Yixing Ware: A Hands-On History

Yixing ceramics have long been admired in China and the West for their distinctive colour, texture and ingenious design. In this interactive two-day masterclass, explore the art, materials and craftsmanship behind this important piece of Chinese cultural heritage, with a specific focus on the renowned Zisha teapots.

Participants will have the opportunity to craft their own mould-made ornaments using Zisha clay, drawing inspiration from motifs such as plum blossoms, nuts, and seeds found on Zisha wares in the V&A collections.
Also known as Zisha or ‘purple sand’, the colourful clay is ideally suited to the production of tea wares for which they are famous. Each piece is skilfully handcrafted using a range of techniques including slab building, moulding and the application of sprig decoration, expressing the individualism of both potter and design. The V&A holds an extensive collection of historic works as well as those produced by contemporary potters, demonstrating the continuing popularity of this distinctive style of ceramics from China.