THIS TEAPOT IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER
(THIS YIXING IS NOT IN STOCK YET)
IT MAY TAKE 2-3 WEEKS TO DELIVER
The side-handle teapot (侧把壶 – Ce Ba Hu) traces its origins to the Tang and Song dynasties, when tea utensils were designed for whisked and boiled tea. At that time, tea was often prepared at the center of a table. Placing the handle to the side made it easier to pour tea gracefully with both hands and helped to prevent it from knocking into other teaware.
Later, this form became deeply tied to Japanese tea culture. During the Edo period (1603–1868), Japanese artisans refined the curvature of the handle and the proportions of the pot's body, making it lighter to hold and steadier to pour. Side-handle teapot became a signature piece in Japanese Sencha-do – "The Way of Steeped Tea".
As tea culture continued to flow between China and Japan, the side-handle design returned to China. Yixing potters adapted it to local clays and aesthetics, combining its practical "cool-to-the-touch" and "space-saving" qualities with the unpolished, earthy beauty of ZiSha craftsmanship. Today, the side-handle teapot is a reminder of the long conversation between Chinese and Japanese tea traditions.
This teapot is made from coarse-grained aged DuanNi clay (段泥) from the original deposits – a type of Yixing Zisha valued for its large sand particles, which improve filtration. The texture of this clay is visibly grainy, and the surface shows a warm, subdued sheen which will develop a fine patina over time. The teapot is wood-fired at a high temperature, which helps lock in aroma without suffocating the tea due to the clay's breathability.
The maker of this teapot, Ren Yixin, is a young ZiSha pottery artist from Yixing. He has been working with Yixing clay for over a decade. His work follows traditional forms but often introduces innovations – always practical and refined. His craftsmanship is solid, and his pieces are appreciated for their simplicity and elegance.
• Capacity: 100ml
• Speed of pour: 11 ml/sec (since each teapot is individually crafted, the pouring speed may vary)
• Filter: ball filter
• Material: Huang Long Shan DuanNi (Yixing Clay, ZiSha) – 黄龙山段泥
• Shape: Ce Ba – 侧把
NOTE: Avoid using detergents when cleaning.