Friday, December 12, 2008

How to Test a Real Zhu Ni?

Use it in the Winter time and do not pre-heat the pot. Pour hot water in and MONEY!


Down the drain! Never use a zhuni pot in a cold environment! It will be worst then our economy : P

Even Michael at the tea gallery learn it the hard way.... Click! Holly!! and all our hearts broken.
You MUST warm up the pot slowly no matter what.

So I started painting a tea pot and smoke away, hoping the smoke will claim this intense atmosphere. We all learn....

9 comments:

Tuo Cha Tea said...

Happened to me, too. The heart breaks together with the pot...

nada said...

seeing broken teaware always tears at me heart a little bit... especially beautiful old pieces gone forever.

Can this crack be fixed? I seem to remember one of your qing pots has a gold line fixing a similar crack and I've seen many in Taiwan with gold staples holding a crack together. Maybe a NY silver/goldsmith could do something to help.

Bret said...

Thanks for the warning. Hasn't happened to me but just as easily could have. My most sincere sympathy. At times like this you need to surround yourself with loved ones. And by all means, start shopping for it,s replacement.

Thomas said...

Poor Teapot! Sad story...

There is quite often little cracks inside old Zhuni teapot. Cracks of 5 to 10 mm, in Zig-Zag. I have this kind of cracks in 2 teapot of my collection. They were present when I purchased these teapots.

What about this kink of cracks? Are they comming from a careless use or are they comming from the big shrinkage rate during the original cooking of the pot in the Kiln? Are this pot with cracks more fragile?

How are you doing to warm your teapot?

toki said...

Sorry to hear that, Tuo Cha Tea. As Nada was saying, I am sending it back to Hong Kong for a gilded make-over. It takes time... and the master usually only work in the summer, for a very short period of time.

Thanks you all for your kind regards, and you are right Bret, the shopping already in full forces : )

I do hope you got a good discount off those cracks... Thomas. Are most of those used pots? If so, then the previous owner might be careless like us : ( if not, then I would be careful about your vendor(s). Defected pots usually will be discarded by the porter, specially on zhuni pot.

Usually I will fill the pot with room temp. water half way and slowly add hot water to fill it up. Then wait for a min or two and shower hot water over it.

There are many ways, this is just mine.... Older master might warm them up in their palms like a little pet before using. They said to feel if the pot is right for that moment : )

TeaMasters said...

Sorry for your loss. I hope the French saying will come true for you: 1 is lost and then 10 are found!

I preheat my old zhuni teapot by pouring hot water on the outside first (Teaparker's method). Second step is normal: pour hot water inside the teapot. For really old and fragile pots, he suggests to start with warm water on the outside.

author said...

Sorry to hear about your loss, T. Did you show it to Shida? Best wishes...

corax said...

hi toki,

i must add my words of condolence over your poor broken pot. i hope you can get it mended and that it will produce better tea than ever!

chachacha said...

Hi Everyone,
fall is here and I have been hit with the Zhu Ni bug. It is a terrible feeling. I understand owning a Zhu Ni teapot is the only cure.
Does anyone have a direction, on were one be found?
Thanks Chachacha

 
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