Six-Sided Small Golden Bell

This Six-Facet Xiaojinzhong (六方小金钟) is a magnificent piece of craftsmanship in the world of Yixing pottery. Its design features a lid knob resembling an inverted hanging square bell, with large square handles that exude a sense of grandeur. The spout is characterized by clear and smooth lines in a three-bend tongue shape, while the mouth of the spout is square on the outside and round on the inside. Each facet of the teapot body is bold and well-defined, creating a powerful presence. The lid is slightly raised, connected to a knob seat between it and the lid.

This teapot is crafted from top-grade original ore Cultural Revolution Old Purple Clay (文革老紫泥, Wenge Lao Zini), with an antique luster. During the Cultural Revolution, the production of Yixing teapots was interrupted due to political turmoil and economic difficulties. The purple clay mined during that period is limited in quantity and highly valued for its historical and collectible significance. The clay undergoes long-term aging, which gives it excellent plasticity and breathability, making it suitable for crafting various shapes and styles of Yixing teapots.

Liu Wei is a nationally recognized Assistant Master of Arts and Crafts and a member of the Jiangsu Provincial Ceramic Industry Association. He graduated in 2008 from the Wuxi Institute of Arts and Crafts with a major in Ceramic Modeling Design. From a young age, he studied traditional Chinese painting, significantly advancing his landscape painting skills under the guidance of his mentor, Shi Guofu, during his time at the institute. Liu was introduced to Zisha pottery carving by his teacher, Jiang Yongjun. Since graduating, he has dedicated over eight years to the creation and craftsmanship of Zisha pottery.