A handmade Yixing teapot in the classical Ziye Shipiao form, shaped from Zini clay in an intimate 125 ml size for Gongfu tea.

Form, Balance, Restraint

Low to the table and quietly architectural, the Ziye Shipiao Yixing Teapot is a study in proportion.

Its beauty comes not from elaborate decoration, but from the relationship between a gently tapering body, restrained lid, direct spout and balanced handle.

This version is handmade from Zini (紫泥) clay and holds approximately 125 ml / 4.2 fl oz—a compact capacity particularly suited to solo Gongfu tea and intimate sessions for two.

Nothing excessive.

Nothing added simply to attract attention.

A classical form allowed to speak through clay and proportion.

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At a Glance

• Handmade Yixing Zisha teapot
• Traditional Ziye Shipiao / 子冶石瓢 form
• Zini / 紫泥 clay
• Approx. 125 ml / 4.2 fl oz
• Approx. 12 × 9 × 5.5 cm / 4.7 × 3.5 × 2.2 in
• Compact xiaopin proportions
• Low, architectural silhouette
• Designed for Gongfu tea
• Suitable for solo or intimate shared sessions

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The Ziye Shipiao Form · 子冶石瓢

Ziye Shipiao — 子冶石瓢 belongs to the broader family of Shipiao forms, among the most recognizable silhouettes in Yixing pottery.

Its character comes from structure.

The body sits relatively low.

Its sides rise inward.

A restrained lid completes the upper line.

The spout extends outward with purpose.

The handle answers it from the opposite side.

Below, the pot establishes a stable stance.

Viewed individually, these elements seem simple.

The challenge is making them belong together.

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Beauty Through Proportion

Shipiao leaves little room for distraction.

There is no highly ornamental body required to make the form interesting.

Instead, the eye begins to notice smaller decisions.

The angle of the spout.

The fullness of the body.

The relationship between lid and opening.

The weight of the handle against the opposite side.

A few millimetres can alter the personality of the entire pot.

This is why we particularly recommend examining a Shipiao from the side.

Its profile tells the story.

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Zini · 紫泥

This version is described as being made from Zini (紫泥), one of the traditional clay terms within the vocabulary of Yixing Zisha.

We retain the material name Zini rather than reducing it simply to “purple clay.”

The understated visual character of Zini feels particularly appropriate for Shipiao.

The clay does not compete with the architecture of the form.

It allows the silhouette to remain the focus.

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125 ml: Made for Intimate Tea

Capacity: approximately 125 ml / 4.2 fl oz

This is firmly within the smaller range of Yixing teapots.

For Gongfu tea, that is intentional.

For One

125 ml provides a comfortable volume for repeated solo infusions.

For Two

With smaller Gongfu cups, each infusion can be divided naturally between two people.

For Repeated Infusions

The restrained capacity allows you to return to the leaves frequently and observe how the tea develops from one round to the next.

For someone who finds 100 ml slightly too intimate but does not need a 150–200 ml pot, 125 ml is a beautifully balanced size.

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A Low Profile

The supplied dimensions are approximately:

12 × 9 × 5.5 cm
4.7 × 3.5 × 2.2 in

That relatively low height is an important part of the visual character of Shipiao.

Rather than rising upward, the composition spreads horizontally between spout, body and handle.

On the tea table, it feels grounded.

Pair it with low Gongfu cups and a restrained glass fairness pitcher, and the entire tea setting can remain close to the surface.

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Made for Gongfu Tea

Warm the pot.

Add the leaves.

Pour.

Decant.

Taste.

Then return.

At 125 ml, the distance between one infusion and the next remains short.

The leaves open gradually.

Aroma changes.

Texture shifts.

The teapot becomes less something to look at and more something returned to throughout the session.

This is where a small Yixing pot begins to make sense.

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Details

Product: Yixing Zisha Teapot
Form: Ziye Shipiao / 子冶石瓢
Clay: Zini / 紫泥
Origin: Yixing, China
Craft: Handmade

Capacity

Approx. 125 ml / 4.2 fl oz

Dimensions

Approx. 12 × 9 × 5.5 cm
Approx. 4.7 × 3.5 × 2.2 in

Recommended For

Gongfu tea
Solo tea sessions
Tea for two
Repeated infusions
Small-volume brewing
Yixing teapot collecting

As this is a handmade teapot, subtle variations in clay tone, surface and finishing may naturally occur.

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Living With Yixing Clay

Before first use, rinse the teapot carefully with clean water.

After each tea session, remove the leaves and rinse the interior.

Allow the teapot to dry thoroughly with the lid removed before storing.

Avoid strongly scented detergents unless specifically recommended by the maker.

Protect the teapot from impacts and sudden temperature changes.

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A Note on Handmade Character

This piece is described as handmade, rather than specifically fully handmade.

For a restrained classical form such as Shipiao, we recommend examining the details rather than relying on broad craftsmanship claims:

Body · Lid · Spout · Handle · Base · Clay Surface

Subtle variations between individual handmade pieces may naturally occur.

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Made for Quiet Tea

Shipiao does not need much.

A pot.

A cup.

Leaves.

Water.

Perhaps a fairness pitcher between them.

Its character is already contained within the relationship between a few carefully controlled lines.

Then tea enters, and those lines begin to matter less.

The vessel becomes part of the ritual.

Art of Quiet Living.

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Curator's Note

What makes this version particularly interesting is the combination of Ziye Shipiao, Zini and 125 ml.

The form is architectural.

The clay is understated.

The capacity is intimate.

Together, they create a teapot that feels especially suited to someone who values Yixing for proportion and use rather than elaborate decoration.

For predominantly solo Gongfu tea, 125 ml would be one of our preferred everyday sizes.