Zisha teapots, also known as “Yixing teapots”, are made of purple clay specially produced in Yixing of Jiangsu Province. The first Zisha teapot could be traced back to the middle of Northern Song Dynasty, 900 years ago. As a non-glazed type, Zisha ware achieves its visual effect from its form and structure rather than the decorations of glazed, colored drawing.During the long develop-ment of Zisha art the potters have created many exquisite and unique patterns in-corporating rich aesthetic thoughts.

The demand of stability is well met in the designing of its form. Sia-bility means more than a teapot that pours clean and steady for the visual stability also counts. To make the Zisha teapot easy to handle and sim-plify the manufacturing process,round or a symmetrical form is usually the most favored shape of the teapot.The center of gravity lies in the axis,which is also the center line of whole structure and perpendicular to the center of the bottom. Thus the visual stability largely depends on the bottom size.Moreover,the changes in shoulder and waist also contribute to the position of gravity center and overall stability.

Boccaro art can be described as a type that is “from but beyond life”. A good Zisha teapot is the combination of perfect form and proficient skill.Furthermore, it is crucial to select suitable patt erns, texture of decorations, and the correct tech-nique.Since Zisha art is an art of emotions, a relatively perfect work must be both convenient and have the function of cultivating, enlightening and generating the aesthetic feelings within.