Teapot of conical shape with engraved bamboo decoration

The production of Yixing tea ware experienced a revival at the beginning of the 19th century, a period closely associated with the patronage by famous scholars. They liked to demonstrate their literary talents on plain and simple shaped teapots through painting, calligraphy and seal engraving. Inscriptions are commonly found on the body of teapots as a result of collaboration between potters and scholars. They are usually poetic or religious expressions, verses and old sayings. Names of the potters, and titles of their halls and studios are also commonly found.

This conical shaped teapot bears inscriptions by Qu Yingshao (1780 - 1849), a poet, painter and seal-carver. He liked to commission potters to produce teapots while he would do the decorations himself. Since the Ming dynasty, people preferred to prepare tea by steeping loose tea leaves in a teapot. This was called the "steeping method". Apart from glazed teapots made of porcelain, those teapots made of purple clay from Yixing of the Jiangsu province were treasured by the connoisseurs of tea in the Qing dynasty. The minute porosity yet impermeable nature of Yixing teapots make their clay bodies highly absorbent. After long periods of use, the tea-stained interior of the teapots would enrich the flavour of the tea infusion by producing a stronger taste. The Yixing teapots were also cherished by the literati for their elegant designs and simple forms, which matched the aesthetic tastes associated with tea-drinking at that time.