used, so the exact mark may vary.

• Origin: Yixing, Jiangsu, China
• Material: Aged zini Yixing clay
• Clay: Huanglongshan zini from a batch reserved since the 1970s
• Maker: Dai Chenguang
• Craft: Handmade Zisha teapot
• Form: Dezhong teapot
• Capacity: Approx. 270 ml / 9.1 oz
• Length: 13.6 cm / 5.4 in
• Height: 7.9 cm / 3.1 in
• Mouth diameter: 6.2 cm / 2.4 in
• Maker marks: Dai Chenguang seals; exact base mark may vary
• Set includes: One teapot, tea towel, maker documentation and presentation box