A handmade Yixing teapot in the classic Ziye Shipiao form, shaped from Huanglongshan Jiangponi clay and offered in two intimate Gongfu tea sizes.

A Classic Yixing Form

Low.

Balanced.

Quietly angular.

The Ziye Shipiao Yixing Teapot is shaped in one of the most recognizable forms within the Yixing tradition: a broad, gently tapering body set upon three understated feet, balanced by a clean spout and distinctive handle.

This version is made from Huanglongshan Jiangponi clay and offered in two compact capacities:

120 ml / 4.1 fl oz

or

150 ml / 5.1 fl oz

Both are small enough for the rhythm of Gongfu tea, yet generous enough to share across several small cups.

A classical form, reduced to proportion, clay and use.

At a Glance

• Handmade Yixing Zisha teapot
• Traditional Ziye Shipiao (子冶石瓢) form
• Huanglongshan Jiangponi clay
• Available in 120 ml and 150 ml
• Compact xiaopin teapot proportions
• Designed for Gongfu-style tea preparation
• Suitable for solo tea and intimate shared sessions
• Two sizes for different brewing preferences

Why This Piece

Some Yixing forms are defined by ornament.

Shipiao is defined by proportion.

Its body sits low and wide. The walls rise inward toward the opening, creating a silhouette that feels stable without appearing heavy.

The spout extends decisively from one side.

The handle answers it from the other.

Below, three small points establish the pot's stance.

There is nowhere for poor proportion to hide.

That simplicity is precisely what gives the form its enduring appeal.

This version pairs that architecture with the quieter, earthy character of Jiangponi clay and offers it at a scale designed for repeated Gongfu infusions.

The Ziye Shipiao Form

Ziye Shipiao — 子冶石瓢 belongs to the broader family of Shipiao teapot forms.

Its visual language is remarkably restrained.

A low body.

A relatively broad base.

A compact lid.

A direct spout.

A strong handle.

Three points beneath.

Look at the pot in profile and each component seems simple on its own.

The difficulty lies in making all of them belong together.

The angle of the spout must speak to the body.

The handle must provide visual counterweight.

The lid cannot interrupt the silhouette.

The body needs enough tension to feel purposeful rather than merely rounded.

For us, this is why Shipiao remains so compelling.

Its beauty cannot be separated from its proportions.

Huanglongshan Jiangponi Clay

This teapot is described as being made from Huanglongshan Jiangponi (黄龙山降坡泥).

Jiangponi is a type of clay associated with the Yixing Zisha tradition, appreciated for its distinctive mineral character and fired appearance.

Rather than translating Jiangponi into a simplified marketing term such as “premium brown clay,” we retain the traditional material name.

For Yixing collectors, the identity of the clay is part of the identity of the pot.

Here, its earthy visual character feels particularly appropriate for the disciplined geometry of Shipiao.

Choose Your Size

120 ml

Capacity: 120 ml / 4.1 fl oz

Dimensions:
9.8 × 7.5 × 5.4 cm
3.9 × 3.0 × 2.1 in

The more intimate of the two.

Choose 120 ml if you primarily brew for yourself, prefer smaller concentrated infusions, or enjoy moving through several rounds of tea without preparing too much liquid at once.

Its smaller proportions also give the Shipiao form a particularly compact, collected appearance.

Best For

Solo Gongfu tea
One to two small cups
Concentrated brewing
Frequent repeated infusions

150 ml

Capacity: 150 ml / 5.1 fl oz

Dimensions:
10.5 × 8.6 × 5.8 cm
4.1 × 3.4 × 2.3 in

A little more generous while remaining firmly within the small-pot tradition.

Choose 150 ml if you occasionally share tea, use slightly larger cups, or simply prefer a little more room when brewing.

The additional volume makes it versatile without losing the intimate character that makes a small Yixing pot appealing.

Best For

Solo or shared Gongfu tea
Two to three small cups
Slightly more generous infusions
Everyday tea sessions

120 ml or 150 ml?

Neither size is inherently better.

The choice is about rhythm.

Choose 120 ml if your tea sessions are primarily solitary and you enjoy smaller, more concentrated rounds.

Choose 150 ml if you want slightly greater flexibility for sharing or prefer a little more tea in each infusion.

The physical difference appears small on paper.

In Gongfu brewing, however, 30 ml can noticeably change the rhythm of a session.

A Pot That Sits Low

One of the pleasures of Shipiao is the way it occupies the tea table.

It does not rise dramatically upward.

It settles.

The low centre of gravity gives the teapot a sense of stability, while the broad body establishes a strong horizontal line between spout and handle.

This makes Shipiao particularly beautiful when viewed at table height rather than only from above.

Place it beside a small cup and fairness pitcher.

The entire composition remains low, quiet and close to the surface.

Made for Gongfu Tea

A small Yixing pot naturally encourages a different relationship with tea.

Rather than making one large infusion, the session unfolds through many smaller ones.

Warm the vessel.

Add the leaves.

Pour.

Decant.

Taste.

Then return.

With every infusion, the tea changes slightly.

Aroma opens.

Texture shifts.

Bitterness recedes or sweetness becomes clearer.

The pot becomes less an object to admire from a distance and more a tool for paying attention.

Details

Product: Yixing Zisha Teapot
Form: Ziye Shipiao / 子冶石瓢
Clay: Huanglongshan Jiangponi / 黄龙山降坡泥
Origin: Yixing, China
Craft: Handmade
Use: Gongfu tea

120 ml

Capacity: 120 ml / 4.1 fl oz
Dimensions: 9.8 × 7.5 × 5.4 cm
Imperial: 3.9 × 3.0 × 2.1 in

150 ml

Capacity: 150 ml / 5.1 fl oz
Dimensions: 10.5 × 8.6 × 5.8 cm
Imperial: 4.1 × 3.4 × 2.3 in

As this is a handmade teapot, minor variations may occur between individual pieces.

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 thoroughly.

Allow the teapot to dry completely with the lid removed before storing it.

Avoid strongly scented detergents unless specifically recommended by the maker, as residues may interfere with subsequent tea sessions.

Avoid sudden temperature changes and impacts.

Over time, regular use becomes part of the relationship between tea drinker and pot.

A Note on Handmade Character

A handmade Yixing teapot should not be expected to resemble an industrially molded object in every microscopic detail.

Subtle differences in surface, clay tone and finishing may occur.

For this reason, we recommend looking closely at the actual product photography—particularly the clay surface, lid, spout, handle, feet and base.

These details tell you far more about a teapot than a distant lifestyle photograph ever could.

Made for Quiet Tea

There is something particularly appropriate about Shipiao within the world of Oriental Artisan.

It is not an object whose beauty depends on decoration.

Its character comes from decisions that are almost invisible:

A line made slightly sharper.

A body made slightly lower.

A handle balanced against a spout.

Three small feet establishing the pot against the table.

Then tea is added and the object begins to make sense.

Art of Quiet Living.

Curator's Note

If you primarily drink tea alone, we would choose the 120 ml.

If you occasionally share tea or prefer slightly more flexibility, choose the 150 ml.

What we would not change is the scale itself.

Shipiao is a form that becomes particularly compelling when kept small—the low body, broad stance and strong horizontal balance all become more concentrated.