 |
Chinese miniature clay teapots are
not just small versions of "regular- sized" teapots; they are made small for
a special way of brewing tea.
In Taiwan and the southeastern
provinces of China, a popular way of drinking tea is "old man style", or
"kung-fu style". A small teapot is filled with semi-fermented tea (Oolong,
Tekuanyin, etc.) and is steeped for a very short time before being drained
completely and served in small cups. The teapot is then refilled with
boiling water and re-steeped up to eight times, with each brewing providing
a different "flavor" of tea. For this style of tea drinking you must use a
small pot that holds only enough tea leaves and water for each steeping.
These teapots are part of what has been termed the "Chinese Tea Ceremony",
and other wares such as "tea boats", "tea platters", etc. are produced to
complete the set.
Miniature teaware is produced
in both Taiwan and the Peoples Republic of China. This style of teaware has
been produced in Yixing, China, since the 13th century. However, because of
the resurgence of this style of tea drinking in Taiwan in the last 50 years
or so, Taiwanese potters have developed styles of their own with distinct taste
and craftsmanship. It is no coincidence that today Taiwan is home to many of
the most passionate collectors of Yixing pottery. Many of the people who
arrived in Taiwan from mainland China in 1949 came from the same general
area of China and brought their high regard for Yixing wares with them.
Due to the free and thriving
economy in Taiwan during recent years, tea connoisseurs have demanded ever
more daring and unusual designs, and encouraged potters to produce many
breathtaking and award-winning examples of tea art. These teapots equal and
often exceed the quality of those produced in Yixing.
|
