Purple Clay Teapots from China

Purple clay (zisha) teapots from Yixing, China, are made of unglazed stoneware and are hand-built by individual potters. They became particularly popular from the 16th century onwards among educated merchants and scholars, and continue to be prized today for their ability to retain the heat and flavour of tea. This talk introduces the history, beauty and cultural significance of this special type of teaware from China.