Zisha teapot Bear & Bamboo, handmade by Artist Level 1, Cao Yanping (L1-2012) Hei Ni

 🐼 "Bear & Bamboo" 5-Piece Zisha Teapot Set

Awarded Bronze Prize – 2015 China Ceramic Art Exhibition & 10th National Ceramic Innovation Competition

• Clay: Lao Hei Ni (Original 1980s Black Clay – Private Reserve from the Cao Family Mine)

• Capacity: 350ml

• Artist: Cao Yanping

  • National Master of Arts and Crafts (Jiangsu Province)

  • Senior Research-Level Arts and Crafts Artist (Level 1)

🎨 Artistic Concept

The “Bear & Bamboo” 5-piece teapot set is a stunning example of naturalistic theme combined with masterful execution. The sculptural design draws inspiration from the harmony of wildlife and nature, with a panda and bamboo motif rendered in an elegant, stylized composition.

This work is not merely decorative — it balances symbolism, utility, and fine craftsmanship, earning it the Bronze Prize at the 2015 China Ceramic Art Exhibition and National Innovation Awards, one of the most prestigious accolades in Chinese ceramic arts.

🪨 Clay: Lao Hei Ni (Aged Black Clay)

The teapot is crafted from Lao Hei Ni, an extremely rare and highly prized original ore purple clay, harvested in the 1980s and kept as part of the Cao family’s private reserve. This clay features:

• Dark, deep brown-black tone with natural matte finish

• Excellent air permeability and tea-enhancing properties

• Rich patina development with use

• Aged for decades for maximum clay stability and richness

This original Hei Ni has long been discontinued for commercial mining, making it particularly valuable and collectible.

👩🎨 About the Artist – Cao Yanping

Born in 1951, Cao Yanping is a National Arts and Crafts Master of Jiangsu Province, a Senior Research-Level Arts and Crafts Artist (Level 1), and a respected member of one of Yixing's most influential ceramic families.

She studied under He Daohong, a renowned Chinese ceramic art master, and later collaborated extensively with her younger brother, Cao Yalin, to advance the art of Yixing teapots.

Cao Yanping is one of the iconic "Cao Family Four Hands" (曹门四手), a term used to refer to the four legendary ceramic artists in the Cao lineage:

• Cao Yalin – National Master of Arts & Crafts,  (Level 1A)

• Cao Yanping – Jiangsu Provincial Master, Senior Research-Level Artist (Level 1)

• Cao Lanfang – National Senior Arts and Crafts Artist (Level 2)

• Cao Anxiang – Senior Artist, known as “China’s Number One Zisha Incense Burner Maker”

Her work reflects decades of accumulated skill and artistic refinement, blending sculpture, symbolism, and classical teapot structure. Each of her pieces carries deep cultural meaning and high artistic value, making them sought after by collectors worldwide.

📦 Set Includes

• 1x Teapot (Bear & Bamboo motif, 350ml)

• 4x Matching teacups in the same motif and clay

• All handcrafted, unified in style and tone

• Comes with a certificate of authenticity and gift box packaging

🧡 Why Collect This Piece?

• Rare award-winning design, highly recognized in the national ceramic art scene

• Made with discontinued 1980s Lao Hei Ni, exclusive to the Cao family

• Created by one of the Cao Family Four Hands, a legacy line of top-tier Yixing artists

• Symbolically rich, featuring the beloved panda and bamboo, evoking peace, resilience, and harmony

This is not just a teapot set — it’s a piece of modern Zisha heritage, fusing nature tradition, and legacy in one collectible masterpiece.