Zhang Xue Lei: Prosperity

The wonderfull black color of this Yixing teapot is the result of a special firing technique that is called wu hui (焐灰). Firstly, the teapot is fired once normally. It is then buried in wood or straw ash to return to the kiln for a second time. The iron particles in the clay are thus fired under a deoxygenised environment and become black. Unlike an ash glaze, the material — iron — that colorizes the pot exists naturally in the clay, without the need for adding a glaze material. In other words, the second firing transforms the zisha clay from the reddish color into black. Although Wu hui Yixing teapots have been in vogue in the tea community for only a few years, the technique itself is an old one that was originally used to salvage misfired Yixing clay wares. The technique has evolved to produce such a wonderful black by the merits of the diligent spirit of the kiln artisans in Yixing. Artist:       Zhuang Xue Lei, National Associate Master Industrial ArtistPot style:  Squashed Belly